Shersha James

Senior Food, Beverage and operations leader with 30+ years of experience across food manufacturing, central kitchens, airline catering, institutional food services, retail food courts and facility operations. Experienced in business leadership, P&L management, multi-unit operations, Food Factories and central-kitchen setup, production systems, food safety, project execution and commercial performance. Has led large teams and multi-site operations, including responsibility for a business with annual turnover exceeding ₹36 crore, 300+ employees, Food courts, Standalone outlets and 2 manufacturing units.

Business Head – ABI Sweets / Centaur Foods at Jeyachandran Retail Private Limited (2024-08 – Present)

• Leading food business operations across ABI Sweets and Centaur Foods, with focus on business performance, manufacturing, multi-outlet execution. Contributed towards commissioning a central kitchen facility in Trivandrum.
• Scope includes food courts, standalone outlets, manufacturing units, central kitchen and central bakery operations.
• Responsibility for 4 food courts, 10 standalone outlets, 2 manufacturing units and 300+ employees, with annual turnover exceeding INR 36 crore.
• Driving operating systems, production planning, quality and food-safety practices, cost control and cross-functional coordination.

Operations Head at Naga Limited (2022-03 – 2023-08)

• Part of the team following acquisition of Oyalo brand from Hatsun; supported reopening of stores and operational stabilisation.
• Set up a temporary facility for pizza, pasta and lava-cake production and developed SOPs for sales, inventory, deposits and plant operations.
• Contributed to new-plant layout, budgeting, vendor finalisation, asset transfer and commissioning through commercial production.

General Manager at Hatsun Agro Product Limited (2014-01 – 2020-03)

• Led setup and operations of the RTE division, including facilities at Chennai and Karur, from project stage through startup and production.
• Managed manufacturing processes, product specifications, production support, quality systems, audits and statutory compliance.
• Drove wastage reduction, troubleshooting, productivity, operational efficiency, budgeting and cost control.
• Led food-safety activities and managed incoming / outgoing product quality, customer complaints and corrective actions.
• Supported project execution, technical specifications, tenders, contracts, consultants and contractors.

Site Director at Sodexo Food Solutions (P) Ltd. (2012-06 – 2014-01)

• Managed large, complex food-service sites at Hyundai, Renault-Nissan and Samsung.
• Participated in kitchen design and implementation aligned with food-safety requirements.

Executive Manager – Plant Operations at Sky Gourmet Catering (P) Ltd. (2010-02 – 2012-05)

• Responsible for plant operations in airline catering.

General Manager at LSG Sky Chefs (P) Ltd. (2008-06 – 2010-01)

• Managed the Chennai facility project through startup and supported operations in Bengaluru.

Deputy General Manager – Plant Operations at Muthoot Sky Chefs (2006-02 – 2008-05)

• Managed plant operations for airline catering.

Assistant Operations Manager at Taj Madras Flight Kitchen (1999-06 – 2006-01)

• Managed flight-catering operations, airline contracts and tenders, VVIP charters, special handling and airport coordination.
• Worked on loading plans and service requirements for international and domestic airlines.

Airport Catering Operations at Taj Airport Catering (1992-06 – 1999-05)

• Administered airport catering operations.

B.Sc. in Catering Technology & Hotel Management with Applied Nutrition – Bharathiar University / SNR Sons College, Coimbatore (1992)

Diploma in Personnel Management – Management Studies Promotion Institute, New Delhi (1992)

Certificate Course in Computer Applications (1999)