Sidhartha Lenka

Senior business and commercial leader with 25+ years of cross-border experience across Pan India operations, GCC, MENA, and Africa. Offers all-round domain expertise across food (organic/conventional/frozen/fresh/dry) and FMCG, processed foods, fully integrated poultry/meat/livestock/dairy/animal feed/feed mill, agri-food value chains (organic/traditional), and stationery/writing instruments with leadership exposure from startups, turnarounds, high-growth ventures to portfolios above USD 400M. Recognized for entrepreneurial drive, innovation, P&L ownership, business expansion, greenfield and brownfield projects, digital transformation, marketing and sales strategy, social media marketing, and taking businesses from conceptual stage to consumer while achieving growth through distribution, route-to-market, sourcing, supply chain, logistics and building high-performance teams across complex multicultural markets.

Business Head - THOFP - India

(2025-01)

• Leading strategy and P&L, achieved a turnover of USD 25M with bottom line growth of 21%. Reduced wastage by more than 16%.
• Expanded portfolio into organic healthy living products and increased distribution/outlet coverage by 35%.
• Improved supply-chain reliability through channel partners for faster, more dependable market delivery.

Commercial Director - Yamen RE Development & Investment Co. - KSA

(2024-05 - 2024-12)

• Set up the Food Division and supported agro and meat projects with group turnover of USD 50M.
• Defined and established the commercial structure, sourcing road map and portfolio plan for Saudi Arabia.
• Built supplier and processor networks in India/Africa/Brazil, and expanded food-service, HORECA and institutional relationships.

Commercial Head - Al Rajhi International Investment Co. - KSA

(2023-12 - 2024-04)

• Led P&L, strategy and commercial excellence for agri, meat and feed products within a diversified group of USD 400M+.
• Established Meat imports and achieved growth of alfalfa and wheat portfolios in UAE and Egypt.
• Built multi-origin sourcing partnerships across Africa, UK, Brazil and Romania.

Chief Commercial Officer - Shafa Al Nahdah LLC / Shafa Agro Ltd. - UAE & Tanzania

(2023-04 - 2023-10)

• Led and restructured an integrated dairy, feed mill and agriculture business.
• Created new poultry and cattle feed formulations and delivered 1,500 MT/month animal feed and 450,000 litres/month milk, with top-line sales of USD 10M in feed and USD 7M in milk.
• Built a nationwide distributor network, cut raw material, overhead, marketing and distribution costs by 12%, and reduced dairy production cost by USD 66K/month.
• Improved crop planning, self-sufficiency and profitability across the operation.

Chief Commercial Officer - Al Bashayer Meat Co. SAOC - Oman

(2019-03 - 2023-03)

Built Oman's integrated meat and food-security business from ground zero to USD 50M within two years.

• Led operational and commercial strategy across livestock sourcing from Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, South Africa, processing, animal feed and by-products.
• Launched fresh, chilled and frozen meat portfolios for retail, HORECA, institutional channels and retail chain channels in Oman, Kuwait, UAE, and Bahrain.
• Introduced Oman's first organized livestock distribution through an authorized dealer network and supported exports to regional markets in the GCC.
• Developed downstream by-product verticals including MBM, tallow and blood meal, and improved inventory, receivables and working-capital efficiency.

Head – Marketing & Sales - A'Saffa Foods SAOG - Oman

(2009-07 - 2019-01)

Led business growth for a market-leading integrated poultry, feed and food producer across Oman, GCC, MENA and Africa.

• Grew the business from USD 10M to USD 150M+ with outstanding top line/bottom line growth and cash flow.
• Increased poultry volumes from 600 MT/month to 3,000 MT/month and value-added products from 6 MT/month to 400 MT/month.
• Established 4 brands, 5 product lines and 120 products, expanding into categories including poultry, meat, processed foods, organic vegetables & fruits/pulps, mineral water, French fries and seafood.
• Established suppliers from UAE, India, Oman, and Egypt for white label products.
• Built market presence across UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, Egypt and Iraq, and contributed to recognition in Forbes Top 500 performing listed companies in MENA and 'Super Brand'.

GM – Business Development - Sunstar Overseas Ltd - India

(2007-12 - 2008-09)

Achieved 22% sales growth in organic rice (white/brown) / staples / spices / edible oils / processed foods; pioneered India's first microwavable retort organic foods (RTC/RTE) and strengthened contract-farming SOPs.

National Sales Manager - Chemi & Cotex - Tanzania & Eastern Africa

(2004-07 - 2007-02)

Led foods, beverages, confectionery, edible oils, cosmetics and dental categories with turnover of USD 55M; expanded distribution, opened 7 branches, and delivered 36% growth in Dental, 27% in Cosmetics, and 41% in Foods.

GM – Marketing - Kothari Products Ltd - India

(2002-11 - 2004-07)

Delivered 16% sales growth and built a network of 10 depots and 800 distributors.

GM – Marketing & Sales - Rotomac - India

(2000-06 - 2002-09)

Launched 80+ products (writing instruments/stationery) and doubled turnover from USD 3.5M to USD 7M.

Deputy Marketing Manager - DS Group - India

(1993-02 - 2000-06)

Conceptualized and launched Pass Pass and Catch Salt & Pepper sprinklers, contributing to category creation and national market success.

Client Servicing Executive - Akshara Advertising - Delhi

(1991-06 - 1993-02)

Conceptualized and executed advertising national campaigns for Escorts Tractor and Motorcycle Division, Graveira Suitings, ITDC and Indian Airlines.

MBA - Marketing - Institute of Management Technology

Corporate Director - KPMG

Executive Program - Innovation & Entrepreneurship - Stanford University

Executive Program - Innovation, Corporate Strategy & Competitive Performance - IIM Ahmedabad

Program - Senior Leaders Program - IIM Ahmedabad

Bachelor of Commerce - Accountancy & Economics - Utkal University

PG Diploma - Marketing & Advertising

PG Diploma - Computer Application & Programming

Training - Hydroponics, Innovative Crop Production Systems and Mushroom Cultivation Technology