Company: Veetee Group, Rochester, Kent, United Kingdom
Company Description: Veetee group comprises of 2 companies , Veetee Rice Ltd. and Veetee foods Ltd. Veetee is the largest supplier of dry rice in United Kingdom and one of the fastest growing ambient food company. The company was established in 1987 and has been growing since. It has manufacturing plants in UK and India and has business established in more than 100 countries with key focus UK, USA, Europe and Asia.
Nomination Category: Thought Leadership Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Thought Leader of The Year - Consumer Products
 Nomination Title: Kumar Raghvendra, Thought Leader
- Which will you submit for this nomination, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the nominated individual, OR written answers to the questions for this category? CHOOSE ONE:
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers to the questions for this category, you must answer this first question: Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 199 words used.
Kumar is a distinguished business professional and coach, renowned for transforming businesses through people focussed growth. From humble beginnings as a farmer's son in India, his journey to global business leadership showcases his resilience and impact.
Kumar began his career at Procter & Gamble, rising to the level of Director of Sales, where he managed a $200 million portfolio of iconic brands. His innovative strategies, adopted globally, earned him the prestigious P&G CEO Award, given to less than 1% of employees for exceptional contributions.
In 2022, Kumar became Commercial Director at Moet Hennessy (LVMH) . His business impact and passion for technology earned him recognition as one of LVMH's top 10 intrapreneurs globally.
Currently, as Head of Commercial at Veetee Group, Kumar leads one of the fastest-growing ambient food brands across the UK, Europe, and the USA. He spearheaded the largest launch in UK retail history, transforming the ambient food category.
Beyond his professional achievements, Kumar is dedicated to community service. As a certified life coach and NLP practitioner, he mentors young professionals and entrepreneurs. A published author on leadership, his impact and passion earned him the International Achievers Award 2024 and the 40 under 40 Business Elite Award, Europe.
- If you are providing written answers to the questions for this category, you must answer this second question: Outline the nominee's thought leadership achievements since 1 January 2022 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
Kumar Raghvendra's thought leadership shines through his exceptional ability to navigate complex business challenges and revitalize large organizations. His distinctive approach, centered around people growth for business growth, sets him apart as a unique leader.
In 2022, amidst the impact of COVID-19, Kumar led a remarkable financial turnaround at Moet Hennessy, achieving 20% profitability and 15% revenue growth. Beyond his professional responsibilities, Kumar represented India globally with his innovative tech ideas in the MH DARE (Disrupt, Act, Risk to be an Entrepreneur), part of LVMH's entrepreneurship initiative. He was recognized as the top 10 global leaders of LVMH.
In 2023, Kumar took on the challenge of leading Veetee Group in the UK. Tasked with reversing two years of losses, he not only restored profitability and growth but also rebuilt the company’s credibility in the industry. Under his leadership, Veetee Group became known for its innovation and disruptive products in the ambient food sector. His led to the successful launch of the ready-to-eat product Noodleheads, which was named the best launch of 2023 in the UK by The Grocer magazine.
Beyond his business successes, Kumar is passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders. He regularly engages in speaking events and mentorship programs, fostering strong leadership for the future. His efforts have earned him an invitation to the Forbes Business Council and numerous accolades, including the International Achievers Award 2024 and the 40 under 40 Business Elite Award. These recognitions highlight his thought leadership and significant impact on business and society.
- If you are providing written answers to the questions for this category, you must answer this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 249 words used.
What makes Kumar's achievements unique and sets him apart as a thought leader is his unwavering commitment to winning with his people and organization, even during global industry layoffs and financial struggles. Instead of following the industry trend, Kumar chose to lead by example, transforming two companies over 2022 and 2023 , from poor financial health to significant growth, making them leaders in their sectors, without any layoffs.
Moreover, these results span across different continents. He turned around Moet Hennessy in India and the Indian subcontinent in 2022 and he repeated this success with Veetee Group, driving growth in the UK, Europe, and the USA in 2023. Under his leadership, both companies not only achieved financial growth but also maintained stable, happy organizations where employees did not fear losing their jobs.
Kumar's approach emphasizes his belief that people lead to growth. By prioritizing the well-being and development of his teams, he fostered a positive, stable work environment even in challenging times. This people-centric strategy sets him apart in an industry often focused on short-term financial gains at the expense of employee stability.
His success with Moet Hennessy and Veetee Group demonstrates that a compassionate, employee-focused strategy can lead to remarkable financial outcomes and sustainable organizational growth. Kumar’s unique approach redefines business leadership, proving that caring for people and teams is not only the right thing to do but also highly effective in driving business growth. His achievements highlight the importance of a people-first strategy in creating resilient and thriving organizations.
- You have the option to reference here any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 51 words used.
1. P&G CEO Award
2. International Achievers award 2024
3. 40 under 40 Business elite award 2024
4. Published articles on leadership in DNA and Times of India
5. Judge at various International Awards, including Steavie awards
6. Various speaking and mentorship engagements over last decade. Refer Linkedin for featured events
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