Chief Operating Officer - Sales & Operations - FMCG

Position Title: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Reporting To: Chairman / Managing Director

Location: Erode, Tamilnadu

A] Business & Operations Leadership:

- Own complete operational management of the organization, excluding Production and Finance.

- Ensure smooth functioning across Sales, Marketing, HR, Administration, Logistics, Supply Chain, Distribution, and Customer Operations.

- Translate business vision into clear operational plans, KPIs, and execution frameworks.

- Drive operational discipline, accountability, and speed across all functions.

Sales & Marketing Leadership

- Lead national and/or regional sales strategy, channel expansion, and revenue growth.

B] Build scalable sales structures across:

- General Trade

- Modern Trade

- Institutional

- Export

- Digital (if applicable)

- Oversee brand strategy, marketing, demand generation, and go-to-market execution.

- Drive pricing strategy, promotions, distributor management, and customer acquisition initiatives.

C] Strategy & Growth:

- Work closely with promoters and consultants to:

- Understand current beliefs and operating practices

- Discuss and gain clarity on strategic intent

- Identify gaps and key growth blockers

- Develop medium- and long-term growth strategies.

- Lead business expansion into new markets, channels, and strategic partnerships.

- Prepare the organization for scale, professionalization, and leadership transition.

D] People, HR & Culture:

- Build and lead a strong leadership team across all functions.

- Drive organizational structure, role clarity, performance management, and succession planning.

- Establish and reinforce a high-performance, ownership-driven culture.

- Oversee HR policies, hiring strategy, talent development, and retention.

E] Administration, Logistics & Support Functions:

- Oversee administration, infrastructure, facilities, and non-financial compliance.

- Lead logistics, warehousing, and distribution efficiency to meet service level expectations.

- Ensure cost optimization, process standardization, and service excellence across support functions.

Role Boundaries:

- Directly Responsible: Operations, Sales, Marketing, Strategy, HR, Admin, Logistics, Distribution, Customer Experience

Experience:

- 20 years of leadership experience with end-to-end business ownership

- Proven experience as COO / Business Head / CEO (Operations-heavy role)

- Strong background in sales-led organizations

Career Path:

- COO for 12 years, leading full business operations

- Transition to CEO, subject to performance and organizational readiness

Industry Background (Mandatory)

Candidates must have deep leadership exposure in large-scale commodity / FMCG staple businesses, such as:

- Atta / Maida / Wheat-based products

- Edible Oils

- Sugar

- Rice (including Basmati & branded rice)

- Spices & Masalas

- Staples-driven distribution businesses