With over 22 years of experience in sales, marketing, communications, branding and research, Anupam Vasudev, chief marketing officer, Aircel, is the driving force behind one of the most innovative brands in India.
An economics graduate from St Stephen’s College and an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, Vasudev started his career with FMCG major Hindustan Unilever and then went on to work for SC Johnson Consumer Products’ US office. He served as regional director, Asia region, during his over half-a-decade stint with SC Johnson before moving to Star India.
In 2011, Vasudev joined Aircel and contributed significantly to its turnaround, making it one of the most innovative telecom brands in the country. “Aircel’s turnaround was certainly a challenging task that required a lot of patience and perseverance. I still feel that we have just arrived as a very young and dynamic brand that is constantly innovating and disrupting the market. Aircel’s success is one of the best stories that I have been a part of,” says Vasudev.
He, however, gives the credit for this success to his marketing team at Aircel. “I have been blessed with a great team at Aircel. This fabulous journey wouldn’t have been possible without my team. The team’s out-of-the-box approach has led to some disruptive ideas for the brand,” he says. Being a seasoned marketer, Vasudev feels that keeping pace with industry growth and predicting consumer trends are the need of the hour. “My tip to upcoming marketers is to understand and capture the pulse of their consumer base so as to predict future trends and have a first-mover advantage in offering innovative products. The only way to do so this is for marketers to have an in-depth understanding of the needs and requirements of their customers,” he says.
Growing up, Vasudev always believed in “making a difference to the people around”. He is still a strong believer in making people responsible and feels that this is the only way to build a strong team. “In a challenging and stressed environment, you always look for inspiration. I have three principles in life: do hard work, believe in karma, and ensure that your body and mind are always active.”
He practises yoga, takes time out for a game of tennis, and enjoys spending time with his “very supportive family”. He also likes reading magazines, listening to Ted talks, watching TV shows and playing with his children. w