Automotive segment
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership & Business Development
- Develop and execute a
comprehensive strategic plan
to significantly grow the automotive business unit, focusing on both Tier 1 suppliers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). - Identify new business opportunities, target emerging automotive technologies (e.g., electric vehicles), and penetrate new domestic and international markets.
- Establish and nurture high-level relationships with
key decision-makers
at major automotive clients. - Manage P&L for the Automotive business segment, ensuring aggressive growth targets and profitability are met.
2. Sales & Key Account Management
- Lead the Automobile sales team, setting challenging targets, monitoring performance, and providing coaching.
- Oversee all
Key Account Management (KAM)
activities to ensure client satisfaction, retention, and expansion of product usage. - Negotiate major supply agreements, contracts, and pricing structures for polymer compounds (like glass-filled, talc-filled, FR, or custom-engineered PP/Polymer compounds) and specialized masterbatches (color, black, additive) used in automotive parts.
3. Product & Technical Alignment
- Act as the primary interface between the R&D/Technical teams and automotive customers to
drive product innovation
. - Translate complex customer technical requirements (e.g., specific color matches, flame retardancy, impact resistance, UV stabilization) into actionable development projects.
- Ensure all supplied materials meet stringent automotive quality standards, including obtaining necessary OEM approvals and adhering to
IATF 16949
quality management systems. - Monitor industry trends and material advancements to keep Sudarsshan's product portfolio competitive.
4. Operational Excellence & Compliance
- Work closely with Production and Quality teams to ensure efficient order fulfillment and consistent product quality.
- Drive compliance with all environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements related to automotive material supply.
Preferred candidate profile
1. Core Experience & Sector Focus
Deep Industry Tenure:
15+ years of progressive experience, with a significant portion (5+ years) in a Senior Leadership/P&L management role
within the Polymer Compounding, Masterbatch, or Specialty Chemicals
industries.Automotive Specialization:
Non-negotiable, proven track record of successfully growing the business with Indian and Global OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers)
and Tier 1 Automotive Suppliers
(e.g., Motherson, Bosch, Continental).Material Expertise:
Expert-level knowledge of engineering plastics
and their specific functional requirements for automotive applications (e.g., PP, PA, ABS, PC/ABS, TPE, etc.) and the role of masterbatches
(color, additive, black) in achieving final product specifications.
2. Technical and Quality Acumen
Polymer Science/Engineering Background:
A strong academic foundation (B.Tech/M.Tech in Polymer Science, Plastics Engineering, or Chemical Engineering) is essential to effectively bridge the gap between customer technical needs and the company's R&D/Production capabilities.Quality System Mastery:
Thorough understanding and experience with the automotive industry's mandatory quality management standard, IATF 16949
. The candidate must ensure material approval processes and documentation meet global OEM requirements.Application Knowledge:
Intimate familiarity with where the company's products are used (e.g., interior trims, dashboards, exterior bumpers, under-the-hood components) and the related performance standards (e.g., heat resistance, UV stability, impact strength).
3. Leadership & Business Skills
Strategic Growth Driver:
Must have demonstrable experience in developing and executing long-term growth strategies
to capture market share, especially in high-growth areas like EV component manufacturing.P&L Ownership:
Proven ability to manage a significant business unit's Profit and Loss (P&L
), demonstrating financial acumen in pricing, margin optimization, and budgeting.Key Account Negotiation:
Exceptional skills in building and maintaining high-level relationships
with C-suite and procurement leaders at target automotive accounts and negotiating complex, long-term supply contracts.Team Leadership:
A successful track record of mentoring and leading a specialized sales and technical support team.
4. Behavioral Attributes
Results-Oriented:
A highly driven individual with a focus on meeting aggressive revenue and profit targets.Problem Solver:
Capability to rapidly address technical or supply chain issues that arise in high-stakes automotive projects.Global Mindset:
Experience working with international supply chains or global clients is highly advantageous, given the nature of the automotive sector.
