asha@brand-horizon.com
+91 9900 584095
brand horizon
Leading the present, Shaping the future
Brand Horizon team is led by Asha Sampath who drives Corporate Growth and Brand Strategy
Practice. She has a compact and potent team of about 10 skilled professionals who support her in
working closely with clients as an inhouse team.
FOUNDER PROFILE
Asha leverages over twenty-five years of rich experience in India and Overseas operations – across
sectors with a unique combination of skills in Executive leadership Branding/Marketing and Finance
Management. She has diverse experience in running businesses, both in India and abroad, where
she has fully unleashed potential of brand, she was associated with to launch new products and
expand market share. Proven resilience/success in tackling various business challenges she was
exposed to during her professional journey motivated her to create Brand Horizon a platform that
she now uses to impact businesses positively.
Current roles
She has a diverse portfolio of professional activities. Besides running Brand Horizon, she is also an
Independent director, Chairman of Audit Committee and Member of CSR committee on the board of
TFSIN. She is a guest speaker at B-Schools. She also contributes to media publications where she
shares her valuable insights and experiences. She is on the Advisory council of EFI Corporation, a
global industry leader in Digital Print technology. Last but not the least, she is the Co-founder of a
Media platform called “The Bespoke Show”- a non-profit initiative to spread candid perspectives
across the globe.
Previous Roles
Prior to forming Brand Horizon, her most recent role was that of Managing Director of Endeka
Ceramics India for 2 Opcos – a European MNC having 300 Mn Euro operations worldwide and
presence across all continents. In his role as Country – Head, she had a techno -commercial
responsibility for top line and bottom-line growth for 100+ crores operations. It is a role she was
elevated into after proven contributions as General Manager of the same company and prior to that
as Finance Controller and Company Secretary for India operations. Her General Management roles
involved responsibility for First Asian Greenfield project for product launch in Gujarat. She got her
first International exposure and an opportunity to cross functions cross Asian countries when she
was given the opportunity to set up trading operations in Indonesia as part of Asia Management
team. Her professional stint also includes financial domain positions with Price Waterhouse,
Kirloskar Electric and Carrier Transicold (Part of United Technologies, INC USA).
Qualification
- Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants
- Associate of Institute of Company Secretary
- Completed ICMA, London examination.
- Completed International Management Development program in UK.
Significant professional accomplishments
- Well thought out succession planning in finance department before transitioning to general management. Helped reinvest cash flow management efficiency and acknowledged by HQ in Europe.
- 2008 global recession had a severe impact on a greenfield project that was well under way in Gujarat. Out of the box solutions were conceptualised which did not just bail company out of severe financial crisis but also commissioned project with minimum time and cost overruns.
- Disruptive changes in distribution chain that helped increase customer base 10x within a short span by unlocking full potential of the brand
- Indian Opco became the first unit globally to introduce new applications into unchartered territory for the first time in 50 years
- A structured Brand strategy that helped to achieve premium pricing for new launch that was up against several established players for over a decade
- Landmark notifications in Central Excise that benefitted entire Industry Strong commitment to health and safety in business and led team to achieve Integrated certification for ISO 9001, OHSAS 14001 AND 18001
- Successfully transitioned entire group and local systems to JD Edwards ERP systems amidst cultural challenges
What makes Asha exceptional
- Her passion and grit for challenges and resilience to crisis, no matter how daunting
- Unique combination of Talent in Executive Leadership, Finance Management and Brand Management
- A natural ability to reach out and connect with people that helps to unleash the best in teams
Professional lessons learnt
- Let go small battles if you want to win bigger battles
- You can’t start next chapter if you keep reading the previous ones
- Takes years to build a brand and moments to destroy. Serve your 5 0035cl customers so well that they begin to co-create your brand for you
Her other Interests
- Reading and Music
- She loses no opportunity to pack up bags and set out on short get away.
- She loves meaningful networking that builds associations that can make her a better person than she is.
Her favourites
- A book that has shaped her life – “Secret” - Rhonda Byrne
- A Poem that has inspired her - “IF” – By Rudyard Kipling
- A Song that has influenced her – “I did it My Way “– sung by Frank Sinatra