Vineet Trakroo: Pioneering Quantum Growth in Indian Business Transformation

There has been a significant rise in business consultancy firms these days which clearly states the fact that this kind of venture is being highly preferred by entrepreneurs in India. They aim to transform and optimize B2C (Business-to-Consumer) companies in a holistic manner. These business consultancy firms offer comprehensive services including integrative business solution and transformation, strategic planning, sales optimization, marketing solutions, alliances and partnerships, and impeccable execution. By offering these services, they help other businesses align their strategies with market dynamics, drive revenue growth, and foster continued success.

Evolution Strategy Advisors LLP, founded by Vineet Trakroo, is one of the best firms out there which exemplifies the type of business consultancy that is becoming increasingly vital in today’s dynamic market. By providing specialized, strategic, and execution-focused services, they help B2C companies navigate challenges, embrace opportunities, and achieve sustainable growth. The CEO, Vineet, is a seasoned entrepreneur specializing in consulting for operational strategy and business transformation since 2013. With a remarkable career spanning decades, he has managed over 100 leading brands for more than 60 organizations by creating business models that consistently deliver significant growth, ranging from 20% to 60% annually, using his proven proprietary methods.

As a turnaround specialist, Vineet has revitalized sales, marketing, and strategy operations, and has served as a profit center head. His prior roles include heading FMCG sales and marketing operations for over a decade and leading marketing and strategy for another 12 years, managing over 50 brands across various industries. Notably, he established international JVs for brands like Unilever, Coty, and Honeywell in India. Vineet has received prestigious awards, including the Cannes Award for Advertising, and is recognized as one of India’s 50 Most Talented Brand Leaders and Most Influential Global Marketing Leaders

Educational and Professional Background:

Vineet Trakroo’s journey as a business leader began after spending 23 years in leading B2C organizations such as Usha International, Cavinkare, Pidilite, and Beiersdorf1. His educational foundation includes an Electrical Engineering degree and an MBA in Marketing from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai.

In 1995 at the age of 27 Vineet was heading the Sales and Marketing operations for one of India’s oldest brands, Postman edible oils. By 1997 he had signed a JV with Unilever to get some of their imported brands into India. He was the 1 st Head of Marketing for Fevicol in 1999 set up their marketing department and created a new Brand identity for Fevicol. He also conceptualized and launched the Fevicol Champions Club, a CRM program for Carpenters and Contractors.

Vineet then went on to head Sales and Marketing for Beiersdorf India better known for their brands such as Nivea and Hansaplast. Following that, he was promoted as the head of marketing when he joined Cavinkare in 2008 during which he brought the Adidas range of personal care products to India in a Joint Venture with Coty. In 2011, Vineet started to work with Usha International as CMO and was responsible for a major brand and business transformation which grew their business by 50%. Having spent over 23 years in corporate, Vineet created ESA- Evolution Strategy Advisors, a boutique consulting firm focusing on exponential growth for the manufacturing based B2C industry.

The Company’s Services and Milestones:

Evolution Strategy Advisors offers end-to-end solutions to clients. Their services include business transformation for existing and new organizations, operational strategy,

and execution across sales, distribution, marketing, brand, and product management.

Coming to achievements, Vineet has transformed loss-making brands, doubled sales

within 12 months, and represented international brands like Coty, Honeywell, and Westinghouse for licensing and joint ventures. Over the past decade, Evolution Strategy Advisors has completed more than 100 projects for over 50 clients across sectors, including FMCG, durables, building materials, pharmaceuticals, and B2B.

Their differentiated approach and focus on providing end-to-end solutions have resulted in over 80% repeat customers, reflecting the trust clients have in their ability to deliver tangible results. Some of India’s largest business houses such as Titan, Tata Motors, Mahindra, Murugappa Group’s Carborundum Universal Limited and Parry’s, Crompton, have done multiple projects with ESA. Also, big MNCs like Pepsi, Abbott, Pfizer, Saint Gobain, Kokuyo Camlin, Asahi and many more have successfully availed ESA’s services. Vineet drives business development as well as client relationships apart from being responsible for bringing in technology and data analytics abilities.

Key Values and Principles driving ESA’s success

As a conscious and successful entrepreneur, Vineet Trakroo has a set of values that he thoroughly abides by. He believes in:

Quick results: ESA believes in delivering quick results for their clients, in a matter of 3 months because clients prefer quick and sustainable results.

Practical Approach: The company provides cost-effective suggestions that align with clients’ budgets and organizational culture. These solutions are straightforward and can be implemented immediately.

Domain Resource: They have a team of senior professionals, including former CFOs and individuals with deep industry knowledge, dedicated to working on their clients’ business. These seniors possess a nuanced understanding of business operations and what strategies work best for their respective industries.

Being Sincere and factual: ESA provides advice that is fair and truthful as well as backed with data which reduces subjectivity. Their focus is centered on the solution and not the problem.

Opportunities and Challenges in India's Emerging Industrial Sector

Despite getting Independence in 1947, Vineet says that the Indian industry is new. The initial industry was set under license Raj, a public sector government system, was followed, a model which is now deemed unproductive as modern manufacturing, sourcing and management have brought in new efficiencies. Industrialization truly began post-liberalization around 2000-2005. The startup ecosystem which got support only for the last 7-8 years is a large employer but doesn’t yet contribute highly to the GDP and has a very high mortality rate.

As per Vineet, the MSME which were established decades ago to support industry is still stifled for money and is struggling due to international competition and imports as well as their small scale, making them expensive and inefficient. The traditional Indian entrepreneur still doubts technology and modernisation which come at a cost and neither do they invest in professional people or systems. Vineet sees these challenges as opportunities that require the right mindset to resolve..

Vineet opines that to be competitive talent needs to be absorbed and technology has to be used as an enabler. How talent can be made available to jump start companies for the competencies they don’t have is a gap which consulting can fill. While with the startup mindset it’s much easier for MSME to raise money today, if one has a proof of concept, which is easier for the manufacturing sector as opposed to the service sector.

Staying Ahead in the Game of Innovation:

Vineet Trakroo has remained at the forefront of using technology in his work of providing business solutions.

The company has devised their own tools which were operating on cloud platforms for 10 years for universal and quick access to our clients. We have also been using cloud computing since then.

They have been using data analytics and visualization techniques much before Power BI was available. This too has been used for the last 11 years.

Project management techniques such as OKR (Objectives and Key Results) are being adopted to streamline execution. These methods, pioneered by Google and Intel, enhance efficiency and accelerate delivery timelines.

ESA’s projects involve a lot of data analytics as their recommendations are all supported with client data.

They have also enabled their clients to migrate to sales automation and taught them how to use data in day to day operations and identifying insights.

Introducing Brand Licensing and International Collaborations in India

When Vineet began operations at ESA, he was also in the field of brand licensing which is a global phenomenon for products but as per his view is still to enter India in a big way. He has had a relationship with LMCA- New York based brand licensing specialists which has been a leader in this field for 5 years and represented brands like Castrol, Westinghouse Hewlett Packard’s Compaq, Ingersoll Rand and more.

His company has also represented other international brands like Honeywell, Coty, Minus417- luxury cosmetics, Pressels- snack food, for alliances, joint ventures, and distribution. Earlier, ESA has also been a representative of Del Monte in India.

A Holistic Approach towards Leadership

Vineet Trakroo describes his leadership style as team-oriented. He believes that Evolution Strategy Advisors stands out due to its unique approach to business solutions. The company operates as a cohesive team of former CXOs—individuals who have run companies successfully and now work in predefined roles, offering integrated services from conceptualizing strategy to execution. According to Vineet, this comprehensive approach has been instrumental in delivering success to clients and maintaining long-standing relationships. While internally fostering a team-oriented environment, he emphasizes a mentor approach externally, guiding clients with strategic advice and enabling them to transform their organizations.

ESA’s Clients Take the Centre Stage for their Inspiration

Vineet says that his inspiration has been the myriad of leaders he has had the privilege to work alongside, both as employers and clients. Their mentorship and foresight have indelibly shaped my professional journey and personal growth. He still considers his clients as the center of learning and knowledge who have achieved success in their fields, they are an inspiration in themselves. In Vineet’s opinion, his clients have been visionaries and risk takers as they have spotted a future opportunity and engaged with his company to disrupt their present for their future. It’s his clients’ belief in him to deliver which drives his team harder to go beyond their expectations. That’s what has helped him build lasting relations with his clients.

Highly Ambitious Future Goals

Looking ahead, Evolution aims to continue growing, adapting, and partnering with B2C

organizations. Their focus remains on business health analysis and transformation, leveraging

consulting, research, and analytics techniques. The company’s commitment to tangible results and innovation will drive its success in the years to come. The digitization of business, not just in

marketing but also in sales, has become a significant trend, and Evolution Strategy Advisors

embraces this in providing transformation solutions which are backed by data. With an expanded team of professionals we are now targeting more industries for transforming them.

Redefining India’s Business Landscape Through Quantum Growth

Vineet is of the belief that in order to make a significant impact on the Indian industry, he needs to touch at least 1,000 brands, a future target which he has set for the company. He aims to make quantum growth a practical solution that every organization should pursue. With the lifespan of any corporation reducing due to technology, policies, obsolescence, commoditization, or competition, it is necessary to maximize growth while we can. A healthy, growing organization breeds talent, and that talent contributes to the industry for future growth.