April 25: Grover Zampa Vineyards, which lost its CEO Sumedh Singh Mandla in October 2017 has decided to promote from within, by appointing Vivek Chandramohan, the Chief Operating Officer with 5-year experience in the longest operating wine company in India, with a prior 4+ year experience as Head of Sales, writes Subhash Arora who met him first in January 2012 at the Grover Great Stomp in their Nashik winery
Vivek Chandramohan is a seasoned wine and spirits industry person with around 26 years of experience in the Alco-Bev area. Hailing from Bangalore, he was recruited at the campus by Citi Bank in 1995. He later joined Bacardi-Martini at the bottom of the corporate ladder, rising steadily to a senior regional sales position. He worked for nearly 7 years with brands such as Bacardi, Bacardi Breezer, Glenfiddich, Grants and Grey Goose and co-ordinately extensively with the National Marketing and International teams.
Following this he did stints at AB InBev at a Region Profit Centre Level and with Modi Ilva- Illva Saronno, S.p.A of Italy as their National Sales Manager, before joining Grover Zampa Vineyards at their Mumbai Head Office in 2012 as Head of National Sales. Vivek rose to become Vice President of Sales & Distribution. I met him at the Grover Vineyards in January 2013 during the Grover Stomp at their Nashik Vineyards barely a few months after he had joined the company and found him to be humble yet determined achiever. Assisted by Sumedh Mandla, he increased the sales significantly-(over 10% CAGR volume growth by professionalising the team). This led to the recognition of his achievement and he was appointed as Chief Operating Officer in quick succession.
Naturally, he is very happy about the success he achieved at Grover Zampa Vineyards in such a short time. According to the Press Release, he says, “I am delighted to be associated with Grover Zampa Vineyards, the most prestigious wine producer in India. The brand marked 25 years of its presence in the industry in 2017. Grover Zampa Vineyards have strived to deliver the best quality of wine over the years as evidenced by their wines several awards in international Competitions. Grover Vineyards was awarded Winery of the Year 2018 title by the Asian Wine Review, Hong Kong over a month ago. I look forward to building further on this incredible legacy.”
Grover Zampa Vineyards (GZV) are the most awarded and pioneering wine producers in India, currently at the no. 2 spot behind Sula Vineyards in terms of sales in volumes. They own wineries and vineyards in the Nandi Hills in Karnataka and in the Nashik Valley in Maharashtra. A remarkable combination formed as a result of a merger between Grover Vineyards Ltd (GVL) and Vallee De Vin Pvt Ltd (VDV), GZV boasts an impressive pedigree in the Indian wine industry today and also claims to be the largest exporter of wines from India to over 20 countries.
Working with limited yields, sustainable viticulture practices and selective hand harvesting, the winemaking is carried out by a team of local oenologists under the direction of international French wine consultant Michel Rolland and French winemaker Mathias Pellisard with Karishma Grover as the indigenous winemaker of top standing. As a result GZV won 111 international awards for 13 wines since 2013, shortly after Vivek joined the company.
For more information, visit: www.groverzampa.in
For an earlier related Article, click:
Wine India Moves: Sumedh Singh Mandla calls it a day at Grover Zampa
Subhash Arora
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