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CFO and Chartered Accountant with 25 years of experience scaling consumer…
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Chirag Shah posted this2025 Reflections | Under Construction 2025 was not business as usual. It was a year under active construction—hard hats on, close to completion, but very much still a work in progress. The kind of year where you build for the future while navigating noise, friction, and uncertainty. Laying the foundation: Resilience This was one of the most demanding years we’ve faced. Internal complexity collided with external volatility, and the bar kept rising. What stands out most isn’t just the KPIs—important as they are—but the work underneath them: 1) teams collaborating deeply, 2) improving execution in tough conditions, and 3) setting up for a rebound in 2026. Much of this effort won’t fully show up in today’s numbers—but it will decisively shape tomorrow. Erecting the structure: Transformation We invested in change that compounds. A new ERP, a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, stronger capabilities across planning, RGM, working capital, and more. Each initiative is material on its own. Some are live, some nearing completion—but all expand what’s possible for the business ahead. Finishing touches: Serving consumers Our new launches continued to earn strong consumer love—along with a few understandable frowns when supply couldn’t keep pace with demand. An uncomfortable but good problem. We exit the year stronger, more capable, and better positioned to deliver many more smiles in 2026. The builders: Our teams My sincere thanks to the teams who stayed persistent through the chaos, focused on the long term, and showed up every day with commitment and grit. And equal thanks to their families, whose support made that possible. Looking ahead 2025 was a year of congestion, detours, and controlled chaos—as we built the road forward. That road is now stronger, resilient, and designed for long-term growth. In 2026, we move from building to benefiting. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, fulfilling 2026.
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Chirag Shah shared thisLast week, we had the privilege of welcoming Poul Weihrauch, CEO of Mars Inc., to Nature's Bakery plant at Salt Lake City It was a proud moment for our team to share what we do every day – the passion, collaboration and enterprise mindset as we scale the plant What stood out most was Poul Weihrauch's genuine time with our associates, listening to their stories, sharing his perspectives and inspiring them. This is what makes being part of Mars special – a focus on people, purpose, and growth done the right way. Grateful for the visit and excited for what we’ll build together in the journey ahead. Blas Maquivar, Jason Evans, Clint Briske, Nic Dawson #Mars #NaturesBakery #Leadership #BetterTogether
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Chirag Shah shared thisToday marks a pivotal milestone in Nature's Bakery’s growth journey. With the official opening of our 339,000 sq. ft. Salt Lake City baking facility, we’ve unlocked a new chapter in scale, resilience, and long-term value creation This $240 million investment by Mars is not just about capacity — though producing 1+ billion incremental bars annually is a leap. It’s a strategic move to strengthen self-manufacturing, build agility into our supply chain, and support the exponential growth of a brand consumers love. As CFO, I am especially proud of how this investment aligns with our commitment to responsible growth — one rooted in operational excellence, financial stewardship, and sustainable impact for our business, our people, and our communities. It has been an honor to be part of this transformation. A huge thank you to the incredible teams at Nature's Bakery and Mars who brought this to life. The future is not only bigger — it’s better built. Read more in our full press release below. https://lnkd.in/gPwXGMHh #NaturesBakery #ProudlyMars #SaltLakeCity #NBinSLC #StrategicGrowth #CFOPerspective
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Chirag Shah reposted thisChirag Shah reposted thisI am very excited about today’s historic announcement: Mars has agreed to acquire Kellanova – home to a highly complementary portfolio of well-known brands like Pringles®, Cheez-It® and Pop-Tarts®. We have seen healthy growth across our diverse portfolio in recent years and Kellanova is a fantastic addition and a great fit for our Mars Snacking business! With Kellanova, we will accelerate our Snacking goals to unlock responsible growth in more geographies, while driving an even greater positive societal impact. We have a strong track record of nurturing and expanding our acquired businesses, and we look forward to welcoming Kellanova into Mars Snacking. I know we will achieve great things together. #SnackingIsBetterTogether #TomorrowStartsToday #MomentsofEverydayHappiness #Mars #Kellanova
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Chirag Shah shared thisJust wrapped up an incredible one-year journey with the Wharton Executive Education | Global C-Suite Program at The Wharton School The past year has been transformative, filled with deep learning, strategic insights, engaging discussions with outstanding faculty (Emilie R. Feldman, Mae McDonnell, Michael Useem, Lori Rosenkopf and several others) and forging of invaluable friendships with fellow C-Suite leaders from around the world. The two-day closure event was a perfect culmination, highlighting the essence of collaboration, innovation, and leadership. The connections and friendships forged will serve as a powerful network for collaborative success and industry leadership. Continuous learning is the cornerstone of effective leadership. By staying ahead of industry trends and embracing new perspectives, we not only drive growth and innovation but also ensure we remain relevant and adaptable in a rapidly evolving business landscape Appreciate Mars, Nature's Bakery and my leaders that supported me in this journey. #Wharton #Leadership #LearningJourney #Networking
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Chirag Shah reposted thisChirag Shah reposted thisSweet meets salty. Goodness meets deliciousness. Snacktime meets me-time. ✨ Introducing Salted Caramel Brownie: our new, dreamy soft-baked snack made with wholesome whole grains, deliciously dairy-free caramel, real chocolate—and a hint of salt. Beginning today, this sweet treat can be purchased at Naturesbakery.com and Amazon, followed by an in-store launch at Target this summer. Salted Caramel Brownie follows in the successful launch of our Double Chocolate Brownie last July. In less than a year, Double Chocolate Brownie sells more units per store per week than any other multi-pack brownie at two national retailers, according to IRI Unify. “Following the positive response to our Double Chocolate Brownie, we're excited to give consumers more of what they love: permissible indulgence they can feel good about. The allure of Salted Caramel Brownie is in the name – it’s the perfect balance of sweet, salty—and fudgy. We’re proud to deliver on great taste and real ingredients like whole grains, cocoa and dates with a recipe that’s plant-based and nut-free. Our new brownie is a sweet treat everyone can enjoy.” - Vilma L., Chief Marketing Officer at Nature's Bakery “When we developed the Salted Caramel Brownie recipe, we focused on simplicity, top-notch ingredients, and infusing every soft-baked bite with deliciousness. After several attempts and taste tests with our team and beloved consumers, we found the best combination of real chocolate and the right balance of caramel with a hint of salt. Great taste without compromising on great ingredients was our top priority to ensure every snack break scores brownie points with consumers.” - Alice A. Kim, Senior Innovation Manager at Nature's Bakery Click below to read our press release and learn more! 🍫 #NaturesBakery #Innovation #NewNATURE'S BAKERY EXPANDS FAMILY FAVORITE BROWNIE LINE WITH SALTED CARAMEL FLAVORNATURE'S BAKERY EXPANDS FAMILY FAVORITE BROWNIE LINE WITH SALTED CARAMEL FLAVOR
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Chirag Shah shared thisIn an increasingly virtual and digital world, it is critical to take the time to connect as a team, know the person behind the role and join hands to elevate the game. Early this week, our finance and digital technologies team came together, to pause and acknowledge the milestones we achieved as a team, to recognize fellow teammates and equally reflect on the lessons learnt. As we step into the promising landscape of 2024, we immersed ourselves into the organization’s strategy, priorities and how each of us will play a role in achieving and exceeding those goals. We spent quality time on learning new capabilities and of course, we had a lot of fun with tons of creativity! Thanks Todd Winkleman, Kathy LaMarr-Bines & Danessa Quadros for an engaging session on development planning and team’s behavioral styles. Thanks Yunji Chelsea Kim & Zoë Orr for a wonderful session on the art of storytelling. Thanks to Nature's Bakery leadership team Steve Gardiner, Vilma L., Jason Evans, Rhonda Duncan & Todd Winkleman for recognizing the team and sharing your expectations of 2024. Thanks to my leadership team Cody Kaduce, CMA,Kevin Goforth, Sossi Badalian & Vikram Datir for your continued pursuit of excellence in partnering the business to higher growth and value creation. And last but not the least, to the entire finance and digital technology team for bringing your best to work, every day and continuing to elevate. Proud of you all!
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Chirag Shah reposted thisChirag Shah reposted thisHeading to #ExpoWest next week? Be sure to stop by Hall A booth #455 for a snack and a chat! #NaturesBakery #ComeBySayHi #ExpoWest2024
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Chirag Shah shared thisExciting opportunity to work in a collaborative environment within a fast growing business
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Chirag Shah liked thisChirag Shah liked thisYesterday, we announced the MQ’26 results for Hindustan Unilever Limited. #HUL reported a consolidated revenue growth of 8%, led by underlying volume growth of 6%. This marks our highest growth in 12 quarters. EBITDA grew 6% year-on-year while EBITDA margin at 23.7% was at the higher end of our guided range. The growth was broad-based across our business segments, fueled by sharper resource allocation across fewer bigger bets, doubling down on market development in low penetration categories & formats, and scaling up execution with speed. We took decisive actions during the year to accelerate growth, resulting in significant step up sequentially, and building momentum as we move forward. Growth will continue to remain our no. 1 priority. For more, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/dgi6YZXA
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Chirag Shah liked thisI’m honoured to be appointed Chair of Kerry Group. Tom Moran has provided outstanding stewardship as Chair since April 2022, and I want to thank him for his service and the strong foundations he leaves behind. Having served on the Kerry Board since 2022, I’ve seen firsthand the strength of Kerry’s strategy, culture and capabilities, and the ambition of our people. I look forward to working with my fellow Directors, Edmond Scanlon ,Marguerite Larkin , and the leadership team as we continue to deliver on our strategy, create long‑term value for all stakeholders, and shape the future of sustainable nutrition.Chirag Shah liked thisWe’re pleased to share that Fiona Dawson has been appointed Chair of the Board of Kerry Group plc. Fiona brings more than 30 years of senior leadership experience across the global consumer food and beverage sector. Her deep industry insight, combined with a strong understanding of international food and beverage markets, customers and general management, will be a significant asset as she steps into this role. As Fiona takes up the position, we also mark the conclusion of Tom Moran’s 10-year tenure on the Board, as a non- Executive Director and more recently as Chair. Tom has provided outstanding leadership and stewardship both as Chair and as a Board member, making a lasting contribution to our business. We thank him sincerely and wish him every success in the next chapter of his journey. We also extend our thanks to Patrick Rohan, who retires from the Board after a three-year term. Patrick brought valuable insight and perspective during his time in role, and we are grateful for his contribution. We look forward to this next chapter, building on strong foundations as we continue to deliver sustainable, long-term value.
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Chirag Shah liked thisChirag Shah liked thisI recently returned from a visit to the Cheez-It and Cracker bakery in Cary, NC with our Mars Snacking Technical Leadership Team. The culture that Steve Surovec and his leadership team have created at the Cary site was truly inspiring. The site is a beacon for both digital technologies and diversity, and the results speak for themselves. Being with our technical team back on the bakery floor brought back fond memories of the start of my career at General Mills where I began as a Systems Engineer and then worked as a third shift production supervisor from 10pm to 6am. Starting my career on the shop floor taught me so much about deeply understanding what people really need to do their jobs well, about the value of picking up a broom when the floor needs sweeping, and about servant leadership overall. Finally, I absolutely need to mention how amazing it is to have a job that requires me to taste test all forms of #CheezIts. It ain’t easy being Cheezy Big thanks to Rodrigo Lance and Amanda Davies for their amazing leadership of the Mars Snacking Technical Leadership Team. #ProudlyMars #WomeninEngineering
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Chirag Shah liked thisChirag Shah liked thisWhat makes a country truly worth staying in for decades? On my first day in New Zealand, our driver—a German immigrant of nearly 40 years—answered it in one line: “the people” Over the next few days, I saw it everywhere. A quiet fairness. A grounded way of living. Even at the airport—no “business class” calls, just passengers by row number. Small detail, but a powerful signal. At Blind Low Vision NZ, a trainer shared how guide dogs are prepared. Her voice trembled as she spoke about rejecting some dogs—even after two years of training—because safety comes first. That stayed with me. When purpose runs that deep, passion doesn’t need to be reinforced. And then, the land. A few hours on a farm—lush, expansive, almost untouched. Clean air, disciplined shepherd dogs, and a sense of care you could feel. It brought to mind the phrase from the Book of Genesis: “and it was good.” I left with a simple question: What would it take for us to build workplaces & communities that feel like this—fair, calm, and quietly happy? #Leadership #Culture #Purpose #NewZealand #LearningJourney Sheetal Mehta Jeremy Sassoon Kenrick Nazareth Jackie Wilson David Cai Catarina Elias Michelle Gazzola
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Chirag Shah liked thisChirag Shah liked this"𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝘄𝘀" Part of a brand with a great heritage like McVitie’s reminds me daily that while strategy is 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗲. I enjoyed reflecting on why culture remains our strongest competitive edge in this recent feature by Economic Times. In an industry focused on scale, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆. A big thank you to the team at ET for the feature and the thoughtful conversation. #CultureAsStrategy #Leadership #PladisIndia #FMCG #pladis #McvitiesIndia #Excellence #pladisIndia #FMCG #Learning https://lnkd.in/ghsUetARWhen culture becomes strategy: The competitive edge you can’t copyWhen culture becomes strategy: The competitive edge you can’t copy
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Chirag Shah liked thisChirag Shah liked thisVery proud of our team for all the hard work to bring our newest brew to market! It's Death Wish Coffee’s strongest roast yet, and available now on Amazon and DeathWishCoffee.com. With more than 200 mg of caffeine per serving, our 100% Organic and naturally caffeinated blend is made for days when routines don’t exist, and responsibilities don’t slow down. Introducing: POWER SURGE — because when life surges, so do you.
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Chirag Shah liked thisChirag Shah liked thisFriendship so goated, we didn’t have a decent picture together! Milestones like Reliance Retail opening their 1000th store don’t just mark growth - they bring back the warmth of where it all began. Flash back to the privilege of working closely on the 1st Reliance Retail store (Hyderabad, was it ??). Then, we were younger, the dreams were just taking shape and Damodar Mall was already a legend and personal mentor. Today, we may not have nailed the photo, but we certainly got the journey right. There’s something wonderfully endearing about the picture - still slightly awkward pagris, the wide smiles, and the quiet belief that we were building something meaningful together. The 1000th store journey reflects not just scale, but heart - the people, the convictions, the partnerships, and the shared commitment to serve millions of Indian consumers better every day. Here’s to the memories that make us smile, the journeys that make us proud, and the many milestones still waiting ahead… hopefully with improved pagri coordination 😉 Here’s to 1,000 more, #SupermarketWala Damodar Mall #RelianceRetail
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Chirag Shah liked thisChirag Shah liked this🍓A proper trü frü welcome for our 100th Associate ! 🍓 We continue to grow our business and our team, but never forget where we come from, or how important it is to make each new Associate know they belong. 🍓 We probably scared the life out of Joseph Canakes but he will always be ‘associate 100’ and never forget joining us! #bettertogether #proudlymara
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Chirag Shah liked thisEnjoyed my conversation with Joe Horsey at Anaplan Connect! Thank you, Emily and the Anaplan team, for planning such a wonderful session - and for capturing the moment on camera 😊Chirag Shah liked thisFantastic buzz from attendees of the #AnaplanConnect San Jose session with Janani Venkatesan of HubSpot and Anaplan's Joseph Horsey. While I couldn't be there in person, the key takeaways shared with me are too good not to pass on for all of us leveraging AI to achieve business outcomes: Start with guardrails. Responsible AI isn't about a tech arms race. It's about setting clear boundaries and proving value with simple use cases before scaling 💡 Embrace the human element. This is fundamentally a people and change challenge, not just a technology one. AI transformation demands intentional, thoughtful change management 💡 Focus on the "why." Deploying AI is not the end goal. The real objective must always be solving the core business problem 💡 Every time I have the opportunity to listen to Janani speak, I come away inspired and excited about the realm of possibility. This was especially true after I tuned into her recent conversation with Harvard Business Review and Anaplan's Leigh Romeo, discussing 'What makes an AI agent “real” — and how it can transform enterprise planning.' If you want to hear more of Janani's strategic vision firsthand, I highly recommend giving it a listen. It’s a masterclass in navigating the future of AI with curiosity and heart. Link to view the webinar on-demand in the comments ⬇️ Thanks to Ryan Tohill, Chris Meurin, Whitney Pazzo, Melissa L. Alonso, Meghan Williams, Lisa Rico, Yelena Kibasova, Danielle Dahlstrom, MBA, Alaine Dole, Jason S., John Rakowski, Ruth Juni, Parikshit Singh, Lucy Giovannetti, and many more for their support of the San Jose session and on-demand webinar 🙏
Experience & Education
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Mars
View Chirag’s full experience
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Licenses & Certifications
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Certified Procurement Professional
CIPS - The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply
IssuedCredential ID Level 4
Honors & Awards
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CFO Power List 2020 - Digital Finance Transformation
CFO Power List
Recognition for driving best in class digital transformation in finance across different industries
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CFO Power List - Finance Automation Icon
CFO Power List
Recognition for driving finance automation in finance across different industries
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Make the Difference Award
Mars
Awarded the prestigious Make The Difference Award for Finance Excellence Center in India which helped the business move towards best in class finance operations, creating value for the business and growth opportunities for talent
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Gold Winner at Global Unilever Accounting Olympiad
Unilever Corporate
Languages
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English
Full professional proficiency
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Hindi
Professional working proficiency
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Gujarati
Professional working proficiency
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Marathi
Elementary proficiency
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Rohit Mantry
Rohit Mantry
-- Competent & diligent professional with 16 years of experience in Finance, Supply Chain Finance, Procurement Finance, Sourcing & Procurement, Inventory Management, Supply Chain Management, Supplier Relationship Management, Procurement Operations and Logistics, Business Finance<br><br>-- Demonstrated capabilities in various Business Partnering roles & execution of assigned task. Strategic ability in striking perfect coordination with involved partners to ensure delivery of business objectives. Experience of working as business partner to Supply Chain/Sales/Category in various roles undertaken in last 9 years.<br><br>-- Adequate professional strengths in streamlining financial processes; proven acumen to track new initiatives to deliver cost savings to the business.<br><br>-- Rich corporate experience of working in different business environment - Branch Sales Office, Factory & Head office.<br><br>-- Experience of working in regional procurement role at Singapore, servicing 20 countries is Asia/Africa & working with people from different nationalities. Experience of dealing with national & international suppliers, studying supplier’s competence, preparation of estimates & proposals, technical & commercial negotiations & contract finalization.<br><br>-- Expertise in designing, consolidating & improving organizational processes. Innate strengths in handling expectations of various business partners & delivering on the same.
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