Mrigaban Ray
Joined ITC: 2001
Mrigaban's journey in ITC:
After acquiring a degree in Mechanical Engineering from REC Warangal (now NIT Warangal), I entered the world of ITC as a part of the 2001 AUT Batch. After a detailed training program that lasted over six months and across various businesses, I was posted in ILTD - the leaf tobacco development division of ITC. In a short time, I realized that this organization has a great habit of allowing an individual to experiment if he/she is willing to push his/her limits. For me, it turned out to be a great realization as I attempted career moves one after the other which helped me broaden my exposure to various businesses across functions.
So while I started with the tobacco supply chain in ILTD and moved on from there to handle tobacco exports to international customers, to heading the tobacco purchase department for our cigarette division, and then became the Branch manager, responsible for business deliveries for a particular branch in the FMCG portfolio of ITC. I am currently the Vice President for Category and Development of the PCP & MAB Business within the Trade Marketing & Distribution division.
The journey till now has been everything but stagnating. While on the one hand, I learned the nuances of the international tobacco trade, on the other I learned about cigarettes as a product. And now having learned what it takes to sell this product, I also landed myself an opportunity to sell not only cigarettes but all the other FMCG products including packaged foods and personal care.
As I complete more than a decade in ITC, I can only look forward with the glimmering hope of a fulfilling career with the realization that this great organization will continue to provide the opportunity and the challenges that will instigate an individual to push the boundaries.
Mrigaban's thoughts on ITC as a Workplace:
Extremely professional and supportive, ITC is an organization that encourages healthy competition and believes in meritocracy. Any workplace irrespective of the function reflects concerted efforts through effective teamwork. True to its spirit, ITC has always completed tasks in teams and shared credit amongst team members. The people I met here and worked with are certainly the most remarkable in terms of providing support and encouragement to go beyond. The passion to deliver at every level is endemic, it fills the workplace with positive vibes and the attitude - "Together We can and we will".
Mrigaban believes ITC offers you:
ITC is a mix of old and new. On the one hand, it has extremely stable business portfolios from cigarettes to hotels, on the other it is rapidly diversifying towards becoming the country's most formidable FMCG players. The stable businesses challenge you to maintain the growth momentum despite maturity, while the newer forays push you to achieve the required scale in a profitable manner. Very few corporate houses offer you this heady mix wherein your career gets width and exposure by traversing through this diverse portfolio of businesses. ITC formally recognizes "Innovation" to be one of the key pillars of success in remaining and growing as a formidable player in the Indian Industry. Hence if innovation and creativity are what pushes the adrenalin in you, then ITC is the kind of organization that should satisfy your quest.