Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, February 2025 – Abhishek Thard has been named Managing Director, India at Advantage Group International, where he will lead the company’s India operations, drive business growth, and enhance client relationships. With a career spanning nearly two decades in sales, strategy, and business transformation, Thard’s expertise will be instrumental in strengthening Advantage Group’s position in India’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and retail ecosystem.
Before joining Advantage Group International, Thard spent over 18 years at Unilever, where he held several key leadership roles. Most recently, he served as Customer Category Strategy & Planning Head, Beauty & Wellness & Personal Care, South Asia, where he led sales strategy, category growth, and commercial resource planning, impacting 40% of Unilever South Asia’s business. He was also Director, Global Design for Channel Head, where he spearheaded emerging channel strategies, implemented predictive tools for market evolution, and scaled innovations across Unilever’s top 20 global markets.
Earlier, Thard was Director, Modern Trade & eCommerce Head at Unilever Vietnam, leading seven modern channels, managing a €250 million business, and spearheading the digital transformation of eCommerce and omnichannel operations. He also served as Personal Care Head for eCommerce & Emerging Channels, where he scaled Unilever India’s eCommerce revenue from €2 million to €27 million, contributing significantly to business growth.
Prior to these roles, he held various sales and strategy positions, including Business Head for Professional Products, National Account Manager, and Key Account Manager at Unilever. He began his career as an Area Sales Manager at Cadbury India Limited, where he developed and deployed sales & distribution strategies, managing a multimillion-dollar turnover. His deep expertise in sales management, market planning, and business development has been pivotal in his professional journey.
About Advantage Group International
Advantage Group International is a global leader in supplier and retailer engagement solutions, offering data-driven insights and strategic consulting to improve business relationships. With a presence in over 40 countries, Advantage Group helps FMCG companies and retailers collaborate more effectively, driving positive behavior change and business growth through mutual feedback and analytics-driven strategy execution.
Read Also : Entering 2025, TA Leaders’ Success Built on More than Just Hiring, Says The Josh Bersin Company
People Analytics Teams Still Struggle to Deliver Business Impact, Warns The Josh Bersin Company
ESG and Women’s Leadership: Driving Sustainability and Inclusion
Learning and Development Trends for 2025: Shaping the Future of Workplace Learning
