Offbeat: Zameer Kochar – Harbouring restaurateuring dreams

Zameer Kochar, Head - Marketing & Member Engagement, JetPrivilege, is a high impact marketer, demonstrating a strategic mind-set towards Brand Marketing & Strategy, Business Growth & Expansion, Performance Measurement & Category Management. At JetPrivilege, he has been instrumental in driving new member acquisition, deepening existing member engagement to build businesses through creation of strong brand equity and reputation resulting in sustained top and bottom-line performances. Apart from this, he has also been responsible for delivering a Customer Centric, Life cycle Management driven approach to develop, grow, market JetPrivilege as an everyday, lifestyle loyalty and rewards program. 

With over 15 years of work experience in Brand Management, Kochar is a Certified ROI Marketer and has worked in FMCG, Media & Loyalty companies before his current role in JetPrivilege. In his previous stints, Kochar has independently led work to launch multiple brands, multiple categories and has been responsible for delivering the overall brand’s business results and marketing objectives. One of his key areas of expertise is leveraging optimised 360 media mix of mass, direct and digital to build sustainable brands with purpose and drive market leaders. In his free time he loves to spend as much as time he can with his 5-year old daughter. 

A precious childhood trait that you still possess?
Ever since I was a child, I have always been very meticulous and organised about my things. I think the quality of doing things with great attention-to-detail and in a much-disciplined manner, without losing focus, is a trait I continue to carry with me. 

Ever wished you had superhero powers?
If I had a choice, I would love to possess the superpower of being young and ageless forever. 

What is your biggest fear and how do you face it?
My biggest fear is lack of knowledge when really I need it. I feel the constant urge to learn more and bring my best efforts to the fore. I only feel better when I am on top of things on an on-going basis. 

A secret that you have which no one knows about?
I come across as an upright and sophisticated person. However, not many know that I am actually a child at heart. I absolutely love children and when I watch them play free-spirited, I feel like leaving my work and setting the kid inside me free as well. 

What would one find in your playlist?
I am very fond of almost all types of Hindi music. In my playlist, one would find songs across genres – right from Bollywood chartbusters to old Hindi Classics. 

Your go-to activity to relax?
I find myself most relaxed and calm when I am at a beach. My ideal go-to-activity would be taking a walk by the beach with the waves rolling over my feet, listening to the soothing sound of the waves and watching the sunrise or the sunset. 

What is the greatest lesson that you have learnt from life so far?
Always count your blessings. Often people take their blessings for granted and do not realise how fortunate they are. The grass always looks greener on the other side, so my biggest advice would be that always look at what you have. Thank God for what he has blessed you with, rather than be unsatisfied and sad about what you do not have. 

A social cause that you are most passionate about?
I have always felt inclined towards supporting the wildlife as a cause. However, I never got a chance to do much with that regard until I was associated with JetPrivilege. In my current role here, I have had the opportunity to be part of a team that drives the initiative “Preserving what’s precious”, which supports tiger protection – an animal of national pride and a highly endangered species. 

What is the one thing you would like to change about yourself?
I have been laid back when it comes to taking care of my daily health or following a fitness routine. This is one thing I definitely would want to change and in fact, it is a part of my priority list for 2019. 

If not the Head of Marketing & Member Engagement at JetPrivilege, what would you have been?
I have always nurtured a passion of being in the food and entertainment business. Someday, I hope to start my own restaurant. 

What are the three apps on your mobile that you could not live without?
Of late, I am quite hooked on to ‘Castbox’, a podcast listening app, where I have created my own playlist of channels basis my areas of interest, to access knowledge, insights and source inspiration. The other applications that I live on are LinkedIn and the Google suite of apps – Gmail, Google Maps, Chrome, YouTube and Google Assistant. 

Any content/ film or book you saw or read recently and why?
I recently re-read “Rich Dad Poor Dad” written by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter to improve my business and financial aptitude. 

Which two organisations outside your own do you know the most people at and why?
I started my career at Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL). It was there where I moved across verticals and various functional stints for almost a decade of my work life. Hence, I am acquainted with many people here. Secondly, I was in a Customer Marketing role at Godfrey Phillips India Limited (GPI), where my role involved a lot of travel, giving me an opportunity to interact with people across diverse cross-functional teams. As a result, I have some good networks at GPI as well. 

Two things about this industry that you don’t like or don’t understand?
Customer centricity is an organisation wide KPI to drive and not just part of the loyalty or customer service teams. However, I have seen this often missing in teams. Redemption is many-a-times seen as a cost and not an encouraged activity to drive higher customer engagement. The good thing is that the mindset towards both these factors are changing today as almost all industries are facing disruption on account of the ever-evolving needs of the consumer. 

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
If I could live anywhere, I would love to settle down in Amsterdam. Right from the vibrant culture and rich history to an upbeat nightlife or the relaxing charm of an old European city, Amsterdam has it all. I completely love the vibe of the city.