Tilaknagar Industries appoints Ahmed Rahimtoola as CMO

Tilaknagar Industries Limited (TI) (BSE: 507205) (NSE: TI), a leading Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) manufacturer, today announced the appointment of Ahmed Rahimtoola as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) effective immediately. With over 25 years of relevant work experience, Rahimtoola will be responsible for leading the entire marketing function at TI which is known for manufacturing India’s largest selling brandy, Mansion House.

Ahmed will be spearheading consumer marketing in order to further strengthen the company’s regional presence, aid expansion and drive growth of its brands, across geographies. The appointment gains significance as TI, the country’s largest manufacturer of premium brandy, is currently in the process of re-invigorating and enriching its brandy portfolio. Recently, the company launched India’s first premium flavoured brandy under its flagship brand, Mansion House and plans to further expand its basket of premium brandy offerings across markets.

Speaking on the appointment, Mr Amit Dahanukar, Chairman and Managing Director, TI said, “As a leading player in the brandy category, TI is committed to introducing and offering innovative consumer products in order to bring the segment into limelight. We are confident that Ahmed’s extensive industry experience and expertise will help us achieve this ambition.”

On his appointment, Ahmed said, “Brandy is the second largest category in IMFL and has been dormant over the years, which has resulted in losing some ground to whisky which is the largest category by far. The opportunity is to revitalise the brandy category with Mansion House taking the lead.” The plan ahead would be to ensure category expansion on the back of a robust marketing program that would entail brand renovations of some of the existing brands, new launches and category first innovations, he added.

Prior to joining Tilaknagar Industries, Rahimtoola was the Head of Marketing and subsequently Customer Marketing and Key Accounts at Allied Blenders and Distillers where he spent almost 15 years. He has also worked with renowned companies that include Reliance ADAG and United Breweries where he was responsible for corporate branding, brand and marketing initiatives.

Ahmed has completed his MBA from Symbiosis Centre for Management and HRD (SCMHRD) and has done an executive MBA in Marketing from the Indian School of Business (PGPMAX).