Abhishek Aggarwal
COO & President (Strategic Alliance & Sales)
In this context, Abhishek Aggarwal as COO & President (Strategic Alliance & Sales) continues to lead the organization with a forward-looking and long-term sustainable growth strategy, establishing it as a key player in Agchem Industry.
Abhishek Aggarwal, with over two decades of professional experience, has cultivated a robust expertise that spans inter-national business, global procurement, strategic alliance with various MNC, product registration & development and domestic corporate sales.
Below is an excerpt of Abhishek Aggarwal’s exclusive interaction with CEO Insights magazine.
With more than 20 years of strong professional experience in the Agro-chemical Industry, how do you look back at the journey you have travelled so far?
Reflecting on over 22+ years in the agro-chemical industry, my journey has been both fulfilling and educational. I was fortune to lead the core team which was involved in end-to-end process of product identification to it’s registration and final launch in domestic market at the right time ahead of peer companies. I also navigated complex procurement processes, particularly from China with extensive travel to more than 21 cities which was a great learning experience. Due to my extensive travelling, I learnt a lot from my peer companies in India and overseas and developed strong strategic alliance on a two-way win-win model which is key for sustainable growth.
As part of core team together we able to secure strategic venture capital funding in my previous organization and JV with two Japanese conglomerate in current organization. Most satisfying
accomplishment was spearheading our succes-sful entry into the U.S. market from scratch. Full trust from management and authority to take decisions, support of great team and passion for work has made my journey incredibly rewarding and impactful. To be honest, I just love my work - so you never feel tired at any point of time. The spirit to work hard makes your journey look easy.
What are the ways you find these experiences beneficial in your leadership as a COO currently?
Most important is to work in line to core culture of the organization. As a leader in your role, you are brand ambassador of your company and how you keep the culture and ethics of company above everything is most important. Secondly, building a strong second line is always on my mind from day 1. As a leader, it’s our duty to ensure new generation gets equal opportunity and power to move forward.
It makes your contribution towards organization more rewarding as you can focus of achieving excellence in your current portfolio and at the same time take new responsibilities. Thirdly, I preach the famous saying: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. For instance, during 2023, a particularly tough year for our industry, my global exposure and strong relationship with partners allowed us to anticipate issues early and implement a successful plan B. As a team we were able to achieve better results for organization than market expectation.
Accepting and learning from your mistakes and making fool proof systems so that same is not repeated in future is another very important trait which one should follow. Finally doing business in most ethical way will differentiate you from others. It can be implemented in the way you deal with your customers, vendors, colleagues or even working on strategies & goals set by organization. At Bharat we have a tag line which we follow, 'Let’s grow Ethically'.
How do you balance the high-stress responsibilities of a COO while ensuring business vision success and resolving complex issues?
Balancing the high-stress responsibilities of a COO requires passion, resilience, and strategic thinking. Challenges are inevitable in any field, but I view them as opportunities to excel and innovate.
Over my 22+ years of career, I’ve encountered numerous challenges & learned to remain unfazed, as each challenge is a new opportunity to learn & improve
What are the ways you find these experiences beneficial in your leadership as a COO currently?
Most important is to work in line to core culture of the organization. As a leader in your role, you are brand ambassador of your company and how you keep the culture and ethics of company above everything is most important. Secondly, building a strong second line is always on my mind from day 1. As a leader, it’s our duty to ensure new generation gets equal opportunity and power to move forward.
It makes your contribution towards organization more rewarding as you can focus of achieving excellence in your current portfolio and at the same time take new responsibilities. Thirdly, I preach the famous saying: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. For instance, during 2023, a particularly tough year for our industry, my global exposure and strong relationship with partners allowed us to anticipate issues early and implement a successful plan B. As a team we were able to achieve better results for organization than market expectation.
Accepting and learning from your mistakes and making fool proof systems so that same is not repeated in future is another very important trait which one should follow. Finally doing business in most ethical way will differentiate you from others. It can be implemented in the way you deal with your customers, vendors, colleagues or even working on strategies & goals set by organization. At Bharat we have a tag line which we follow, 'Let’s grow Ethically'.
How do you balance the high-stress responsibilities of a COO while ensuring business vision success and resolving complex issues?
Balancing the high-stress responsibilities of a COO requires passion, resilience, and strategic thinking. Challenges are inevitable in any field, but I view them as opportunities to excel and innovate.
My passion for work drives me to face difficulties head-on, transforming obstacles into chances for growth. Over my 22+ years of career, I’ve encountered numerous challenges and learned to remain unfazed, as each challenge is a new opportunity to learn and improve.
A strong support system, including a capable team and a forward-thinking organization, is crucial. The sense of accomplishment from overcoming obstacles further strengthens our ability to tackle future challenges, ensuring business vision success.
What is your anticipation about the market five years down the line?
In five years, I foresee the agrochemical industry flourishing, with India becoming a reliable & key global supplier. The market will offer abundant opportunities for both existing and new players. The ecosystem of qualified companies in India is expanding, with a focus on backward integration, R&D, and full EHS compliance, ensuring thriving prospects for those committed to sustain-ability. I am very optimistic about the agrochemical market's future, expecting robust growth and a significant global impact over the next decade and beyond.
Could you share a word of advice for budding leaders in this industry, from your experience?
My advice for future budding leaders is to trust and empower your team. From my experience of working with two visionary entrepreneurs, I've learned the value of decentralizing operations and giving employees the freedom to align their work with the company’s vision and culture. When team members feel trusted and empowered, they take ownership and deliver their best, treating the company’s success as their own. Encourage innovation, foster a collaborative environment, and always lead by example. By doing so, you'll not only inspire your team but also drive sustainable growth and excellence within your organization.
Abhishek Aggarwal, COO & President (Strategic Alliance & Sales),Bharat Group
Abhishek Aggarwal, COO & President (Strategic Alliance & Sales) at Bharat Group, brings vast expertise in Agrochemicals, specializing in Strategic Alliances, Global Procurement, Corporate Sales, and Product Registration & Development. He is certified in Global Business from Harvard University and in Strategies for Growth from IIM, Ahmedabad. He has dual MBAs from LBSIM, Delhi in Inter-national Business & from Annamalai University, TN in Plant Protection and is also certified in patent and infringement from Indian Institute of Law. He has completed HSK 1 level in Chinese language.
A strong support system, including a capable team and a forward-thinking organization, is crucial. The sense of accomplishment from overcoming obstacles further strengthens our ability to tackle future challenges, ensuring business vision success.
What is your anticipation about the market five years down the line?
In five years, I foresee the agrochemical industry flourishing, with India becoming a reliable & key global supplier. The market will offer abundant opportunities for both existing and new players. The ecosystem of qualified companies in India is expanding, with a focus on backward integration, R&D, and full EHS compliance, ensuring thriving prospects for those committed to sustain-ability. I am very optimistic about the agrochemical market's future, expecting robust growth and a significant global impact over the next decade and beyond.
Could you share a word of advice for budding leaders in this industry, from your experience?
My advice for future budding leaders is to trust and empower your team. From my experience of working with two visionary entrepreneurs, I've learned the value of decentralizing operations and giving employees the freedom to align their work with the company’s vision and culture. When team members feel trusted and empowered, they take ownership and deliver their best, treating the company’s success as their own. Encourage innovation, foster a collaborative environment, and always lead by example. By doing so, you'll not only inspire your team but also drive sustainable growth and excellence within your organization.
Abhishek Aggarwal, COO & President (Strategic Alliance & Sales),Bharat Group
Abhishek Aggarwal, COO & President (Strategic Alliance & Sales) at Bharat Group, brings vast expertise in Agrochemicals, specializing in Strategic Alliances, Global Procurement, Corporate Sales, and Product Registration & Development. He is certified in Global Business from Harvard University and in Strategies for Growth from IIM, Ahmedabad. He has dual MBAs from LBSIM, Delhi in Inter-national Business & from Annamalai University, TN in Plant Protection and is also certified in patent and infringement from Indian Institute of Law. He has completed HSK 1 level in Chinese language.