Varun Reddy: Championing Customer Engagement Via Precision Manufacturing And International Expansion
Varun Reddy
Director
In an intimate interview with us, Varun shared his exquisite journey and also his future goals for the industry.
Could you discuss your professional background and experiences, as well as what motivates you in your daily routine?
My first official job was during my master program in Boston in 2013, where I worked as a graduate research assistant under Professor Barry Unger. This valuable experience was followed by an internship at Husky Technologies in Luxembourg, which helped me understand industry dynamics, before I transitioned into Vasantha Group as a Project Manager. This role gave me a comprehensive understanding of customer perceptions regarding quality, delivery, communication, and overall image, which proved to be a great decision based on a recommendation from an industry friend. For the past six to seven years, I’ve been in sales and now lead Vasantha’s global sales team, managing teams across Asia,
Europe, and the Americas. My primary motivation is growing the company, but my genuine passion for engaging with customers, discussing new projects and finding solutions is what drives me. This enthusiasm keeps me energized, even when working late, as I often respond to customer emails late at night.
Could you share your academic experience at Vellore Institute of Technology and how the institute has contributed to your personal growth?
My time at VIT was crucial for my personal growth. Although I wasn't the best student academically, the four years I spent at VIT were invaluable in terms of developing interpersonal skills and learning to live and communicate with others. Living on campus was particularly impactful, as nearly everyone stayed there, creating a unique environment.
It was my first experience living away from home, surrounded by people from all over India and even other countries like Dubai and various regions in Africa and Asia. I also had the privilege of building strong relationships with some professors. One standout was Professor Edison Gundabattini, Department of Thermal and Energy Engineering. He had an incredible ability to connect with every student, from those in the front row to those in the back, making him truly inspiring.
As director of Vasantha Tools Group, what are your latest strategic plans?
When I joined the company, we were already the best in India, but we lacked an international presence, which required more than just exporting products - it demanded building a strong global image and reputation. To address this, I established sales offices in countries like China, France, Luxembourg, the USA, and Mexico, expanding our sales team from one part-time person to around eight full-time and three part-time employees across various regions. We also added full-time service
While being helpful is always good, main- taining professionalism and avoiding personal over-involvement will be more effective in the long run
Could you share your academic experience at Vellore Institute of Technology and how the institute has contributed to your personal growth?
My time at VIT was crucial for my personal growth. Although I wasn't the best student academically, the four years I spent at VIT were invaluable in terms of developing interpersonal skills and learning to live and communicate with others. Living on campus was particularly impactful, as nearly everyone stayed there, creating a unique environment.
It was my first experience living away from home, surrounded by people from all over India and even other countries like Dubai and various regions in Africa and Asia. I also had the privilege of building strong relationships with some professors. One standout was Professor Edison Gundabattini, Department of Thermal and Energy Engineering. He had an incredible ability to connect with every student, from those in the front row to those in the back, making him truly inspiring.
As director of Vasantha Tools Group, what are your latest strategic plans?
When I joined the company, we were already the best in India, but we lacked an international presence, which required more than just exporting products - it demanded building a strong global image and reputation. To address this, I established sales offices in countries like China, France, Luxembourg, the USA, and Mexico, expanding our sales team from one part-time person to around eight full-time and three part-time employees across various regions. We also added full-time service
staff, leading to a significant increase in exports, which now make up 40 to 45% of our sales globally. Internally, I spear headed the implementation of an ERP system, SAP, which has given us complete visibility into our operations. Throughout this process, I've maintained a professional approach with the team, focusing on fairness and providing honest feedback, especially to new members to help them grow both professionally and personally.
How do you expand or optimize operations and engage customers in the market?
When we engage our customers, we focus on exactly where we, as Vasantha, add more value than our competitors. One of the areas where we found our niche are markets where there is a strong demand for high-quality ‘Turnkey Injection Molding Solutions’, which means a single supplier for Molds & Automation for a complete Program. We introduce ourselves as Solution providers, not just equipment suppliers. We are also strong believers in taking full benefits of a well-built Global CRM system, we take this system seriously and everything that happens on the Sales side goes through the system.
What does the future hold in other regions, and what are your plans for the next five years?
Personally and professionally, we aim to capitalize on India’s significant growth story. Our focus will be on leveraging opportunities within the precision manufacturing sector, where we have extensive expertise. This may involve expanding our current mould-making capacities and infrastructure or exploring new opportunities within the precision manufacturing field. We plan to take full advantage of the positive momentum and growth potential in the country.
Varun Reddy, Director, Vasantha Group
Varun Reddy is the Director of Vasantha Group, leading the company’s global sales operations with a focus on expanding its international presence. He has a rich background in project management and sales, with a passion for customer engagement and innovation. Under his leadership, the company has significantly increased its exports and implemented advanced systems like SAP for operational efficiency.
How do you expand or optimize operations and engage customers in the market?
When we engage our customers, we focus on exactly where we, as Vasantha, add more value than our competitors. One of the areas where we found our niche are markets where there is a strong demand for high-quality ‘Turnkey Injection Molding Solutions’, which means a single supplier for Molds & Automation for a complete Program. We introduce ourselves as Solution providers, not just equipment suppliers. We are also strong believers in taking full benefits of a well-built Global CRM system, we take this system seriously and everything that happens on the Sales side goes through the system.
What does the future hold in other regions, and what are your plans for the next five years?
Personally and professionally, we aim to capitalize on India’s significant growth story. Our focus will be on leveraging opportunities within the precision manufacturing sector, where we have extensive expertise. This may involve expanding our current mould-making capacities and infrastructure or exploring new opportunities within the precision manufacturing field. We plan to take full advantage of the positive momentum and growth potential in the country.
Varun Reddy, Director, Vasantha Group
Varun Reddy is the Director of Vasantha Group, leading the company’s global sales operations with a focus on expanding its international presence. He has a rich background in project management and sales, with a passion for customer engagement and innovation. Under his leadership, the company has significantly increased its exports and implemented advanced systems like SAP for operational efficiency.