Samir Modi is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, USA and graduated from the Hindu College, Delhi University. He completed his formative education from Doon School in Dehradun.
Samir
He current serves as the Managing Director – Modi Enterprises; with a market capitalization of over a billion dollars and group companies are involved in various sectors including Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Retail. He is also the Founder & President – Twenty Four Seven Convenience Stores, Founder & Managing Director – ColorBar Cosmetics and Founder & Vice Chairman – Modicare.
After finishing college in India, he started his new career working for Philip Morris U.S.A first as a trainee working in the Tobacco fields of North Carolina and then its plants in Richmond, Virginia. He then joined the international division of Philip Morris and was responsible for creating the Marlboro Index. Moving on from here he became the Brand Manager of Marlboro cigarettes. He was part of the team that revolutionized the way Marlboro was marketed and how to make it relevant in today’s context by launching the first and biggest marketing program called ‘The Adventure Team’.
Armed with this knowledge and experience, he came to India in 1994 with a global perspective and a trans-cultural approach to work that gave rise to his new philosophy of management, and his innovative and lateral thinking style of working.
He was first tasked with reviving the Group’s consumer goods business, Modern Home Care Products Pvt. Ltd., which had collaboration with S.C Johnson from the U.S. Within a short span he was able to turn around the company, gaining substantial share of cleaning products market in India. He later sold the brands to Henkel of Germany after wiping all the losses and making a profit.
Samir’s expertise lies in conceptualizing, strategizing, creativity and setting up new businesses. He was instrumental in starting the first Indian Network Marketing Company – Modicare, marketing consumer products and providing knowledge and employment opportunities. The company today has 8.5 lacs registered consultants and growing, providing products, knowledge and employment. Through the success of Modicare, he has changed the fortunes of thousands of people in India and helped them realize their dreams.
Samir launched Twenty-Four Seven retail stores in 2005 – the country’s first convenience store chain that stays open 24 hours. These stores offer Indian consumer a complete international shopping experience with a wide range of products from ready-to-eat food, beverages, groceries provisions, over the counter medicines, various convenient services and a lot more round the clock. The customer experience and round the clock offerings is very popular the urban youth of today. The company has tied up with Indian Oil to open stores at their petrol stations.
His philosophy on management, innovation and lateral thinking helps him in strategic planning, and developing brands from scratch and turning them into successful profit making ventures. Once Modi Enterprise ventured into the beauty cosmetics with ColorBar, what struck him most was the paucity of home-grown brands that could compete with the likes of Revlon and L’Oreal and Lakme. That was just the start of a turnaround. He followed that with what was the most relevant move for a hard-core consumer-led brand, by creating a positioning from mass to “masstige” – that is, bringing together mass and prestige. ColorBar products are created and developed in the best facilities and R&D centers in the world. He is now set in taking the brand internationally.
Samir has been responsible for many such firsts for the Group.
Samir is involved in strategic thinking and brand conceptualizing for Godfrey Phillips Limited, the Group’s flagship company. He adds tremendous excitement and creating a place where ideas get nurtured and implemented. He is key member of the top management think tank and is constantly involved in generating ideas and solutions.
Samir’s strength lies in his extensive Leadership and management experience coupled with excellent analytical and interpersonal skills. His passionate approach, innovative and lateral thinking, helps him in conceptualizing new ideas while working along with a vast cross section of multicultural professionals who are specialist in their fields.
Industry Representation
Former President of International Tobacco Company
Former Managing Director – Modern Home care products private limited
Member – Executive Committee of Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
Prominent Member of Retailers’ Association of India
Former Chairman – CSR Committee of PHD
Life member of AIMA – All India Management Association
Senior Vice President – CACCI-Confederation of Asia Pacific Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Beyond Business
HIV / AIDS is a cause very close to Samir’s heart. In 1996, he established the Modicare Foundation to enhance awareness of AIDS and erase myths and misconceptions surrounding the disease. In 1998 he published and compiled a book called ‘The Positive Way’ which promotes AIDS awareness as well as contains real-life experiences of patients and their battle with the disease. It also made the bestseller list consecutively for 2 years.
Modicare foundation won the President’s Award for their exceptional work in gender related issues in India. They have also been the case studies for many organizations worldwide. Today the Foundation does extensive work in the field of HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention as well as Gender related issues. It also is working with children to educate them on life skills. Recently they have started working with street children and is trying to educate them and keeping them off the streets.
