Building success by doing things differently

As Pradeep Karhade, Director of TANATEX India, has retired, he can look back over his career and explains why doing things differently has proved such a successful strategy. Pradeep Karhade has spent his entire career in the chemicals industry. He joined Ciba Specialty Chemicals India in 1986 and moved from there to mastermind the launch of a new venture. This became TANATEX Chemicals India in 2007. Since then, he has built a thriving operation with a strong team and reputation for premium products.

Establishing brand equity in India

A strong reputation was at the heart of Pradeep’s launch strategy. A number of multi-nationals were already active in the market and he didn’t believe it would be sustainable to simply follow in their footsteps. Therefore, he chose a more difficult route. “The commodities route would have been quicker,” he says. “The sale of speciality products requires more meetings and more time but this was the route I chose in order to establish the TANATEX brand equity. It is the most sustainable route for a company with a premium product.”

A new market for environmentally friendly processing chemicals

The launch of TANATEX into the Indian market didn’t just create a strong reputation for the company, it established a new market for more environmentally friendly processing chemicals. “We were (and still are) a world leader and pioneer in clay-based products and I thought this is the difference I can use to open doors for me,” Pradeep explains with some pride in his voice. “Mineral-based products like ours hadn’t been seen in India and they offered advantages that textile producers were not getting with oil-based products. As a result, we created a market for these products that had not existed before.”

When Pradeep looks back over his career, he is most proud and grateful to team India. They helped carve out the company’s reputation as a premium brand in a crowded market place. “My philosophy is that everyone is important in making a good impression for customers. When products arrive on time, when people have a good experience on arriving at our company, when we manage the order process well, it all impacts positively on sales. I wanted our company to be good in every department. When I say I am proud of team India, it really is the whole team.”

From performance development to personal development

Pradeep’s approach to the training and development of his team reflects his philosophy. “I wanted to make everyone a better individual,” he continues. “My focus was never simply on commercial activities and sales. In fact, I linked objectives to people’s personal development, like improving their language, problem solving or presentation skills.”

Customers too have experienced Pradeep’s unconventional approach. In one of his favourite memories, he recalls telling a long-standing customer that he simply wouldn’t be interested in a new product being launched: “Having piqued the customer’s interest, a sale was later confirmed and proved to be a turning point for TANNEX® NOVECO in India.”

TANATEX TERGEO

Pradeep’s favourite product is TANNEX® TERGEO because he was involved from conception through to launch. “TANNEX® NOVECO was already popular in India, but it became clear an updated solution was required that more closely met customers’ evolving needs. The team in India had some ideas and carried out initial experiments and passed their suggestions to R&D in Europe. TANNEX® TERGEO was the result. I was really glad it could see the light of day,” says Pradeep.

As of December 2018, Pradeep has been retired. He travels with his backpack to meet new people, absorb different cultures and enjoy the world’s national parks. Futhermore, he works with NGOs on social projects.