A peek behind the scenes of a fast-moving FMCG company

Dec 24: 1500hrs
(Corporate Office, Gurgaon, National Capital Region)

HR: “Congratulations, You have been posted as Area Sales Manager Chattisgarh.”
*My Last 3 days in a Metro…. Description has been censored!*

Dec 28: 0500hrs
(Delhi Airport, New Delhi)

JetLite Counter: “Sorry sir, your flight has been cancelled.”
*Many excruciating hours and lots of shouting later, I land at our Regional Office – Mumbai.*

Dec 28: 1700hrs
(Regional Office, Mumbai, Maharashtra)

Zonal Sales Manager: “Did you ask to be posted to Chattisgarh or did they give it to you?”
*I understand the amusement. Chattisgarh is a state that has 44% forest cover, and only 20% of its population resides in urban areas.
It requires 2 CFAs (Carry & Forward Agencies) and 2 ASEs (Employees who drive our business in upcountry locations) to service it.
70% of our business here is driven by powerful wholesalers, and mosquito coils drive our revenues.*

Dec 29: 1030hrs
(Hotel Mayura, Raipur, Chattisgarh)

I meet the seven men who will work with me for the next 24 months – seven men whose loyalty is of utmost importance.
Each one is responsible for approximately 15% of our business in the area. The plans for the coming month are drawn and everyone disperses to their respective locations.

Dec 31: 2359hrs
(Dont remember the name of the place, Raipur, Chattisgarh)

I am a part of the ‘most happening’ party at Raipur. The thing is I have never seen such a high density of 40+ people at any party.
The cover charge was approximately $30 which included dinner and 4 drinks. The entertainment was supposed to include ‘exotic dancers’ and ‘fire artistes’  but all we got to see in the night was one fine young lady in attires that seemed to shrink by the hour. Nobody complained.

We at Raipur believe in the concept of ‘Value for Money’. When we pay a certain charge, we need to be fully satiated both in terms of calories and ethyl alcohol. The gentry were entitled to 4 drinks per pass which isn’t enough to get you sloshed. But then who said 1 drink = 60 ml. The bartender was harassed until each drink didn’t measure less than 200ml!

I welcomed the New Year in the company of 6 members of CASMA (Chattisgarh ASM Association – an informal body comprising of young ASMs of different companies).

I have 7 men with a combined experience of 60 years directly reporting to me. Under them there are another 42 salesmen. Add to this 41 distributors and their employees, and you would understand the job description.
The challenges involved give me a high.

The first few lines of this post are just to give you a flavour of what life is like in a fast-moving FMCG company.
If you think RB is the place for you, you can also visit our website which details the qualities Reckitt Benckiser looks for in it’s employees.
I am responsible for delivering 11% of my region’s budget – and, deliver it I SHALL!