Confirming the news Rajeev Samant, owner, Director and CEO of Sula Group says,’ this was something we'd been talking about for a while. Pradeep has many other business interests and decided it was time to be a full-time entrepreneur. He continues to be associated with Sula on many fronts but as an advisor rather than a member of the staff.’
Neeraj Agarwal, the viticulture specialist who has been in-charge of the vineyard operations as the Senior Vice President, takes over as the Senior VP of Operations-primarily to look after the winery operations in Nashik, besides viticulture. ‘He is the administrative head at Nasik and there is full continuity in that respect. Of course we will have to beef up some of the personnel reporting to him as his responsibilities increase vastly. We are primarily looking to strengthen the viticulture team’, adds Rajeev.
Neeraj will be in charge of all the 4 winery operations - the main winery, the leased winery of ND wines and the Venus winery which is the source of bulk wine for various low end wines. Besides, the winery in Pimpane which is in the process of de-bonding by excise (it has been an EOU unit so far) should be ready for operations and will commence operations soon, says Neeraj who will also be looking after the administration, excise and similar functions besides viticulture for which he will be getting extra help.
The arrangement at the Sula resort Beyond stays very much the same as before. Pradeep Pachpatil owns the property and Sula has leased it and manages it and will continue to do so, says Rajeev. Pachpatil had been with Sula for 13 years. ‘I have been in the industry for over 25 years now. I have had a good run with Sula. I thought this is a good time to go fully on my own,’ Pachpatil informs delWine. He has his own vineyards and other wine related businesses which would be his focus now as a full-time entrepreneur.
Subhash Arora |