About

Syed Safawi Founder at ELINA INVESTMENTS PRIVATE LIMITEDGurgaon Summary Business leader, Start-up evangelist and PhilanthropistSyed is passionate about impacting industry as it undergoesfundamental transformation. In a career that spans almost threedecades , Syed has been recognized as a global leader whoseexpertise spans a range of businesses across consumer goods,health & wellness, technology, telecom and infrastructure sectors.His last tenure was as Managing Director and Group CEO of VLCCHealthcare.During his tenure at Viom Networks, the company turnaroundto its maiden profit in 2012-13 , tripled net profits in three yearstransforming itself to become a benchmark in the industry globally.In 2016, the company sold controlling stake to an American MNC, atan EV of US$3.5 billion.Prior to Viom Networks, Syed was with Reliance Communicationsas the President and CEO of its Wireless business and Chairmanof the Reliance Management Board. Within a span of two years,Reliance Communications notched over 150 million customers,recorded a US$ 4 billion revenue and US$ 1 billion in profitability .Between 2007 and 2009, he was with Bharti Airtel as the ExecutiveDirector and was responsible for the East and West India operationsalongside International wireless operations. In his earlier role atAirtel, he was also responsible for the global calling cards businessand the B2B business of mobile services.A veteran of The Coca-Cola Company, he was based at Vietnam asCountry Manager and CEO, managing the business for Indochinaand overseeing Malaysia. Before taking over the international role,Syed was in senior leadership roles with Coca-Cola in India.Page 1 of 3Syed has served on the boards of over a dozen companies in India,Asia, Europe and Africa in The Coca-Cola Company, the BhartiGroup and the Reliance Group. He continues to be on severalBoards and Advisory boards. He actively mentors and advises startups and is a Founder Trustee of E & H Foundation, through whichthey educate over 10,000 underprivileged children .ExperienceOptiwize ConsultingFounderJuly 2017 - Present (3 years 5 months)Gurgaon, IndiaELINA INVESTMENTS PRIVATE LIMITEDFounderApril 2017 - Present (3 years 8 months)Gurgaon, IndiaVLCCMD and Group CEOJuly 2016 - December 2016 (6 months)Gurgaon, IndiaViom Networks (formerly)CEOJuly 2012 - June 2016 (4 years)Reliance CommunicationsPresident and CEO, Wireless business and the Chairman of theReliance Management BoardDecember 2009 - February 2012 (2 years 3 months)AirtelExecutive DirectorJuly 2007 - December 2009 (2 years 6 months)Responsible for the East and West India operations alongside Internationalwireless operations. In his earlier role at Airtel, Syed was also responsible forthe global calling cards business and the B2B business of mobile services.Page 2 of 3The Coca-Cola CompanyVarious leadership positions1996 - 2007 (11 years)India and East-AsiaA veteran of The Coca-Cola Company, he was based at Vietnam as CountryManager and CEO, managing the business for Indochina and overseeingMalaysia. Before taking over the international role, Syed was in seniorleadership roles with Coca-Cola in India.EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School