Spanning a professional management career of over 35 years in hospitality, retail and international trade, Chris brings to bear his tremendous knowledge and training in Hotel Management and International Marketing Management from Germany and lived experiences in Germany, South Africa and India to provide strategic and operational guidance to startup/ growing companies and social enterprises in the Hospitality/ Retail/ Food Service/Agro-commodities & Meat production sectors. Right from being owner-manager for 3 hotels and a catering operation in South Africa, to being Category Head – Food Retail at Hyperama retail chain, South Africa to setting up Global Village Commodities Marketing Pty Ltd as a multi-country multi-commodities trading company and CEO of Ammirato Foods Pvt Ltd., South Asia, Chris is a hands-on business leader. Recognised for many innovative concepts, visionary approach, marketing and networking skills in Europe, Africa and Asia, Chris is a multi-cultural team builder, effective in revitalizing internal groups, building client relationships and training/mentoring team leaders to outperform themselves and the competition. With a highly energetic, outgoing, and humorous personality, Chris puts himself and others around him at ease in any country under any challenging circumstances. His exhaustive travel across continents have nurtured deep networks and partnerships in countries like Mainland China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, India, Cote d’Ivoire, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Germany, France, England, Switzerland and USA as well as contacts in South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Kenya, Cameroon, The Netherlands, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Senegal, Italy, Austria and Portugal.

Chris’s managerial and functional expertise include Strategy Planning, Top/ Bottom line Accountability, Business Set Ups/ Tie Ups , Retail Management , Channel Management , Business Negotiations, Profit Centre Operations, Revenue Expansion ,Category Management , Brand Building / Launches ,Media Planning & Handling, Market Intelligence, Sourcing, Procurement , Imports, Exports, Distribution , Merchandise Management, Future Scenario and Governance planning.

Keen Football, Rugby & cricket follower, Chris has organized football training camps in Germany for Indian & Srilankan under-14 footballers. A talented Chef too, Chris is a member Chain de Rotisseurs, since 2008. Chris lives in Bangalore, India with his wife, Aruna and frequently travels abroad to maintain his sanity and friendships.