Jayatheertha Chary

With over 35 years of experience across India’s dairy, food and retail sectors, my career spans leadership roles in organisations that have shaped modern food supply chains and farmer-linked value systems. A strategic thinker, aligning supply chain activities with broader organisational objectives, particularly within food and allied industries.Previously worked as the Chief Executive Officer of Shreeja Mahila Milk Producer Company Ltd. (2017–2023), the world’s largest women owned milk producing organisation working under the aegis of NDDB Dairy Services, a subsidiary of National Dairy Development Board. The role involved overseeing operations, strengthening milk procurement, processing and marketing of milk and milk products, and guiding the organisation through process improvements.Prior to this, I spent over a decade at Reliance Retail Ltd. (2006–2017) leading the Fresh Food Supply Chain. Responsibilities included building and managing large-scale networks for fruits, vegetables and perishables; establishing processing centres; driving cost-efficiency in warehousing and logistics; and supporting retail formats with consistent service, quality and availability.From 1990 to 2006, I contributed to Operation Golden Flow—a strategic initiative launched under the National Dairy Development Board to advance India’s self-reliance in edible oils by mirroring the success of Operation Flood. During this period, through the transition from NDDB to DOFCO, I played a key role in steering the edible oils portfolio from a commodity-driven model to a strong consumer-focused brand, helping establish Dhara as a trusted household name. My responsibilities spanned production planning, packaging development, procurement, and operational optimisation across multiple manufacturing units. I also oversaw projects for new plants and packaging infrastructure to drive efficiency and scalability.My career began at Parle Exports Ltd. (1988–1990), supporting bottling operations, maintenance planning and ensuring production continuity in a high-volume manufacturing environment.