Syed Tajuddin, Chief Executive Officer, Coolpad India
As chief executive officer of Coolpad India, Syed Tajuddin oversees various functions of the company including marketing, sales and products. He also plays an instrumental role in devising strategies and creating synergies between the functions of different teams. He joined Coolpad in 2007 as operations head, and was responsible for setting up the company’s operations in India.
Among the assignments he has worked on at Coolpad is the supervision of a pilot contract model with Reliance Communications (RCOM) for bundling Coolpad’s handsets with the operator’s offerings. He was also instrumental in setting up the distribution model for the Coolpad Group, which facilitated RCOM in selling products outside the operator’s exclusive mobile stores.
Tajuddin has extensive experience in setting up distribution channels for products. Prior to Coolpad, he was associated with Rado and Tissot in the Middle East. “I helped set up the business-to-business distribution channel for these products,” he says.
He recalls the launch of the Cool Play 6 handset as one of the most exciting assignments of his career so far. “We were launching a trendsetting device in India, which offered 6 GB RAM at just under Rs 15,000. It was a big assignment, from the planning to the execution, and we managed it successfully,” he says.
Tajuddin is of the view that though the Indian smartphone market is booming, many untapped opportunities still exist in the semi-urban and rural areas. He believes that India will soon become a global manufacturing hub for smartphones, giving strong competition to the developed economies. “The availability of economical and skilled labour along with technology advancements is making India the centre point of global manufacturing,” he says.
Tajuddin has an all-inclusive management style. “For me, working for a brand is a team game. Every player has to be in the best of spirits and have the capability to contribute. I also like to give a fair opportunity to everyone to learn, grow and take charge,” he says. Tajuddin is a very positive person, an attribute that keeps him focused and committed to his goals as a leader.
A science graduate, Tajuddin also has an MBA with a specialisation in marketing from Osmania University, Hyderabad.
When asked about what he does when he’s not working, Tajuddin says, “Spare time is a luxury for me. But I like to go for outings with family and friends. It helps rejuvenate me and gives me more energy for my professional role.”
