Krishnakumar R Pillai

Krishnakumar R Pillai has extensive experience in the food and agricultural industry, primarily focused on sustainability and supply chain management. Krishnakumar is currently the Managing Director of Barry Callebaut Group, where they oversee a $350 million business in Ghana and is responsible for achieving excellence in sustainable cocoa sourcing and processing. In this role, they have successfully implemented initiatives such as talent development, operational efficiencies, and stakeholder management. Krishnakumar also played a crucial role in the "Forever Chocolate" sustainability program, forging partnerships with key clients and organizations to make Barry Callebaut's chocolate production 100% sustainable by 2025. Prior to their current position, they served as the Director of Global Partnerships and General Manager of Biolands at Barry Callebaut, where they led various initiatives in direct cocoa sourcing and strategic visioning. Before joining Barry Callebaut, Krishnakumar held leadership positions at Olam, where they significantly grew the business and achieved consistent bottom-line results. Krishnakumar also worked at Rallis India Ltd as a Manager of Agrochemicals, contributing significantly to the company's sales and distribution efforts. Krishnakumar began their career as a Veterinary Surgeon at the Government of Kerala, where they monitored and supported a dairy development project. Overall, Krishnakumar R Pillai has a proven track record of delivering results and driving sustainability in the food and agricultural industry.

Krishnakumar R Pillai's education history includes a Secondary School Leaving Certificate from Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School in India. Krishnakumar then pursued a Pre-Degree in Science and Mathematics at St. Berchmans College. Krishnakumar obtained a BVSc&AH degree in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences from the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy. Krishnakumar furthered their studies by earning a Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management from the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), specializing in Business Administration and Management, specifically Agribusiness Management. Later, they pursued an MSc Sloan degree in Leadership and Strategy, with a focus on Corporate Strategy and Leadership, at the London Business School.