Mahesh Dafauti

Head of Marketing & Corporate Communication

About

Seasoned Marketing & Communication professional with 22+ years of diverse industry experience spanning Automobile, Electric Vehicles, Durable Goods, Retail, and Creative & Media Agencies. A firm believer in the mantra, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer,” I have built my career on passion, perseverance, and a relentless drive for excellence. With a consumer-first mindset, I specialize in crafting and executing integrated marketing strategies that blend traditional and digital mediums to build strong brand narratives, drive engagement, and achieve business impact. My expertise lies in brand storytelling, strategic communication, media planning, and performance marketing, ensuring seamless synergy between brand vision and consumer expectations. As a leader, my focus extends beyond brand growth to mentoring teams, fostering innovation, and steering organizations toward sustainable success. With a deep understanding of market dynamics, evolving consumer behaviors, and emerging trends, I am committed to delivering compelling brand experiences while maintaining corporate and brand integrity. Now, I aspire to take on a leadership role that allows me to leverage my expertise in Marketing and Brand Communication to drive transformation, build high-performing teams, and elevate brands to new heights.

Country

India

City

Gurugram

Industry

Industrial Automation

Skill

Social Media, Event Planning, Customer Service, Social Media Marketing, Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations, Event Management, Marketing Communications, Leadership, Project Planning, Team Management, Business Development, Market Research, Budgets, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Management, Integrated Marketing, Brand Management, Media Planning

Experience

Head of Marketing & Corporate Communication

SHRIRAM

2021-10 - Present · 5 yrs

India

Automotive Industry

Marketing & PR Lead

Okinawa Autotech

2021-5 - 2021-9 · 5 mos

Gurugram, Haryana, India

Vice President- Strategy & Planning

dentsu

2019-2 - 2021-4 · 2 yrs 3 mos

Gurgaon, India

Clients: Automobile, Electric Vehicles, FMCG, Consumer Electronics, Apparels, Pharmaceutical, NBFC • Develop 360-degree Marketing & Integrated Media strategy for key clients. • Conceptualize and executing Innovative & youth focused campaigns. • Develop Content, Launches, Engagements, Activation plans. • Build strategies for Social media, Digital display, SEO, SEM, Influencer & lead based campaigns. • Led design and project teams with big-picture view of business and client requirements. • Increase SOV & Amplify dentsu's achievements through effective PR.

Director Marketing & Planning

Radiant-Everything Experiential

2017-10 - 2019-1 · 1 yr 4 mos

New Delhi Area, India

Client category: Automobile, Consumer Electronics, Farm Equipment • Spearheaded market strategy to identify optimal business development opportunities. • Conceptualizing, planning, executing experiential marketing campaigns based on brand objectives. • Retail Identity, In-store Branding, GSB, POS Branding, design, development. • Product launches, dealer conferences, Audio visuals, Brand Manuals, Brand & Media consultancy. • Managing P&L, overall business operations of company.

Head Corporate & Brand Communication

Honda

2007-2 - 2017-9 · 10 yrs 8 mos

Gurgaon, Haryana, India

• Ensured Brand Leadership & KPI improvement by developing integrated communication strategies, short-term & long-term goals through ATL, BTL, TTL, PR, Digital, Retail across 4 key categories and 25 sub categories. • Streamlined A&P Budget Management process and Media Planning Strategy to drive effective ROI. • Operationalized the Digital Marketing division to ensure present and future readiness, beginning with a complete overhaul of the website for an enhanced and seamless consumer journey & functionality, along with strategic focus on Performance Marketing, SEO, SEM. • Handled Multiple Agency Functioning to ensure an integrated and consistent approach to communication development and adherence to strategic intent. • Brand Re-positioning campaign - leading to significant improvement in Brand KPIs and Orchestrated sales. • Led a new process of Retail Promotion execution - aimed at better utilization of budgets and faster go to market strategy. • Conceptualizing, developing, implementing New corporate & brand Identity across 3,500 Dealers.

Client Servicing Manager

Y&E Media Pvt. Ltd.

2005-1 - 2007-2 · 2 yrs 2 mos

India

Clients: Automobile, Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics, Apparels. • Client's SPOC for Creative, Media, Activation Operation & KPI delivery. • Schedule clients and manage client exists by ensuring all current and future needs were met. • Resolved Time Management issues through process improvement and Training. • Delivered high level of service to clients in effort to build upon relationships for future. • Integral part of Indigo Imaging program.

Channel Sales & Marketing Executive

Su-vastika Systems Private Limited

2003-5 - 2005-1 · 1 yr 9 mos

Gurugram

• Created New channel sales network in Haryana & Punjab that revitalized sales and marketing efforts and resulted in a 27% increase in sales and a steadily increasing market share. • Independently developed 400+ Dealers & 10 Distributors. • Managed the customer service team for Haryana & Punjab.