Chinar Deshpande

Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) Candidate

United Kingdom
linkedin.com/in/chinardeshpande

Executive Summary

Visionary technology leader with 30+ years driving digital transformation across 14 countries and 8 industries. Currently CTO Global Logistics & Finance at THG, leading robotics automation across 18 warehouses serving 300+ e-commerce brands. Proven board-ready expertise in technology oversight, digital strategy, cybersecurity governance, and innovation leadership.

Key Qualifications

  • •30+ years global technology leadership (CTO, Group CIO roles)
  • •Expertise: Digital Transformation, Robotics/AI, ERP Implementation, Innovation
  • •Experience: 14 countries, 8 industries (E-commerce, Retail, Logistics, FMCG, Education)
  • •Current: CTO at THG - £2B+ revenue, FTSE 250 company
  • •Education: MBA (Finance & Systems), BE (Production), Harvard AMP, London Business School, MIT Sloan
  • •Awards: CIO 100, Supply Chain Excellence, CII Energy Management, Featured in SAP Annual Report

Board-Ready Skills

strategic

  • Technology Strategy & Digital Transformation
  • Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Governance
  • Innovation & R&D Oversight
  • M&A Technology Due Diligence

operational

  • Global Operations & Supply Chain
  • Robotics & Automation
  • ERP/Enterprise Systems
  • Vendor & Partner Management

financial

  • Technology Budget Management (INR 3B+ budgets)
  • ROI & Business Case Development
  • Cost Optimization & Efficiency
  • Capital Investment Decisions

governance

  • Risk Management & Business Continuity
  • Regulatory Compliance (GDPR, Data Privacy)
  • Audit & Controls
  • ESG & Sustainability (Solar Power, Electric Mobility)

Career Highlights

CTO Global Logistics & Finance | THG - The Hut Group

2022 - Present

Leading robotics automation (Autostore, Geek+, T-sorter) across 18 global warehouses serving 300+ brands to 198 destinations

Group CIO | Future Group (India's Largest Retailer)

2004 - 2016

Led SAP IS Retail transformation for 3,200 users, 900+ stores, INR 3B budget. Featured in SAP Annual Report 2005-06, CIO 100 Award

EVP & Group CIO | Stellar Value Chain Solutions

2016 - 2021

Established Innovation Cell: Solar power (8M+ sq ft), Electric mobility (19,000 pin codes), India's first 3PL Customer Experience Centers

Transformational Impact

300+ e-commerce brands automated at THG
3,200 users on SAP across 900+ retail stores
120 countries - Global PeopleSoft HRMS for Unilever
40% operational efficiency gains through robotics
INR 3 Billion technology budget managed
2,500+ professionals led across career

Board Committee Fit

  • Technology Committee (Chair/Member) - Digital strategy, cybersecurity, IT governance
  • Audit & Risk Committee - Technology risk, data privacy, business continuity
  • Strategy Committee - Digital transformation, innovation, M&A technology due diligence

Ideal Board Opportunities

Sectors:

  • • E-commerce & Digital Retail
  • • Supply Chain & Logistics (3PL/4PL)
  • • Technology & SaaS
  • • FMCG & Consumer Goods
  • • Education Technology

Availability

Available for Independent Non-Executive Director positions

Contact

Via LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chinardeshpande

Notice

Open to board opportunities in UK, Europe, India, and global remote positions

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