RS Sodhi, who retired as managing director of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) earlier this year, is now joining Reliance Retail, according to media reports. The 65-year-old Sodhi will be joining Reliance with the responsibility of building the grocery vertical, which consists of fruits and vegetables.
The top management of GCMMF has always been headhunted by the private sector and Sodhi is not the first GCMMF MD to join a corporate after retirement. The previous MD, BM Vyas, had joined Parag Milk (the Pune based owner of the Go and Gowardhan brands) after retirement. In a telephonic conversation with VO! from his home in Anand, Mr Vyas said the Ambanis had sounded him out about joining Reliance Retail more than 10 years ago, when he was still with GCMMF. “At that time, they were seriously thinking of getting into the dairy sector. I told them it would not work and they dropped the idea of entering dairy production. I believe they have appointed Sodhi on a 3-month contract, but not for dairy products.” he said.
After two extensions, Dr Sodhi left GCMMF (owner of the Amul brand) rather abruptly in January when the Board of the Federation terminated his contract and handed over charge to the current MD, Jayen Mehta.
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