Gaurav Kachru is CEO, Dealsandyou.com

Kachru has led new business incubation and corporate development functions across the Smile Group, which has businesses with WPP, Yahoo!, the Scan Group, Group Buying Global AG and Brand Alliance Network.

Dealsandyou.com has announced the appointment of Gaurav Kachru as chief executive officer. In his new role, Kachru shall report to Harish Bahl, founder and chief executive officer, Smile Interactive Technologies Group. He will be based in Gurgaon.

Earlier, Kachru has led new business incubation and corporate development functions across the Smile Group, which has businesses with WPP, Yahoo!, the Scan Group, Group Buying Global AG and Brand Alliance Network (private shopping).

He played an important role in the growth of fashion shopping portal Fashionandyou.com, which is reflecting positive growth on a month-on-month basis. He also played a very important role in Dealsandyou.com as a co-founder since its acquisition and integration.

Talking to afaqs!, Kachru says, "I am a professional with cross functional exposure across large corporates in India and abroad and have been a contributor to the growth of several businesses across industries. Since late 2009, I have been focusing my energies on the growing digital and e-commerce sphere.

In addition, I have a bank of exceptional support structure with the Smile Group (Harish Bahl) and Group Buying Global AG, which is running the same business model across 11 countries. I have picked up the nitty-gritty's of the trade and market while at work and strongly believe that newer situations and strong team support prepare you to handle everything on-ground. My team and I will strive to create new benchmarks in the e-commerce industry."

Commenting on the appointment, Harish Bahl, founder and chief executive officer, Smile Interactive Technologies Group, says, "Gaurav's in-depth industry knowledge and vast cross functional experience has brought a lot to the organisation. He led the acquisition of Wanamo.com and incubated Dealsandyou.com. He is the right leader to take Dealsandyou to the next level. We see Gaurav playing an essential role in the expansion phase. I wish him a successful innings in the coming months."

In the past, Kachru led the Manpower Global Accounts business in 14 countries across Asia Pacific. He also had a decade long stint with General Electric. In his last assignment as country director, GE Transportation India, he helped grow sales for the locomotive business.

Kachru was also one of the key leaders in the GE India Growth Initiative and a member of the GE India Growth Council. He was part of the team that built and sold GE Capital International Services (GECIS), now Genpact LLC, to GAP and Oakhill Capital in the largest transaction in the BPO industry in India.

He has represented GE in Government of India sub-committees (task force on HRD for IT and ITES) and various state government engagements.

Apart from this, Kachru is an MBA in Finance and International Business from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai. He is also a certified Six Sigma professional.