People

Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd. has the most competent people in the business, as the footwear industry is craft driven and creative in nature. Highly experienced designers, technicians, engineers, management professionals from diverse background with global exposure, are part of the formidable team that helps create the Sara Edge; not to forget the hardworking men and women on the machines, cutting, pasting and stitching, who form the real backbone of Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd. 5,000 pairs of hands with minds and hearts help us achieve 10,000 numbers every single day. And we must add that we consider them our family and vice-versa.

  • Kayum R. Dhanani
  • Daniel Sam Calabrese
  • Shreepathi Bhat
  • Leonardo Bangnoli
  • Annamalai Raja

Kayum R. Dhanani, Managing Director

Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd. was incorporated as a sole manufacturing unit in 2001 under the leadership of Kayum Dhanani. An alumni of ‘Central Leather Research Institute’(CLRI), Chennai, he has mastered the art of making shoes and specialized in soles. Prior to this, he had obtained ICGSE certificate from Cambridge University, UK. He is also an active member of IFCOMA & CLE.

His initiative, professional guidance, technical knowledge, business excellence, passion for fashion and leadership is nurturing the future of the Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd., globally. Currently, he guides the firm’s leadership, vision, policies, values and culture. He is the main driving force behind forging and sustaining the group's strategic partnerships with International brands.

Rakesh Agarwal, CEO

Rakesh Agarwal has more than 23 years of experience in manufacturing industry. He has worked with the Tata group - starting his career with Tata Steel, followed by Tata Trent & Hindustan Zinc Ltd. His last assignment was as Global Head of Leather Business at Tata International.

Rakesh is an engineer and has done Graduate Management Program (GMP) with majors in Finance and Marketing from XLRI, Jamshedpur.

Deepak Sridhar, Sr. Vice President

Deepak Sridhar, an engineering graduate from Bangalore University, has been with the Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd. since 2009 and has spearheaded several strategic initiatives to ensure business growth and position Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd. as a global brand.

His two decades of experience in a wide gamut of functions, ranging from Manufacturing and Planning to Corporate Development and General Management, have given him learning and insights which have proved to be invaluable for restructuring and reorganizing the Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd. His hands-on experience in the technical domain, including costing, planning, product development, quality control and manufacturing has made him drive the business initiatives at Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd.. His proven track record for creating profitable, flexible, customer-focused manufacturing environments, with highly motivated employees, makes him a truly valuable asset.

Daniel Sam Calabrese, Director Business Development, US Office

Dan Calabrese joined the Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd. in May 2016 as part of the newly formed Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd. - USA. His primary focus is on building the global reach with both wholesale and key retail partners in the USA, while supporting the growth of existing business.

Dan has over 25 years of proven experience in global footwear manufacturing with comprehensive knowledge of the product creation process, right from strategy to the consumer.

In his expansive career, Dan has worked for international lifestyle and performance brands such as New Balance and Clarks, holding positions from product development to global business development. He has immense experience globally, with comprehensive knowledge of the nuances and needs of each brand of footwear.

Shreepathi Bhat, Vice President, Sole Division

S. Bhat made the cut as an engineering graduate from the National Institute of Technology. With over 30 years of experience in the footwear and sole business, he brings in a wealth of experience from his experiences with Corona, Top Line Shoes and Welterman International. Having worked in both the technical as well as the commercial side of the business, he is responsible for the operations and profitability of the sole division.

Leonardo Bangnoli, Technical Head, Sole Division

Leonardo Bangnoli is the technical head for the sole division of Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd. since 2005. Prior to this, he worked in Italy with Suolificio Puma SRL. During that tenure, he handled a wide range of portfolios ranging from sample & design, marketing, product development and quality control in sole manufacturing.

With over 25 years of experience in sole manufacturing, Leonardo is an invaluable asset to the Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd. In Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd., he handles a variety of assignments in both manufacturing and product development, with special focus on development of soles for domestic as well as global markets.

Annamalai Raja, Head - Planning

Annamalai Raja, a postgraduate in materials management, comes with over 20 years of experience in shoe manufacturing with expertise in materials, planning, operations and MIS. He has been associated with Sara Suole Pvt. Ltd. from 2009 and leads the planning and operations team.

His co-ordination skills and customer relationship management along with an optimistic approach have contributed to the growing business of the organization.

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