Saagar Chitkara
About Saagar Chitkara
Saagar Chitkara is a Senior Commercial Manager at Bharti Airtel, where he has successfully formulated an Annual Operating Plan and led significant revenue growth initiatives. With a background in finance and investment banking, he has held various roles across multiple organizations, contributing to substantial improvements in operational efficiency and profitability.
Work at Airtel
Saagar Chitkara has been serving as a Senior Commercial Manager at Bharti Airtel since 2021. In this role, he formulated an Annual Operating Plan and monitored adherence for capital expenditures totaling $150 million. His efforts led to the highest per site revenue across India following deployment. He also spearheaded a rural expansion project that resulted in a 35% increase in revenue over projections and a 1.75% year-over-year gain in RMS. Additionally, he collaborated with various teams to improve the utilization of under-performing sites, boosting the high ARPU subscriber base significantly.
Education and Expertise
Saagar Chitkara holds a Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology from Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, where he studied from 2003 to 2007. He furthered his education with a Master of Business Administration in Corporate Finance from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, completing his studies in 2021. He also earned a Master's degree in Business Administration, focusing on Strategy and Finance, from the University of Rochester - Simon Business School between 2009 and 2011. His educational background equips him with a strong foundation in both technical and financial aspects of business.
Professional Background
Saagar Chitkara has a diverse professional background with experience in various roles across different organizations. Prior to his current position at Airtel, he worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst at IEEE from 2012 to 2014 in the Greater New York City Area. He then served as a Manager in Investment Banking at SPA Capital Services Ltd. from 2016 to 2018 in New Delhi. His career also includes a role as Financial Advisory at WELLMED International Industries Pvt Ltd and as Investor Relations Manager at TC Global. He began his career as a Data Modeling Analyst intern at Vonage.
Achievements and Contributions
Saagar Chitkara has made significant contributions in his roles, particularly in identifying business opportunities and enhancing operational efficiencies. He identified a $1 billion EBITDA opportunity through comprehensive industry and competition analysis, which involved developing scenario planning for capital and operational expenditures. He also benchmarked low-performing stores against high-performing ones, leading to improved conversion rates and overall store profitability. His strategic initiatives have resulted in substantial revenue increases, including a $15 million monthly EBITDA boost through the evaluation of 5G business potential.