Nitin Deshpande
About Nitin Deshpande
Nitin Deshpande serves as the Director of Sales for Asia in Metal Cutting Demand Generation at Kennametal (Singapore) Pte Ltd, a position he has held since 2011. With extensive experience in sales and management across various companies in the engineering sector, he has a strong focus on ethical leadership and market growth in Asia.
Work at Kennametal
Nitin Deshpande has been with Kennametal since 2008, starting as General Manager - Sales at Kennametal (India) Limited, where he worked until 2011. He then transitioned to Kennametal (Singapore) Pte Ltd, where he currently serves as Director - Sales, Asia - Metal Cutting Demand Generation since 2011. In addition, he held the position of Industrial Segment Business Leader at Kennametal Japan Ltd. from 2016 to 2017. His role involves leading sales strategies and demand generation across multiple Asian markets.
Education and Expertise
Nitin Deshpande holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from the College of Engineering, Karad, completed in 1989. He furthered his education with a Diploma in International Business from Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies in 1996. In 2010, he participated in a program on Customer Based Business Strategy at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. His educational background supports his extensive experience in sales and business strategy within the metal cutting industry.
Background
Nitin Deshpande began his career as a Graduate Engineering Trainee at Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited from 1989 to 1991. He then worked in various field sales positions at WIDIA Products Group - WIDIA (India) Limited for ten years, followed by a five-year tenure as Regional Manager Sales - West Territory at Kennametal (India) Limited. He also worked as an Engineer in Production at Larsen & Toubro from 1991 to 1993, gaining diverse experience in engineering and sales.
Achievements
Nitin Deshpande has a proven track record of capturing market share in high-growth markets while based in Singapore. He has extensive experience in leading and growing indirect channel business across multiple Asian countries, including China, Japan, Korea, and South Asia. His management practices integrate a strong focus on Lean, Health, Safety, and Environment, demonstrating his commitment to ethical behavior and effective leadership.