Cohezia has a highly experienced and professional team with a broad range of skills including strategy, business analysis, multi-platform software technology, branding, digital marketing, communications and creative design. The list below shows a selection of the key people in the organisation.
Chandresh Pala – Chief Executive Officer
Chandresh has over 20 years experience in the International Consultancy, Technology and New Media industries. Chandresh focuses on helping organisations transform their business through the use of convergent digital technology, design and business innovation.
His extensive experience, entrepreneurial yet structured approach and vision for emerging business growth opportunities is a rare combination.
He has been a speaker at International Business, Media/Entertainment, Creative and Digital Art industry events and is a dedicated change activist, helping to promote new thinking and initiatives. An enthusiastic entrepreneur, he has been founder of a number of contemporary design and technology based businesses.
Over his career he has successfully worked on many large scale international projects with corporate and media clients (James Bond Productions, The AA, Reed, TNS, BP, British Gas, Tesco, National Power) and leading management consultancies (Price Waterhouse, Accenture).
After graduating he joined EDS-Scicon an international software solutions company. Chandresh has worked on a wide range of client projects across the whole spectrum of technical platforms, from Energy Trading Systems to leading edge wireless and multi-media applications.
Chandresh holds a BSc Joint Hons. Degree in Physics and Applied Physics with Electronics from Nottingham University. His interests include : Shaolin Kung Fu, Design and Innovation.
Siddharth Deshmukh – Chief Operating Officer
Over 13 years of strategy, branding, operations and functional experience in the IT, Media/Entertainment and Telecom sectors. His experience spans across both Fortune 500 companies and small to medium enterprises. His credits include:
- Conceptualizing, developing and successfully launching Coconnex, a pioneering event technology
- Creating and delivering digital strategies and programmes for Cohezia’s high profile clients like ICICI, People Interactive and several others
- Managing major client accounts at Wavefront Technologies in the internet space profitably
- Developing and executing AT&T's India comprehensive media strategy .He championed their high profile brand building campaign in traditional and new media, and soon had added responsibilities to develop their internet and retail communication strategy
- The successful launch of Sony Entertainment's initial programmes and content. He helped create profitable content for advertisers, right from soap operas to sports in tough viewership times.
His book, “The Map that Matters”, has been recently published by Strategic Book Publishing New York- it is a unique self help book for modern times.
Siddharth specialises in communication and information design and has a refreshingly different take on brand building. Siddharth also teaches at various premier MBA institutes in India as visiting faculty in the areas of strategic brand management, consumer behaviour and innovative HR practices.
He has also been a speaker at the World Usability day, 2007 ('the institutionalization of usability') and MICAFEST 2005( 'Is Branding dead?'). Siddharth is a postgraduate of the Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad, the leading communications school in Asia.
Kaushik Sen - Chief Technology Officer
Kaushik has over 11 years experience of technical consultancy, solution design and managing delivery teams building integrated business applications using a broad range of emerging digital technologies.
Prior to Cohezia, he was working with high profile clients in Asia on interactive applications. His consultancy and delivery experience allows him to understand the 'big picture' before designing a suitable architectural blueprint. His portfolio of experience is across domains and includes, Media, Banking and Financial, Home Furnishing and Event Management.
Kaushik has worked on an array of digital platforms, across thin clients, rich internet applications and rich clients. His experience includes complex systems integration work for clients like TNS, Presswatch, Nexus Business Media and ICICI Bank. He has successfully managed the design and development of a number of cutting edge, SaaS, eBusiness products.
Kaushik is a post graduate in Telecom Management from Symbiosis, Pune.
Besides keeping up with the latest technical and business trends, a little known fact about Kaushik is that he has acted in a Bollywood film.
Graeme Hodges - Creative Director
A designer and entrepreneur with strong creative thinking. Previously Global Creative Director of ESCADOR, an e-Business solutions provider, Graeme is also a founder of Showcase Software, creators of presentation tools for B2B and B2C.
Graeme has worked with
As an early adopter of Digital Media solutions, Graeme has developed the unique range of skills and depth of understanding needed to address the increasing demand for rich media across existing and emerging technologies.
His 23 years business experience across diverse sectors of both the B2B and B2C space translates into safe hands in the process of combining creativity with technology.
Derek Bier – Sales Director for Media Solutions
Starting from an engineering and business degree background, involved in front-line selling for the past 30 years, from sales executive to UK Managing Director of a US subsidiary. Products include; graphic hardware and software, publishing software, query and reporting software, financial consolidation software, consultancy for a pan-european consulting organisation, project management software Sector knowledge includes; Oil and Gas, Telecommunications, High Technology, Pharmaceutical, Automotive, Financial.
Nick Paul – Sales Director for Coconnex
Nick has worked with some of the most respected event organisers in the industry. Having worked for Reed Exhibition Companies, Penton Media, National Magazines and Banks Sadler; Nick has been involved in all aspects of events: stand sales, floorplan creation, conference sponsorship sales and creating and selling sponsorship packages for World Travel Market. Nick has invaluable industry knowledge and understanding of what organisers need from technology. Nick will work with you in ensuring that your event has the exact functionality it requires from our pioneering technology.
Nick Paul attended King’s School Bruton and Thames Valley University.
Ravi Arapurakal – Senior Business Strategy Consultant
Highly experienced professional with multi-national business-building and communications expertise. Over 20 years senior management experience working with companies across the globe including AT&T, IBM, Kodak, Citibank, ICI. Has held top management positions with Saatchi & Saatchi and Young & Rubicam advertising agencies building brands through creative and effective communications.
John Petallides - Senior Marketing Consultant
Has over 30 years experience in maximizing business growth for Fortune 500 companies. His credits include the successful launch of IBIS, the International Banking and Investment Systems division of McDonnell Douglas Corporation and the positioning and development of the Audiovox Corporation.
He began his marketing career as a new product manager at Mobil Oil – analyzing the economic viability of new Mobil projects and playing a significant role in the introduction of new Mobil services to the consumer for computerized automotive diagnostics and repairs.
In 1975, Petallides joined Smith Barney and soon became a senior vice president, helping to spearhead the firm’s Tax Advantaged Investments to new markets.
John has also created two Internet-driven marketing companies, amFax and Sales Force 911, and through them has worked with companies such as Finnair, CPA Mutual and Merril Lynch and United Nations-affiliated organisations such as the U.S. Committee for UNFPA, helping them develop and implement marketing and communications initiatives utilizing new and emerging telecommunication technology and cybermedia.