OYO appoints Weeky Yolmo to lead OYO Hotels in Nepal

OYO Hotels and Homes – South Asia’s largest, China’s second-largest and the world’s third-largest and fastest-growing chain of leased and franchised hotels, homes and living spaces – has today announced the appointment of Weeky Yolmo as the country head for its business in Nepal.
As the hospitality chain is expanding its presence across Nepal, Weeky’s focus would be on establishing stronger relationships with asset owners, driving deeper engagement among all OYO employees (OYOpreneurs) across Nepal, delivering a high-quality, trusted experience to travellers - a complete 360-degree approach towards making Nepal an important strategic market for OYO as well as helping the country realise the Visit Nepal 2020 vision, claims a press note issued by the company.
Yolmo is a strategic Business Management Specialist with over 11 years of experience. He is a graduate from IIT Delhi and has earned his MBA from IIM Calcutta. He has a proven track record across Foods, Dairy, FMCG, Retail and Agri Commodities and specialises in developing strategies for ensuring sustained business growth which will be a significant addition to OYO’s unique business model and offerings. Weeky’s past tenure includes experience across Devyani Food Industries Ltd (Creambell Dairy), VRS Foods Ltd (Paras Dairy), Olam International Ltd, Bata India Ltd (Retail Operation Management-Footwear) and Reliance Retail (Private Label Food-Staples category).
Coupled with his knowledge on go-to-market and growth hacking strategies, Weeky will help grow the company’s footprint in Nepal while at the same time creating hundreds of additional economic opportunities across the hotel industry, the press note added.
Speaking on the appointment, chief executive - India and South Asia, OYO Hotels and Homes, Aditya Ghosh said that Weeky Yolmo’s taking charge of strengthening OYO’s presence in Nepal is a key market for us in South Asia. “We have aggressive growth plans for the country as we transform its hospitality landscape by delivering superior quality accommodation for guests and higher yields for asset owners while investing in technology and talent.”
Joining the OYO team, country head of OYO Nepal, Weeky Yolmo said that OYO has now created history in both the Indian and global hospitality industry through its innovative business model.
Over 330+ franchised hotels with 5,500+ exclusive rooms are a part of OYO’s chain in Nepal. Backed by strong local talent and execution, the company has been consistently growing its footprint in the country while reiterating its strong commitment towards adding value to Nepal’s hospitality industry.
Yolmo’s past tenure includes experience across Devyani Food Industries Ltd (Creambell Dairy), VRS Foods Ltd (Paras Dairy), Olam International Ltd, Bata India Ltd (Retail Operation Management-Footwear) and Reliance Retail (Private Label Food-Staples category).

Wai Wai, dream and a ruthless, shrewd businessman

The journey of a businessman from New Road in Kathmandu to New York in the USA, ‘Binod Chaudhary Atmakatha’ – autobiography of Binod Chaudhary – gives different readers a different taste.
Going through autobiography, readers not only get to know the industrialist Binod Chaudhary and his struggles and success but also political and economic development of the country from the 60’s to the present date.
Reading the ups and downs of a successful industrialist will definitely inspire the younger generation but more than that it will also teach them how can one achieve success in life.
The book describes how Chaudhary continued his journey step by step, from the first fashion boutique to Copper Floor Disco, to multinational hotel chains.
His affiliation with royal palace, politics, politicians, music and his hobby, which almost killed him, of bikes reflect a boy next door image behind a ‘ruthless and shroud businessman’.
Though, the book revolves mostly around relationships between business and politics, it also has reflected the last six decades and country’s changing consumerism to rising private sector’s lead in policy level.
Chaudhary describes the story of Wai Wai – his flagship noodles brand – that according to him was one of the key turning points of his business plan – is one of the lessons to be learnt from going through the book as most of the readers might not know the story behind the starting of Wai Wai – that changed the today’s eating habit – in Nepal.
Chaudhary dared to dream and turn his dream into reality too. From Arun Emporium (1968) to Chaudhary Investments, Himalayan Intercontinental to Chaudhary Foundation, CG Education, CG Finco, Hospitality, Energy and Infrastructure to Financial Services to Telecom and recent agreement with Grammen Bank of Bangladesh for Social Business Fund, he has left not a single sector untouched.
The readers might not believe every word in an autobiography because sometimes autobiographies turn into self praise. But Chaudhary has also tried to clarify from his side on certain issues that he was involved in, may it be Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) politics and establishment of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), or his relationships with the royals, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML or deal of Nabil Bank, Mahalaxmi Sugar Mills or the latest controversy of VAT scam.
The book is also a nice read to know how an industrialist turns his failures into a steeping stones and how one major turning point changes the whole universe of business and leads to corporatisation of Bhuramal Lunkarandas Chaudhary to Chaudhary Group and establishment of Ganga Devi Chaudhray Uddhyog Gram, the model Special Economic Zone of the private sector.
Some claim autobiographies could not be true, others take it as a lesson and inspiration but Binod Chaudhary Atmakatha, is the first of its kind of book in our part of the world that is completely obsessed with politicians and politics and feels ashamed of talking of money, though everyone dreams of becoming rich over night.
Some of the readers might feel that the book is filled with much self praise, whereas others might take it as an inspiration. But as Chaudhary himself claims, he wants everything in his one life, not sacrifice something for the other. May be that’s why he is ‘ruthless and shrewd businessman’.

BOOK REVIEW
BOOK: Binod Chaudhary Atmakatha (An autobiography of Binod Chaudhary)
AUTHOR: Sudeep Shrestha and Binod Chaudhary
PUBLISHER: Nepa-laya
PAGES: 327
PRICE: Rs 395

Third CG Mart convenience Store opens in Dillibazar

CG Mart has opened the third CG Mart store in Kathmandu (Dillibazar) from today.
currently, the CG Mart has its two outlets Min Bhawan and Tripureshwor.
CG Mart – a model that combines fast food with convenience stores – is expanding its retail network to new locations in the country. It offers Nepali and foreign imported goods both.

The introduction of various food and non food-branded merchandise in-store system –CG Mart is also open trade gate to gradually bring imported goods on sale in the country from around the world.

CG Mart Outlets fully understands the needs and expectations of the consumers., said the company that has invested resources into staff training to ensure that all staffs are well equipped with the necessary expertise to help customers make the right buying decision.
CG Mart will study the experience of the retail industry and will establish a system stores, distribution centers, information technology systems, logistics systems and supply chain, operating manuals and training.

Unilever Nepal gets new managing director

SrikanthSrinivasamadhavan has replaced Kamran Bakr as the managing director of Unilever Nepal.
Kamran Bakr has moved to Unilever Bangladesh as its chairman and managing director.
Unilever Nepal is one of the largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) company in Nepal, touching the lives of two out of three Nepali with different categories in home and personal care products. A part of Unilever group of companies, Unilever Nepal is listed at the Nepal Stock Exchange. It has listed its 920,700 units of shares at a face value of Rs 100 per unit, which was last traded at Rs 6,310.
Unilever Nepal — the blue chip company in the domestic capital market which is dominated by banks and financial instituitions — has posted 47 per cent increase in its profits after tax in the second quarter of the current fiscal year compared to the same period last fiscal year.
"Company's turnover for the second quarter of the current fiscal year has increased by 18 per cent over the same period of last fiscal year," according to the financial statement of the company that is one of the highest dividend payers.
The new managing director SrikanthSrinivasamadhavan is a chemical engineer from Indian Institute of Technology Chennai and has a PGDM from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He has worked in various institutions like Brooke Bond Lipton India and Dragoco (Simrise) in his early part of career primarily in various positions.
Srikanth then spent nearly 15 years at Hindustan Unilever. He has held various roles in the company, including Media Director for Unilever South Asia, Category Head of Skin Cleansing at Hindustan Unilever, Insight Director (South Asia/South East Asia) and head-Sales and Marketing, Kimberly Clark Lever, the joint venture between Unilever and Kimberly Clark. Before joining this role, Srikanth was
the Head Marketing of HSBC bank in India and was part of the HSBC EXCO.
Srikanth is married and with two children and he enjoys movies, sports and music. He is also interested in sharing his learning over the years in many business and educational forums.