Regional Director, Retail Head, Salvatore Ferragamo HK, Ltd, Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey Group
Recognized as a leader in the fashion industry across India and the surrounding region, Prasanna Bhaskar currently serves as the General Manager in India for the fashion designer Salvatore Ferragamo. She began working with luxury designers in 2002 as the Retail Manager in India for Louis Vuitton. At the time, the country was without a luxury design brand, and Prasanna Bhaskar led market entry and commercial development for six Louis Vuitton outlets in major cities, including Bangalore, Delhi, and Mumbai. As a leader in the industry, Bhaskar engaged in discussions with the Indian government to improve the prospects for foreign firms making retail investments. As the result of Bhaskar’s efforts to build a loyal base of return customers, Louis Vuitton sales tripled in the first two years. In addition to increasing sales in India, her work also resulted in a worldwide rise in Louis Vuitton market share among Indian shoppers. Following her success in this role, Prasanna Bhaskar became part of a 30-member team responsible for optimizing the productivity of the Louis Vuitton stores in the Asia Pacific region. In less than 1 year, Bhaskar and her colleagues increased efficiency by more than 25 percent, while developing the LV Academy as a way to provide ongoing training for store management. From 2006 to 2008, she operated as the Manager of Business Development in India and Asia Pacific for the designer, overseeing projects, managing new markets, and building relationships with local governments. With her extensive experience in the region, Prasanna Bhaskar accepted a similar position with designer Salvatore Ferragamo in 2008. Initially functioning as the Regional Director in Southeast Asia and India, she established joint venture partnerships, implemented an array of marketing tactics, and continued to advocate foreign direct investment across India. She successfully set up stores in 14 cities across the country, subsequently assuming responsibilities as the General Manager of the region. Before starting her career in the luxury retail industry, Prasanna Bhaskar spent several years developing her marketing and advertising skills as an account manager with various communications firms in India.