VERNON FERNANDEZ
Mumbai,
Summary
Experienced professional with 15 years at Disney, Bain & Epic, leading Strategy and business development. Proven track record in delivering revenue & category growth, forging partnerships, driving cross-regional collaboration, and shaping long-term strategy.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager - Hardlines
Disney Consumer Products, India
02.2022 - Current
- Led Business Development and Licensing Strategy for Toys & Stationery, achieving 35% revenue CAGR
- Cultivated and managed relationships with 20+ partners across sectors, ensuring seamless collaboration and sustained growth
- Spearheaded product development and SKU planning for key projects, (incl. plush, model vehicles) through cross-functional collaboration with design, manufacturing, and sales
- Introduced new licensing models by connecting toy designers and distributors, filling white spaces in the portfolio and delivering ~12% incremental revenue
- Drove brand commercialization for Marvel, Star Wars, and 20th Century in India, aligning campaigns, best practices, and benchmarks with APAC
- Orchestrated anti-piracy efforts in India in partnership with global legal teams, licensees, and e-commerce platforms
Manager, Corporate Strategy & Business Development
The Walt Disney Company, India
06.2017 - 02.2022
- Developed 5-Year Plans (FY18–21) for Disney India by analyzing media landscape and competition
- Built business forecasts (FY17–19) across television, studios, movie distribution, and consumer products in coordination with teams across Disney India
- Secured unconditional approval from Competition Commission of India for the Disney–Fox merger; awarded Shooting Star for achieving one of the fastest global clearances
- Evaluated streaming potential across South Asia through in-depth research into consumer habits and internet adoption, laying groundwork for Disney+ launch
- Partnered directly with the President, TWDC India, managing relationships with CII & IBF and facilitating engagement with industry leaders and government bodies
Producer - Development
EPIC Television Networks
01.2013 - 03.2017
- Launched general entertainment channel Epic across India, scaling reach to 50M households by 2016
- Produced competitive landscape and market trend analyses, creating concise quarterly updates for the Board and investors; commended for clarity and strategic insight
- Served as Creative Producer for 250+ short-format episodes, overseeing execution and creative direction; content achieved some of the channel's highest ratings
Junior Consultant
Bain & Company
08.2010 - 12.2012
- Consistently rated ‘Strong Contributor’ with Upward trajectory, recognized for ownership, expertise, and client engagement
- Delivered high-impact communication across projects in FMCG, Telecom, Real Estate, and Construction, earning commendations from supervisors and clients
- Identified $10M savings (~5%) for a real estate client via procurement improvements; piloted initiatives and created templates for company-wide adoption
- Directed a workstream to define a 5-year strategy for the dairy and retail divisions of a $500M FMCG major, analyzing multiple product markets and competitive dynamics
Education
PGP Management Degree (MBA) - Strategy & Operations
Indian Institute of Management
Bangalore03-2010
B. E. (Honours) - Electrical And Electronics
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
Pilani06-2008
Skills
- Corporate & Growth Strategy
- Business Development & Partnerships
- Cross-functional Stakeholder Management
- Market & Trend Analysis
- P&L Ownership & Revenue Growth
- End-to-End Project Delivery
Timeline
Manager - Hardlines
Disney Consumer Products, India
02.2022 - Current
Manager, Corporate Strategy & Business Development
The Walt Disney Company, India
06.2017 - 02.2022
Producer - Development
EPIC Television Networks
01.2013 - 03.2017
Junior Consultant
Bain & Company
08.2010 - 12.2012
PGP Management Degree (MBA) - Strategy & Operations
Indian Institute of Management
B. E. (Honours) - Electrical And Electronics
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
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