Amit Jatia Joint Venture Partner & Managing Director, McDonalds India [West & South Region]

When Amit joined the McDonalds family in March 1995 as MD, Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. he was the youngest Joint Venture Partner at McDonalds. Today, he is spearheading McDonalds in West & South India. Amit has undergone hands on training for a year at McDonalds in Jakarta (Indonesia) as well as obtained a degree in Hamburgerology from the Hamburger University, Oak Brook (Illinois, USA). He played a significant role in facilitating a smooth entry for McDonalds in India. Simultaneously, he also created the essential organizational infrastructure to develop and run the chain of McDonalds restaurants in the region. With the first restaurant in Mumbai in October 1996, there has been no looking back for him. Today, Amit has established over 72 world-class restaurants across West & South India for McDonalds. Amit has also been spearheading Supply Chain and Product Development for the McDonalds system in India. During his decade long journey with McDonalds, Amit has won accolades and awards for Business Excellence. In 2003, Amit was awarded the Young Achievers Award by the Indo - American Society of India and has also been instrumental in leading McDonalds to winning Business Worlds Most Respected Company awards as the No 1 Food Services Company in India, in 2003 and 2004. Amit was also nominated for "The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence" as "Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2004 and 2005. Prior to McDonalds, Amit was the Managing Director of Houghton Hardcastle (India) Ltd., one of the family group companies. Amit was also completely involved in Hardcastle & Waud Manufacturing Co. Ltd. [HAWCO], a public limited company manufacturing and marketing industrial chemicals. HAWCO has been the pioneer in most of its four business groups process chemicals, industrial coatings, construction chemicals and coated products division. From 1993, Amit has been instrumental in re-structuring the companys business through strategic alliances with leading companies internationally. Family also owns and operates West Pioneers, a leading mall developers in the country. Amit has been instrumental in getting the company listed on Alternate investment Market (AIM), London.

Amit has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He has moved up to be a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), from his position as the board member of Young Entrepreneurs Organization in 2003.

Smita Jatia
Chief Operating Officer, McDonalds India [West & South] Smita Jatia (39), Chief Operating Officer, Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd., joined the company in January 2000 and today is responsible for driving overall marketing strategy. In the last decade she has been instrumental in launching, indigenizing and building the McDonalds India brand. A commerce graduate, Smita joined Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd western region as Director, Marketing in 1996. In 2003, she donned the mantel of VP, Marketing and under her leadership the F&B chain ramified into over 49 cities across 09 metros and minimetros. Smita holds a degree in management from Harvard Business School, Boston and has also undergone a rigorous marketing programme at the Hamburger University, USA. Smita comprised the core team that was responsible for taking the McDonalds brand to its current standing of being the most preferred burger chain. she was involved in leading the three-year strategic planning during key expansion phases; managing McDs external image in the marketplace through corporate communications and in developing the vision on new product development to suit the Indian palate. She spearheaded the McDonalds QSR initiative and effectively marketed unique vegetarian menus that soon became popular with Indians so much so that McDonalds India now has plans to export its select Indianized vegetarian offerings. Under her leadership, McDonalds has seen year on year growth and expansion. In spite of a busy and packed work schedule, Smita is a fitness freak and manages to find time to spend for family, friends and hobbies. She has two children.