Dr. Sanjoy Mitra
Founder & MD SMSRC PVT.LTD
A Tribute to Dr. Sanjoy Mitra: The Mind That Taught Brands to Listen to Doctors
When prescription data is read with wisdom, it reveals not just numbers, but the silent thinking of doctors.
Some relationships are professional. Some are personal. And some are sacred—shaped by shared values, learning, and reverence for a Guru's legacy. Dr. Sanjoy Mitra is my Gurubandhu—a fellow traveler in the intellectual lineage of my Guru and mentor, Prof. Chitta Mitra.
I still remember meeting Sanjoy in his early years, making a presentation at Sun Pharma. Even in that moment, there was a quiet intensity—an unmistakable seriousness of thought and a deep curiosity to understand what truly shapes doctors' prescribing decisions. Over time, as my association with Prof. Chitta Mitra's family grew stronger, my admiration for Sanjoy's journey grew deeper—anchored in rigour, humility, and purpose.
An MBA in Marketing and PhD in Management Sciences, Dr. Sanjoy Mitra chose a demanding and largely unexplored path—the application of live prescription research in strategic pharmaceutical marketing. At a time when prescription data was often treated as static numbers and reports, Sanjoy saw something far more meaningful: the living, breathing clinical mind of the doctor.
His pioneering work led to the evolution of Strategic Prescription Research (SPR)—a discipline that transformed raw prescription data into strategic insight and actionable wisdom. As the Founder and Managing Director of SMSRC Pvt. Ltd., Sanjoy built an institution that today enjoys leadership status in India and Bangladesh. SMSRC does not merely analyse prescriptions; it decodes intent, behaviour, and opportunity—helping pharmaceutical brands align themselves more closely with real-world clinical practice.
Strategy Workshops Since 1995
Since 1995, Sanjoy has been conducting and leading Strategy Workshops—far more than conventional consultancy projects. These workshops became thinking laboratories, where brand managers learned how to translate live prescription insights into sound marketing strategies. His contribution played a pivotal role in elevating prescription research—from a support activity to a strategic pillar of pharmaceutical brand building.
In 2009, with the mission of taking prescription research to its next frontier, Sanjoy founded SMSRC Pvt. Ltd., supported by forward-thinking leaders from Indian Pharmaceutical Marketing. Over the years, under his stewardship, SMSRC has delivered innovative prescription analysis and conducted innumerable strategy workshops for most leading pharmaceutical companies in India and Bangladesh. SMSRC has partnered with several respected organisations even outside India.
More recently, Sanjoy has extended his expertise to the field of medical diagnostics, applying similar strategic thinking to enhance marketing effectiveness.
A passionate member of the knowledge-sharing institutes, Sanjoy has remained deeply connected with academia, serving as a guest and visiting faculty at premier institutions such as IIM Calcutta and NMIMS University. He has also served for nine years on OPPI's Panel of Judges for the Marketing Excellence Brand Awards—recognising and nurturing excellence in pharmaceutical marketing.
On World Pharma Brand Managers Day, we honour Dr. Sanjoy Mitra—not only for his intellectual brilliance, but for teaching generations of marketers a profound truth: when brands learn to read prescriptions with wisdom, they begin to understand doctors with respect.
Ganesh Nayak
Executive Director-Zydus group
Great careers are not built by constant movement, but by constant growth—of character, competence, and contribution.
Ganesh Nayak is a towering personality in the Indian pharmaceutical industry—not merely in physical presence, but in professional stature, credibility, and legacy. He has broken all conventional records and stands as a unique figure who is on the threshold of completing nearly 50 years of unwavering service with a single organization—the Zydus Group.
In a time when rapid job changes are often mistaken for progress, his journey offers a profound lesson for young brand managers and first-line sales managers: depth matters more than speed, and commitment often compounds into mastery. His career quietly reminds us that institutions are built when individuals choose to grow within an organization, shaping it patiently over time.
Ganesh Nayak can also be seen as a devoted admirer of the philosophy of Prof. Chitta Mitra, whose influence on Indian pharmaceutical brand management is legendary. That influence is reflected in Ganesh Nayak's balanced approach—where strategic thinking is rooted in scientific credibility, ethical marketing, and long-term brand equity rather than short-term gains.
A Journey of Nearly 50 Years
Having joined the Zydus Group in 1977, Ganesh Nayak has witnessed—and actively shaped—multiple phases of the organization's evolution. Over nearly five decades, he has contributed significantly to the company's sustained growth, guiding it through expansions, transitions, and transformations with remarkable steadiness.
Today, he spearheads key businesses of the Zydus Group, including its joint ventures and strategic alliances, bringing clarity of vision and calm leadership to complex business landscapes.
Ganesh N. Nayak has played a pivotal role in several mergers, acquisitions, and strategic collaborations, driven by sharp strategic insight and seasoned business acumen.
What truly distinguishes him, however, is his commitment to lifelong learning. By embracing contemporary perspectives—most notably insights gained from the Harvard Business School—he has seamlessly integrated global marketing frameworks with decades of on-ground experience. This blend of wisdom and modern thinking has elevated him to the global league of marketing professionals.
On the occasion of World Pharma Brand Managers Day, Ganesh Nayak's journey stands as a living tribute to what this day truly celebrates—the quiet power of thoughtful brand stewardship, ethical leadership, and lifelong learning, inspiring generations of brand managers to build careers and brands that endure beyond numbers and time.
Sanjiv Navangul
CEO, MD & Board Member | Bharat Serums and Vaccines
Some leaders build brands. A few build beliefs. Sanjiv Navangul belongs to the latter.
In the pharmaceutical world, Sanjiv Navangul is widely respected—not only for the brands he has led, but for the values he has consistently stood for. Above all, he is remembered for placing patients at the centre of pharmaceutical marketing, long before the term became fashionable.
SPARSH: The Healing Touch
In 2007, at a time when smartphones had not yet entered our lives, he introduced one of the industry's earliest and most meaningful patient-centred initiatives during the launch of Januvia and Janumet. "SPARSH", his brainchild, was inspired by the Sanskrit idea of a healing touch. It was more than a program—it was a philosophy that reshaped how brands could connect with patients and doctors alike.
The introduction of DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins) marked a turning point in diabetes care. Januvia and Janumet did not just lead this change; they set a new standard.
Instead of relying on conventional promotion, SPARSH built trust, empathy, and long-term relationships. This early foundation of trust allowed the brand to remain strong even as many other DPP-4 inhibitors entered the market later. That trust became enduring brand equity—establishing Januvia and Janumet as category leaders and offering the industry a powerful lesson: brands that respect patients stand the test of time.
Sanjiv Navangul has held several senior leadership roles, including Managing Director at Janssen, Managing Director at MSD Pharmaceuticals in the Philippines, and Commercial Director for MSD India and South Asia.
His leadership has been recognised with multiple industry honours, including CEO of the Year at the 8th ILSC Awards and Impactful CEO of the Year 2023 by The Economic Times.
Today, as Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director, and Board Member of Bharat Serums and Vaccines, he leads an organisation known for scientific rigor, a distinctive portfolio, and a strong presence in the Indian pharmaceutical landscape.
Sanjiv Navangul's journey reflects a rare balance of strategic clarity and human sensitivity. His leadership continues to remind the pharmaceutical community that the most enduring brands are built not only with science and scale—but with empathy, purpose, and trust.
Sudarshan Jain
Chairman-IIHMR, Secretary General-Indian Pharma Alliance
Sudarshan Jain is a distinguished leader in the pharmaceutical industry, known for his significant contributions to pharmaceutical brand management and strategic leadership. His career reflects a commitment to building enduring brands and shaping the industry's future.
As a legacy leader, Sudarshan Jain exemplifies the values of excellence, integrity, and innovation that define the WPBMD community. His work continues to inspire brand managers to think strategically and build brands that create lasting value.
P. V. Sankar Dass
Former VP Dr.Reddy's, Board Member Wanbury Pharma
With over four decades of distinguished experience in the pharmaceutical industry, P. V. Sankar Dass is widely respected for his deep expertise in pharma brand management and strategic leadership. A proud student of Prof. Chitta Mitra, his thinking and practice have been strongly shaped by the principles of disciplined brand building, patient-centricity, and long-term value creation.
Across his career, he has conceptualized and executed both long- and short-term business strategies to build strong brands in India and other emerging markets, consistently delivering sustainable revenue and profit growth. His core strengths lie in branding, marketing strategy, and field process excellence, supported by a sharp analytical mind and an innovative approach to solving challenges in the branded generics space.
He has successfully led large, diverse teams across geographies and is known for building strong leadership pipelines. By effectively leveraging brand science and customer behavior insights, he has significantly enhanced corporate brand image and market share wherever he has worked.
Leadership at Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
At Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, he played a pivotal role in launching and managing all of the company's top 10 organic brands, and was instrumental in placing the Gastroenterology, Cardiovascular, and Oral Care portfolios in leadership positions. Even today, he cherishes his long association with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories.
Transformative Leadership at Curatio Healthcare
During his eight-year tenure as CEO and Director of Curatio Healthcare (India) Pvt. Ltd., a dermo-cosmetic company in the prescription segment, he accelerated the company's value nearly sevenfold, transforming it into one of the most sought-after assets in the Indian Pharmaceutical Market.
Curatio's acquisition in 2022, at landmark valuation multiples, stands as a testament to his strategic clarity and execution excellence.
Currently, he serves in an advisory role at Jashvik Capital, supporting the identification and evaluation of high-potential healthcare businesses. He remains open to consulting engagements with pharmaceutical organizations seeking purposeful, sustainable growth.
His career reflects a rare blend of leadership, analytical rigor, talent development, and strategy—always aligned with the larger goal of building enduring pharmaceutical brands.
Vivek Hattangadi
The Vivek Hattangadi I Know
By Shailaja Dwivedi Pathak
I have known my Guru and Mentor, Vivek Hattangadi, for over a decade—but my admiration for him began even before I met him. It began with a book. What the Pharma CEO Wants from the Pharma Brand Manager was not merely a professional read; it was a quiet awakening. Somewhere between those pages, I became his admirer. Over time, admiration grew into respect, respect deepened into trust, and trust blossomed into a bond that words struggle to capture. Today, he is no longer just my Guru and Mentor; he is a cherished and inseparable member of our family.
A Journey of 52 Years
On 1st March 2026, Vivek Sir completes an extraordinary 52 years in the pharmaceutical industry. Of these, 30 years were spent in corporate life—16 years in sales management and 14 years in brand management—culminating in his role as a Cluster Head, leading two divisions of an Indian transnational company.
Yet, perhaps the most defining chapter of his journey began on 1 January 2004, when he chose to walk away from a secure and enviable corporate position. He embraced a higher calling, becoming an independent Brandpreneur and founding B–Black Belt Brand Builders (formerly The Enablers), driven not by ambition, but by purpose.
His vision found its most soulful expression in the institution of World Pharma Brand Managers Day, created to honour his own Gurus—Prof. Chitta Mitra and Prof. Tarun Gupta. What began as a tribute has today become a movement—one committed to building strong, ethical, and enduring pharmaceutical brands through Good Marketing Practices (GMaP).
A Living Classroom
With 11 books to his credit, Vivek Sir's writing stands as a living classroom for generations of pharma professionals. Among these, Humanism in Marketing: Responsible Leadership and the Human-to-Human Approach holds a special place—published by Palgrave Macmillan and edited by Prof. Philip Kotler, the father of modern marketing.
In this landmark work, his chapter, "H2H Marketing – The Pharma Perspective," reflects not just marketing mastery, but a deeply held belief that healthcare marketing must first serve humanity. His words do more than educate—they awaken conscience and responsibility.
In the world of pharma, his name is spoken with respect: Prof. Vivek Hattangadi. The books he has authored, the wisdom he has shared, and the countless lives he has touched have earned him that title. Yet, he himself resists it.
He does not want to be called "Professor." He does not seek grandeur or prestige. Instead, he embraces the simplest, most profound identity of all — that of a primary school teacher.
Because that is who he truly is. A teacher of fundamentals. A patient guide who believes that mastery is born not from shortcuts, but from strong foundations. He teaches the basics — the ABCs of pharma brand management and sales management — with the same humility and devotion as a schoolteacher shaping young minds.
And in doing so, he has shaped an entire generation of professionals. His legacy is not in titles or accolades, but in the clarity he has given, the confidence he has instilled, and the values he has nurtured.
Vivek Hattangadi Sir is more than a mentor. He is a builder of futures, a cultivator of excellence, and above all, a teacher whose lessons will echo far beyond the classroom.
Deeply influenced by Todd Henry's Die Empty, Vivek Sir lives by a simple yet profound philosophy: to leave this world having shared everything he has learned. Knowledge, for him, is not to be preserved, but to be passed on.
Beyond boardrooms and classrooms, his heart finds its truest calling with the "Special Children of God." Each year, he devotes two to three weeks to the Igatpuri Residential Schools for cognitively challenged children and those with speech and hearing impairments—serving quietly, selflessly, and without expectation.
I consider myself truly blessed to have such a soul in my life—not just as a mentor, but as family.
— Shailaja Dwivedi Pathak
In celebrating Vivek Hattangadi, we honour the spirit of World Pharma Brand Managers Day—a day that reminds us that true brand leadership is not measured by numbers alone, but by the lives touched, values upheld, and knowledge selflessly passed on.
