gagan khurana

Co-Founder at MaxiTerra

Bio Summary

Extensive Sustainability and Strategy experience working in multiple geographies across Latin America, Europe and Asia. Deep understanding of the agriculture, food and CPG space. In addition have worked at the intersection of public and private sector over the course of my career and have an excellent handle on PPP structures and collaborative models.

Employment History

Co-Founder

MaxiTerra

January 2015 - present

Brissago, Switzerland

• MaxiTerra advises companies and public entities create innovative supply chain solutions, working across the value chain connecting farmers to big global companies via efficient aggregation structures • The start-up also works on developing market access solutions leveraging public-private partnerships involving institutions, farmers, agro-chem and F&B companies using mobile technologies and big data • Participated in setting up the New Vision for Agriculture - Transformation Leaders Network at the World Economic Forum as one of Founder Members. The group is structured to help transform agriculture practices globally to be more sustainable • Invited to be on Sustainability Advisory Council of one of the biggest global agro-chemical companies. The council advises the CEO and top leadership team on sustainability strategy • Worked with global organizations in setting up a PPP platform in a major Latin American country involving the government, 30 large global/regional companies and the biggest farmer organization • Worked with the team from World Economic Forum related to the launch of the New Vision of Agriculture Initiative in Colombia, Brazil and Nicaragua. • Implementation of integrated value chain model and formation of farmer groups for the conversion of livestock lands to maize growing operations. This involves off-take agreements of about 10,000 tons a year by some of the biggest maize processors, which helps mitigate market risk for the farmers • Structuring of a sustainable supply chain which allows smallholder cocoa growers to integrate with the operations of one of the world’s biggest food companies • Developed the business case and implementation plan for setting up a low cost cold chain in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda focusing on the potato value chain • Defined market attractiveness and entry strategy for one of the major global chemical and mineral producers into agri-inputs and water treatment space across multiple geographies globally

Head Of Partnerships And Grow Africa

World Economic Forum

January 2013 - January 2015

Geneva, Switzerland

• Led the creation of Grow Africa as an innovative and independent entity in the agriculture investment space in Africa, involving governments, global corporations, SMEs and farmers organizations • Responsible for managin ...see more

Senior Engagement Manager

McKinsey & Company

January 2007 - December 2012

Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

• Global lead in McKinsey’s Water and Waste service line. Chosen as McKinsey Fellow of Sustainability and Resource Productivity Practice. Pioneered the Agriculture, Water and Waste service lines in LatAm and was part of leadership group, considered an authority on these issues • Principal advisor for World Economic Forum and a private sector consortium in a major Latin American country to develop a viable agriculture sector strategy along with the ministry of agriculture • Advisor to the B20 CEO Global Task Force on Food Security for preparing the position paper ahead of the G20 Summit, 2012 in Los Cabos, Mexico • Defined the clean-tech and renewable energy strategy of a private sector consortium in a major Latin American country, also advised the group on its public policy challenges • Designed the comprehensive National Water Strategy for a major Latin American country. This work is now the basis of prioritizing projects and managing an annual budget of USD 3bn • Worked extensively with global institutions and private sector clients on the global micro-economics of water study, an extensive effort spanning 3 continents with a special focus on agriculture • Advised one of the biggest mortgage originators in Latin America on market expansion strategies for Mexico and new product design to meet the demand from serving new segments • Created an integrated strategy for the waste collection system in one of the world’s biggest cities • Designed the framework for public-private partnerships between the biggest global foundations and the Government of Mexico; optimized distribution channels for a world-famous social program • Helped a global CPG company build its rural distribution capabilities in Mexico and created a model for defining trade terms with clients – this model was replicated globally within the company • Worked closely with various government agencies for the financial inclusion of the extremely poor and isolated rural communities in Mexico and Latin America, through extensive use of technology • Worked extensively with consumer and packaged goods sector on studies like designing client strategy for Latin America and building organizational capabilities • Defined the carbon emission mitigation strategy of a major Latin American country, in terms of net NPV positive interventions which were acceptable to a broad group of stakeholders and the society • Developed market entry strategies with Private Equity clients seeking to enter Latin American markets

Director (Commercial)

Yamaha Motor

June 2003 - December 2005

Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

- Joined Yamaha-Fast, following its acquisition of Cambio Global (a company I co-founded) - Took the decision to market motorcycles and other specially developed products in smaller towns and rural areas of Mexico, where max ...see more

Selected Project Experience

Project Description:

Designed and started a farmer driven aggregation and market access organization for CIMMYT with a very innovative ownership structure to avoid its politicization in the mid-long term. The focus is on crop diversification with conservation agriculture principals and basic value add, mostly working with traditional and criollo varieties in India and Mexico

Industry: Agriculture

Topic(s): Sustainability

Project Description:

The mandate from the client was to help improve smallholder farm incomes for vanilla growers on a small island nation. Worked with local government agencies, local traders, farmer coops and big vanilla processors to set up an innovative and efficient supply chain structure to help improve farmer incomes by at least 30 percent

Topic(s): Supply Chain

Project Description:

Developed the business case and implementation plan for setting up a low cost cold chain in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda focusing on the potato value chain. The project was aimed at stabilizing price volatility of potatoes in East Africa across growing and off seasons via the development of a cold chain assuring more stable supply in off season

Industry: Agriculture

Topic(s): Capital Projects, Economic Development

Project Description:

The project focused on reviving and restructuring a defunct cocoa value chain in the state of Tabasco Mexico (the birth place of cocoa). The team worked with local farmer organizations and local partners to set up local fermentation and basic processing facilities to improve the quality of cocoa beans supplied to one of the biggest global food players

Industry: Consumer Products

Topic(s): Supply Chain

Project Description:

Industry: Agriculture

Topic(s): Sustainability

Education

Master's in Business Administration/Management

European School of Management and Technology, Berlin

2006

Bachelor's in Physics

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

1991

Language Skills

English Spanish; Castilian Hindi

Country Experience

Brazil India Kenya Mexico Rwanda South Africa Spain Switzerland United States

Skills

Education and Training

Program Management

Business

Growth Strategy,

Innovation Strategy,

New Business Build,

Scenario Planning,

Strategic Planning,

Trends & Global Forces,

Benchmarking & Best Practice,

Corporate Strategy,

Portfolio Strategy,

Environment

Food Systems and Security,

Sustainable Investing,

Carbon & Energy Economics,

Circular Economy,

Climate Change,

Decarbonization,

Economics, Policy, and Social Studies

City development,

Policy Development,

Impact Assessment

Transportation, Supply Chain, and Logistics

Distribution,

Strategic Sourcing,

Supply Chain Optimization

Industry Experience

Consumer Products

Food and Beverage,

Packaged Goods

Social Sector

Foundations and Philanthropy,

Multilateral Organizations,

NGOs and Nonprofits