K.G. George

President – Retail, Cello World Limited

K.G. George is an accom- plished professional with over 21 years of experience in retail and franchising. A Mechanical Engineering graduate from Calcutta University, he also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. With more than 37 years of experience in the automobile and consumer goods sectors, George was chosen in late 2002 to lead TTK Prestige's foray into retail. By the time he retired from TTK Prestige Limited in March 2024, Prestige Xclusive, the exclusive chain of 'Prestige' stores, had grown to over 675 outlets across 375 towns, with a turnover exceeding Rs 350 crores. Ninety percent of these outlets were franchised, while 10% were ei- ther company-owned and operated or company-owned and franchise- operated. George successfully demon- strated how a franchisor-franchisee relationship should be managed. He treated the franchisee's business as his own, doing everything possible to make it a success. With a keen eye for identifying entrepreneurial talent, he supported franchisees even if they were not financially strong, helping them become successful business owners. Since September 2024, he has been work- ing at Cello World Limited, where he is establishing brand stores and Shop-in-Shops across the country.