Ishan Dutta is an International Growth Advisor at GM-BGH, a role he took on in April 2024. In this position, he leverages his experience to help business founders achieve traction, scale, and profitability in their international sales. His work involves both face-to-face client interactions, online consultations and workshops.
How it started
Ishan studied PPE at Oxford University, and then later completed an MBA in France. He spent 10 years at the L’Oréal Group where he held various leadership roles, including Country, Region, and Marketing Head in different markets around the world: France, US, Korea and India.
He then moved to Singapore, where he held significant business-facing roles at the Asia Pacific level running Symantec’s Norton brand and later as Senior Vice President at Henkel South Asia in the Beauty Care division. These roles took him to countries and markets all over Asia and gave him the opportunity to work in more than 10 countries, including Japan, China, India, and Australia.
Start-Up
In 2015, Ishan decided to start his own business and founded a professional hair products company, based in Los Angeles, US: Ugly Duckling Colour. The brand focuses on hair care products for hairdressers in the U.S.
The company has grown into a well-known brand in hair over the past 10 years and is particularly well-known for their blonding products and fashion colour. With a management team now in place and running the company on a day-to-day basis, Ishan decided to relocate back to the UK in 2022.
What is it like working at GM BGH?
“I think it’s an excellent company to work for. The opportunity of working with so many small and medium sized businesses is amazing. I learn from my clients every day. Other advisors at the BGH also have a lot of knowledge and ideas, and in general it’s a very collaborative and friendly environment.”
What would be your advice to young people starting in their career?
“Find an industry that that you like and get stuck in as quickly as possible. Maintain a positive attitude and try and learn as much as possible from your colleagues. Look at not just what they do, but also how they do it. Try and develop your own personal brand over time.”
What do you enjoy about your current role at GM BGH?
“I enjoy being exposed to so many businesses and being able to work with them. There is a fantastic energy among businesses in Manchester, and I consider myself lucky to be a part of it.”
What would you like to see the companies you work with achieve in the next year?
“There is a lot of export potential in Manchester and a lot of it is pretty much untouched. The companies who are working with me have really excellent products and services but most of them are just scratching the surface as far as international sales are concerned. I would like to help them achieve their goals.”