George Thomas is a Post Graduate in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University (1977-1982). George’s early professional career was with Unilever’s food businesses in India between 1982 and 1998. During this period George was involved in sales and marketing assignments in the core foods businesses of Unilever – in marketing assignments in the beverages business in India and the ice cream business in the United Kingdom. As the Business Manager for Unilever’s New Foods business in India, he led the launch of Walls Ice Cream in India, giving effect to the joint venture with Nissin for marketing ramen noodles and was part of the acquisition team for Kissan Products.

George left Hindustan Lever Limited in 1998 to complete two successful assignments in restructuring distressed businesses in India. As Director – Warner Lambert India, George successfully restructured their confectionery business that had suffered substantial losses after an unsuccessful change in sourcing strategy. In a short period of twenty four months, (during which period, Pfizer Inc. acquired Warner Lambert), the business returned to profits. George left Warner Lambert in 2000 and took up an assignment as the Whole-time Director of BPL Soft Energy businesses. In this assignment too, a loss making alkaline and zinc carbon battery business was brought to profits in two years by rationalising the sales and distribution for this business both in domestic and international markets and by restructuring sourcing and manufacturing.

The success in turning around distressed businesses and the prior experience in bringing new businesses to market at Unilever provided the strong operating experience that GW Capital, (later India Value Fund and now True North) a premier PE firm, was seeking while executing its unique buy and build strategy in India. As Business Manager and Partner at IVFA, George was involved in some of the most successful investments of the fund and the first control transaction executed by India Value Fund. He has been actively involved in the investments of this fund in marquee businesses like Trinethra Retail (sold to Aditya Birla Retail and currently rebranded as “More”), Music Broadcast Private Limited (Radio City – India’s leading FM Radio channel), TTK Healthcare Services (Insurance TPA), UEM (Environment Management Technology), Meru Cab Company (Taxi Services), Future Financial Services and Disha Microfinance as the Managing Director or the Director of these companies with full operational engagement in the management of these businesses. George has a unique diversity of successful leadership experiences across businesses in different industries, different stages of evolution of companies and of dealing with companies in varying business circumstances.

George left India Value Fund Advisors and after a few entrepreneurial ventures, joined Menterra Venture Advisors, an impact focused fund and has been instrumental in restating this platform to deliver meaningful impact through its investments in early stage businesses in healthcare, agriculture and education.

George is an avid reader and enjoys traveling in rural areas and finding practical solutions to seemingly difficult business problems.