Man On A Mission

Yashovardhan Gupta, the young and dynamic CEO of Torero Corporation Private Limited, believes in a disruptive business model. His company is a global licensee for luxury brands with specialisation in world-class leather accessories that are offered at affordable price points to consumers.

- Ritusmita Biswas

He describes himself as a soldier of the country. “While a soldier guards the border and serves the country, I strive to generate employment for thousands in India and guarantee them a decent livelihood. As an entrepreneur, I work not for my own personal goals, but with the ambition of doing something that benefits my motherland,” he says.

Meet Yashovardhan Gupta. He is the young and dynamic CEO of Torero Corporation Private Limited, the exclusive worldwide licensee of Cross’s leather accessory business, which is involved in manufacturing world-class products and exporting them to over 40 countries.

Shaping up for the future

Yashovardhan Gupta belongs to the Panchudala village in Rajasthan. His mother hails from Jhunjhunu. His ancestral surname is Harnathka, which was changed to Gupta three generations ago.

The entrepreneur graduated in computer science and acquired an MBA from the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. He then commenced his corporate training under Naveen Jindal, the chairman and MD of Jindal Steel & Power Limited. He was responsible for formulating growth strategies for the group, a $18 billion conglomerate. Yashovardhan says, “I learnt a lot. The time I was training under Mr Jindal was an enlightening period.” Then, in 2009, he took up the reins of his father Rajesh Gupta’s company, Metropoli Fashions.

Rajesh Gupta had always been an inspiration to his son. He had shifted from Kanpur to Kolkata in 1985, and started Metropoli Fashions in 1988. Though the company suffered a brief setback due to a huge default from a US importer, it got back on its feet in no time. By 1991, it had begun associating with global brands such as Hugo Boss, Cerruti and DKNY and had managed to secure a partnership with Marroquineria. Even today, it remains one of the most reputed manufacturers and exporters of leather accessories in the region.