With over two decades of experience in the QSR industry in India, Smita Jatia has been an active member of the McDonald’s India team since its operational commencement and has managed various roles within the organization, over the years.
Smita is responsible for charting out and leading the aggressive growth of McDonald’s India’s operations across West and South India. She has been instrumental in launching, indigenizing and building the McDonald’s brand over the last two decades. Having joined HRPL in 1996 as Director – Marketing, Smita soon moved on to take the role of Chief Operating Officer. Currently, the Managing Director – Hardcastle Restaurants, Smita leads an organisation that boasts of an employee strength of over 7500 people across the West and South of India.
Under Smita’s leadership, McDonald’s India has also undertaken a host of community development programs ranging from education of youth on environmental issues and cleanliness to traffic safety awareness programs. She has been the driving force behind Ronald McDonald House Charities Foundation setting up its first Ronald McDonald Family Room in partnership with the Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, in India. She also identifies closely with the mission of RMHC India – to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children.
A commerce graduate from Sydenham College Mumbai, Smita also completed an 18 weeks Executive Management Program from Harvard Business School, Boston and also underwent a rigorous Marketing and Restaurant Leadership program at the Hamburger University, USA, to better prepare for her challenging role at McDonald’s India.
Smita lives in Mumbai, India with her husband Amit Jatia, who is the Vice Chairman of Westlife Development Pvt Ltd (WDL) and their sons, Akshay, who leads a business extension of McDonald’s India and Ayush, who is currently pursuing his studies abroad.