Dayal Kumar Rakesh

Scholar background

Rakesh is the Vietnam Country Manager of Ipsos, a global marketing research and consulting firm. He brings over 20 years’ experience in marketing and research to the role which involves driving the firm’s national business growth strategies

Before Ipsos, Rakesh spent seven years at Nielsen, a leading data and market measurement firm, where held multiple positions including Executive Director – Head of Consumer Insights in Vietnam and the Executive Director for Nielsen UAE. While in the UAE, he oversaw the firm’s FMCG and Retail business in the Middle East and North Africa markets. Prior to that, he was a Senior Research Executive at Kantar, a UK-based data analytics and brand consulting group.

Rakesh completed a Bachelor of Science at Sambalpur University in 1994, and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing Management from KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research in 2001. As a Hinrich Foundation Scholar, he earned a Master of Global Trade at RMIT University Vietnam in 2023.

Personal statement

I am part of the leadership team of Ipsos Vietnam, where we provide our clients with the foresight to build strategy while entering a new market.

The main objective of pursuing this program is to learn about the latest developments in global trade from the best educators and practitioners in this space. I have been in the field of marketing research and consulting for the past two decades and have experienced different cultures and businesses across India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

I will apply what I will learn during the MGT program to help clients and businesses across the globe develop sustainable global trade practices. As the Hinrich Foundation has a strong alumni network, I will seek support from this community to enhance my knowledge based on the practical experiences of its members.

In keeping with the mission of the Hinrich Foundation, I look forward to researching the latest topics relating to global trade, working on thought leadership with the assistance of faculty and alumni, and sharing what I learn with industry leaders at conferences and webinars. I will also spread this knowledge by sharing it with senior leaders in the industry and with the students interested in this field.

Later in my career, I would like to share my knowledge and experience with students of global trade, as well as being a good mentor. I plan to pursue my doctorate in Global Trade after completing the MGT.