Taraka Mani Deepak Nersu

About Taraka Mani Deepak Nersu

Strategic Operations, Expansion, and Supply Chain leader with 8+ years of global experience driving efficiency, cost savings, and commercial growth across IKEA (UK & Global), PepsiCo, Amazon, and Sears.Currently working with IKEA as an Expansion Food Specialist, where I focus on bringing the IKEA Food strategy to life by developing Commercial Swedish Food Markets and Restaurant Back of House operations in new and existing customer meeting points. Passionate about creating efficient, inspiring, and sustainable food experiences that strengthen IKEA’s vision of a better everyday life for the many people.Career highlights include:Delivered a 15% procurement lead-time reduction and drove £3.9M → £4.8M sales uplift through process transformation.Led cross-functional teams of 10+, managing vendor negotiations and digital transformation projects.Reduced operational costs by 12% through process and supply chain optimization.Beyond my corporate journey, I am also the Founder of Hayagriva Learning Hub, an edtech initiative focused on bringing STEM, AI, and coding education to children in an engaging and accessible way. This venture reflects my belief in using knowledge to empower the next generation of thinkers and innovators.Alongside my current role, I’m intentionally building my understanding of sustainability and responsible business practices — particularly how they intersect with operations, people leadership, and long-term value creation. This learning focus is aimed at future readiness and complements my existing experience.Fluent in English, Hindi, and Telugu, and equipped with an MBA in Supply Chain & Operations, I thrive in multicultural environments, bridging strategy with execution to deliver impactful business results.

Experience

1. Expansion Food Specialist

   IKEA

   Sep 2025 — Present · Malmo, SE

   As an Expansion Food Specialist, I am responsible for supporting the development and implementation of IKEA Food concepts in new and existing customer meeting points. My work focuses on:Driving expansion projects across Commercial Swedish Food Market and Restaurant Back of House, ensuring alignment with the IKEA Food strategy.Creating food layouts and operational solutions that are efficient, inspiring, and deliver great customer experiences.Collaborating with cross-functional teams to secure IKEA’s food offer as a strong commercial asset, balancing efficiency, sustainability, and affordability.Supporting markets with tools, knowledge, and best practices to enable smooth handover and successful operations.This role allows me to combine my passion for food with IKEA’s vision of creating a better everyday life for the many people, while ensuring that food remains a key part of the total IKEA experience.

Education

• Sagar Institute of Technology

  Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.), Civil Engineering

  2009 — 2013

• Hyderabad Central High School

  Ssc , Maths, Sceince & Social

  1996 — 2007

• University of East London

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management