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Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
British entrepreneur of famous food brands bids an emotional goodbye to India in a viral LinkedIn post; See inside
Goodbyes are rarely easy, especially when you're leaving a place that has become more than just a stop on life's journey. Moments like these are emotional, nostalgic, and often full of gratitude. And when someone has spent years building not only a business but also a bond with a country, that goodbye becomes all the more meaningful. India has a way of leaving a deep impression on those who live and work here. With all its energy, warmth, and challenges, it's not just a place, it's an experience. Many people who come from abroad, expecting a short stay, often find themselves unexpectedly rooted. Be it the people, the culture, or the unpredictable positivity of daily life, something keeps them connected. Recently, a British entrepreneur who spent more than a decade in India shared his reflections on LinkedIn before returning to England with his family. What stood out wasn't just the business impact he made, but the genuine respect and love he developed for the country. After spending 12 years in India, British entrepreneur Jasper Reid, Founder and CEO of International Market Management (IMM), shared a moving post on LinkedIn as he prepared to return to England with his family. 'More than the three years we planned and just about enough to know how India works,' Reid wrote, summarising his long stay in a single sentence. Reid originally came to India on a short-term plan, but ended up staying much longer. During his time here, he played an important role in bringing PizzaExpress to India, and later helped launch Wendy's and Jamie's restaurants in 15 cities and 75 locations, creating thousands of jobs and making a lasting impact on India's food and hospitality sector. Reflecting on the experience, Reid said, 'What did we learn? Above all, we learnt patience, resilience, hard work, and hospitality. These values have declined in many countries, but are alive and well in India... Our privilege was to learn the market ground up, brick by brick, and over a long time. There is no substitute if you aim to succeed here.' His post also touched on the human side of their journey. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Reid and his team stepped up in a big way. 'We fed and helped a million people and bused thousands of migrant workers home,' he shared. Describing India, Reid wrote, 'At any time, India is rich in humanity, excitement, and challenge, but also intensely demanding, hard, and wearing. There's no country like it, and if GDP were measured in souls, India wins. We love India truly, madly and deeply.' He also had advice for Indian business owners, 'Set your people free. It's the best thing you will ever do.' According to Reid, empowering and trusting teams was key to his success here. Reid's family connection to India goes way back, as his grandfather helped build Kolkata's Dum Dum Airport, his father worked with HelpAge India, and his wife's uncle founded a school in Sikkim. His daughters, the fourth generation to live in India, have now finished school in Delhi. Even as they move back, Reid wrote, 'Now we have two parental homes and are not really leaving India but moving to the other side of a great, glorious, magic circle.'
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
12 years, 75 cities, 1 letter: British CEO's goodbye to India goes viral
After 12 years in India, British businessman Jasper Reid, founder and CEO of International Market Management (IMM), is bidding farewell to a country that, in his words, has become home. In a heartfelt post that has since gone viral on LinkedIn, Reid shared a message as he and his family prepare to return to England. Accompanied by a family photo, the entrepreneur reflected on the lessons, challenges, and deep personal ties built during his time in India. 'More than the three years we planned and just about enough to know how India works,' he wrote, summarising a journey that far exceeded expectations. From temporary plan to long-term legacy Reid arrived in India with a short-term vision but ended up staying far longer. Over the past decade, he and his team brought global food brands to Indian cities—launching PizzaExpress, Wendy's, and Jamie's restaurants across 75 locations in 15 cities. Their work created thousands of jobs and helped shape the modern casual dining scene in India. But Reid says the most valuable takeaways weren't just about business. 'What did we learn? Above all, we learnt patience, resilience, hard work, and hospitality,' he wrote. 'These values have declined in many countries, but are alive and well in India.' He added a word of caution for international entrepreneurs: 'India dances to its own tune… For outsiders, the tune can sound familiar but may be misleading; a siren call. Our privilege was to learn the market ground up, brick by brick, and over a long time. There is no substitute if you aim to succeed here.' Reid also highlighted the role his team played during the Covid-19 lockdown, a period that tested both business and humanity. 'We fed and helped a million people and bused thousands of migrant workers home,' he wrote. While acknowledging India's complexity—'essentially two countries'—Reid emphasised the soul of the nation as its defining feature. 'At any time, India is rich in humanity, excitement, and challenge, but also intensely demanding, hard, and wearing. There's no country like it, and if GDP were measured in souls, India wins. We love India truly, madly and deeply,' he wrote. In one of the post's most widely appreciated lines, Reid offered candid advice to Indian business owners, 'Set your people free. It's the best thing you will ever do.' Reid's personal bond spanning generations Reid's connection to India runs deep. His grandfather helped build Dum Dum Airport in Kolkata. His father worked with HelpAge India. His wife's uncle founded a school in Sikkim. Now, his daughters have completed their schooling in Delhi and are heading to university in the UK. Despite the move, Reid made it clear that India remains close to his heart. 'Now we have two parental homes and are not really leaving India but moving to the other side of a great, glorious, magic circle.' Social media reacts The post also struck a chord with professionals across LinkedIn. Many described it as raw, real, and respectful. Others said Reid's words echoed their own journey of working and living in India. One user wrote, 'Wow what a feat! I've been working in the India market for 20 years but always traveling back and forth. So hats off to you and your family!!' Another commented, 'Wow, what a heartfelt tribute to India! Your experiences, insights, and love for the country shine through. You've left an indelible mark on India, and your stories will continue to inspire. All the best for your new chapter in England!"
News18
5 days ago
- Business
- News18
British Entrepreneur Bids Emotional Farewell To India After 12 Years, Shares Valuable Lesson
Last Updated: Reid's LinkedIn post sparked a flood of reactions, with many praising its raw honesty, respect, and authenticity. After over a decade in India, British entrepreneur Jasper Reid shared an emotional LinkedIn post as he prepared to relocate to England with his family. In the viral post, Reid, Founder and CEO of International Market Management (IMM), bid farewell to his 12-year Indian chapter, reflecting on the lessons he learned and the legacy he hopes to leave behind. 'More than the three years we planned and just about enough to know how India works," he said as he summed up his experience in a single line. Initially planning a temporary stay, Reid and his family ended up spending over a decade in India. During this time, they successfully launched PizzaExpress in the Indian market and expanded Wendy's and Jamie's restaurants to 15 cities across 75 locations, creating thousands of jobs and significantly contributing to the country's food and hospitality industry. 'What did we learn? Above all, we learnt patience, resilience, hard work, and hospitality. These values have declined in many countries, but are alive and well in India. What else? That India dances to its own tune," he said. 'For outsiders, the tune can sound familiar but may be misleading; a siren call. Our privilege was to learn the market ground up, brick by brick, and over a long time. There is no substitute if you aim to succeed here. But it wasn't just about business," he added. Reid mentioned how his team stepped in during the COVID-19 lockdown to assist those in need. 'We fed and helped a million people and bused thousands of migrant workers home," he shared in the post. 'At any time, India is rich in humanity, excitement, and challenge, but also intensely demanding, hard, and wearing. There's no country like it, and if GDP were measured in souls, India wins. We love India truly, madly and deeply," Reid added. Leaving a message for Indian business owners, Reid said, 'Set your people free. It's the best thing you will ever do." According to him, trusting and empowering teams had been a game-changer during his time in India. The Reid family's ties to India run deep, with a legacy spanning generations. His grandfather contributed to the construction of Kolkata's Dum Dum Airport, his father worked with HelpAge India, and his wife's uncle founded a school in Sikkim. Now, his daughters, representing the fourth generation, have completed their schooling in Delhi and are set to pursue higher education in the UK. Despite the move, Reid wrote that India would always be home. 'Now we have two parental homes and are not really leaving India but moving to the other side of a great, glorious, magic circle." Reid's LinkedIn post sparked a flood of reactions, with many praising its raw honesty, respect, and authenticity. Some users admired his willingness to acknowledge India's challenges, while others resonated deeply with his words, seeing reflections of their own experiences living and working in the country. First Published: June 02, 2025, 08:19 IST
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘If GDP were measured in soul, India wins': UK entrepreneur behind Wendy's in India pens emotional farewell after 12 years
After 12 transformative years in India, British entrepreneur Jasper Reid , CEO of IMM, is heading back to England, but not without a heartwarming goodbye that's capturing attention online. In a deeply personal and reflective LinkedIn post, Reid, who introduced brands like Wendy's, PizzaExpress, and Jamie's to Indian diners, shared his love for India, the lessons he learned here, and a single powerful message: 'If GDP were measured in soul, India wins.' Reid's journey began as a three-year business stint but grew into a 12-year immersion into the Indian way of life. From navigating the complexities of the Indian market 'brick by brick' to adapting to its vibrant chaos, he reflected on how India shaped not just his career but his worldview. 'India dances to its own tune,' he wrote, adding that understanding its rhythm takes time, patience, and humility. What stood out most during his time here? For Reid, it was the values he found alive and thriving in India: patience, resilience, hard work, and hospitality—values he believes are slowly fading in many other parts of the world. He also noted the stark contrasts within the country: a dual reality of 'India 1', which mirrors mature economies, and 'India 2', which still struggles like much of sub-Saharan Africa. His farewell message, however, was not a critique but a tribute. With deep familial ties to India going back generations, Reid described his family's longstanding connection with the country—his grandfather helped build Dum Dum Airport, and his father ran national operations for Help Age India. 'Our girls are the fourth generation of our family to live and work in India since 1950,' he noted. Reid and his team were not just about business. During the pandemic, they fed over a million people and helped thousands of migrant workers return home. He credits their success to one simple belief: 'We loved our people, and our people loved our customers.' In a parting thought aimed at Indian business leaders, Reid urged them to empower their people. 'Set your people free. It's the best thing you will ever do,' he wrote. Now moving to England as his daughters prepare for university, Reid says he isn't truly leaving India. 'We have two parental homes and are not really leaving India but moving to the other side of a great, glorious, magic circle.'
India Today
6 days ago
- Business
- India Today
British entrepreneur bids farewell to India after 12 years in emotional post
After spending over a decade in India, a British businessman shared a heartfelt post as he prepared to leave the country and return to England with his a now-viral post on LinkedIn, Jasper Reid, Founder and CEO of International Market Management (IMM), marked the end of his 12-year chapter in India. Sharing a photo of his family, Reid reflected on what the country taught him and the legacy he hoped to leave than the three years we planned and just about enough to know how India works,' he said as he summed up his experience in a single line. Reid and his family moved to India with the intention of staying temporarily, but ended up staying much longer. During that time, they helped launch PizzaExpress in the Indian market and later built Wendy's and Jamie's restaurants across 15 cities and 75 locations. His businesses generated thousands of jobs and contributed significantly to the food and hospitality sector.'What did we learn? Above all, we learnt patience, resilience, hard work, and hospitality. These values have declined in many countries, but are alive and well in India. What else? That India dances to its own tune,' he said, adding, 'For outsiders, the tune can sound familiar but may be misleading; a siren call. Our privilege was to learn the market ground up, brick by brick, and over a long time. There is no substitute if you aim to succeed here.' advertisementBut it wasn't just about business. Reid mentioned how his team stepped in during the Covid-19 lockdown to assist those in need. 'We fed and helped a million people and bused thousands of migrant workers home,' he shared in the post.'At any time, India is rich in humanity, excitement, and challenge, but also intensely demanding, hard, and wearing. There's no country like it, and if GDP were measured in souls, India wins. We love India truly, madly and deeply,' Reid added. He described India as a complex place, "essentially two countries,' where one part resembled developed markets while the other continued to face basic developmental challenges. Yet, what stood out to him was India's also left a message for Indian business owners: 'Set your people free. It's the best thing you will ever do.' According to him, trusting and empowering teams had been a game-changer during his time in family's connection to the country ran deep. His grandfather once helped build the Dum Dum Airport in Kolkata, his father worked with HelpAge India, and his wife's uncle founded a school in Sikkim. His daughters, the fourth generation of the family to live in India, have now finished school in Delhi and are heading to university in the the move, Reid wrote that India would always be home. 'Now we have two parental homes and are not really leaving India but moving to the other side of a great, glorious, magic circle.'Take a look at his post here: The post drew a wave of reactions on LinkedIn. While several users called it 'raw', 'real' and 'respectful,' others admired Reid's ability to embrace India's challenges. A section of the internet said his words mirrored their own feelings about living and working in the country.A few users also pointed out that his message to Indian promoters about empowering teams was worth paying attention the comments here: Jasper Reid's farewell post stood out not for its sentiment but for its clarity and respect. As he begins a new chapter in England, he leaves behind more than a business legacy, he leaves with a perspective that many who've worked in India would relate to.
