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.”
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.”
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