Otavio Calixto

Global VP Sales, Product and Operations at Delivery Hero ✦ Harvard Master’s ✦ Ex-Expedia Group, Tripadvisor (Restorando) and Groupon ✦ MIT & Stanford Degrees

Germany

About

As Vice President of Global Sales, Automation, and Operations at Delivery Hero, I drive commercial excellence and transformation across more than 70 international markets. My mandate is to accelerate growth, elevate commercial performance, and scale digital channels by combining data‑driven strategy, automation, and operational rigor. Under my leadership, our teams have delivered record results: 30% overall sales growth, the rollout of more than a dozen market‑wide automation programs, and the transformation of digital sales into Delivery Hero’s largest global acquisition engine. By uniting technology, analytics, and talent, we’ve redefined how sales and operations collaborate across diverse markets. I’m deeply passionate about building high‑performing, empowered teams that embrace innovation, agility, and lean execution. With a focus on AI, CRM modernization, and continuous improvement, I aim to create lasting commercial impact while fostering collaboration, efficiency, and a culture of growth.

Experience

  • Delivery Hero (6 yrs 1 mo)
    • Global Vice President of Sales, Product and Operations
      Mar 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 4 mos

      Accountable for leading sales, CRM, B2B marketing, commercial automation (including AI outreach), and vendor/ merchant operations for over 1,000,000 partners across 70 countries. Delivering measurable growth and enterprise-wide efficiencies through performance management, automation, and digital solutions. Key Metrics & Achievements: 30% Sales Growth: Delivered a 30% increase in total sales across all global markets during the last 2 years, driving revenue expansion at scale. Digital Sales Transformation: Built and scaled digital sales from inception to become the largest acquisition and sales channel among all Delivery Hero divisions. Activation and Orders Generation Surge: Achieved record YoY growth in active, order-generating partners worldwide, with the highest rates post-pandemic across all regions. 40%+ Cost Savings via Automation: Implemented commercial automation including AI-powered selling agents and end-to-end sales workflows, generating over 40% cost reductions (in sales ops SG&A) and deploying more than a dozen automations group-wide. 6x Marketing ROI: Led vendor marketing across 40+ countries, securing over 6x return on marketing investment and tripling qualified lead generation within two years. Global Salesforce CRM Leadership: Directed product and engineering delivery for Salesforce CRM platforms used in all 70 countries, optimizing cross-market commercial execution. Operations Excellence: Managed all vendor service contracts globally, maximizing support efficiency and contract value . Revenue Optimization: Oversaw commissions and fee revenue streams representing 90%+ of total company revenues. Consistently delivering high-impact results through operational innovation, data-driven strategy, and large-team leadership at global scale.

    • Managing Director Singapore
      Jun 2021 - Mar 2022 · 10 mos

      Led a team of 400 people, delivering operational and P&L transformation for Singapore’s largest online food delivery marketplace. Owned end‑to‑end performance across sales, marketing, operations, and strategic initiatives. Key Metrics & Achievements: 4x Gross Profit Growth: Increased gross profit (EUR basis) by 4x within 10 months through strategic cost controls and margin optimization. 20%+ Average Order Value Growth: Drove a 20%+ uplift in average food value per order by enhancing product mix and expanding premium offerings. 5x Reduction in Supply Gap: Closed supply gap with key competitors, acquiring vendors exclusive to competitor platforms and dominating category coverage. 56% Subscription Deal Growth: Achieved 56% growth in exclusive subscription deals, boosting retention and monetization of core user segments. Peak Hour Market Share Expansion: Grew foodpanda’s delivery market share during peak hours, winning high-frequency and high-value transactions. foodpanda Brand Re-launch: Successfully led the national foodpanda rebrand initiative, driving brand awareness and strengthening market position. Consistently delivered strong financial results and operational improvements through targeted strategies, team empowerment, and market-leading innovation.

    • APAC Senior Director of Sales, Corporate (B2B) and Key Accounts
      Jun 2020 - Mar 2022 · 1 yr 10 mos

      Managing over 1300+ across 12 different countries in APAC, striving everyday to get all the restaurants and shops customers love at the palm of their hands. We are passionate about building strong partnerships, strengthening relationships and bringing together the best of our company to our partners and clients. We love getting in touch with people, leading win-win negotiations and prompting our partners to success

  • Group Director Growth Initiatives Asia-Pacific at Expedia Group
    2017 - 2020 · 3 yrs

    Led the end-to-end execution of strategic growth initiatives and P&L management across Expedia’s Asia-Pacific and Greater China portfolio, including Hotels.com, Expedia, Egencia, VRBO, and other key business units. Drove commercial, operational, and financial optimizations to fuel sustainable expansion. Key Metrics & Achievements: US$100M+ New Sales & Optimization Pipeline: Directed initiatives targeting over US$100 million in incremental sales and business optimization opportunities within two years. US$40M Cost Savings in China: Orchestrated a company-wide China business redesign, unlocking US$40 million in cost efficiencies by streamlining sales operations and optimizing financial structures. Portfolio Leadership on 20+ Growth Projects: Managed delivery across a diverse portfolio of 20+ growth initiatives encompassing sales and commercial enhancements, cross-border finance, tax, and legal setups, plus new payments infrastructure. 40% Revenue Growth in Emerging Markets: Spearheaded launch and scale of multiple Expedia websites in emerging markets, driving approximately 40% gross revenue growth over two years. Delivered transformative impact by aligning cross-functional teams, maximizing operational efficiencies, and accelerating regional expansion in competitive markets.

  • CEO for Restorando Brazil (acquired by TripAdvisor) at Tripadvisor
    2014 - 2017 · 3 yrs

    Led all departments in Brazil, driving dramatic business growth, turning the company in 3 years the largest player in the dine-in restaurant tech ecosystem in the country. Key Metrics & Achievements: 400%+ Revenue Growth: Achieved over 4x revenue growth within 3 years by scaling marketplace operations and executing aggressive regional expansion. 4x User Growth & 5x Merchant Increase: Expanded the user base fourfold and grew merchant partnerships by five times, solidifying market dominance across LATAM. New Business Units Generating 40% Revenue: Developed and launched three new business units—software services, restaurant events, and loyalty programs—now contributing to 40% of annual revenues. Pioneered Cardless Mobile Payments: Partnered with Visa Latin America to introduce the continent’s first cardless mobile payment solution for restaurants, setting a pioneering fintech milestone. Doubled Revenue Streams via Product Innovation: Directed go-to-market and product development for three new offerings in collaboration with commercial, operations, and engineering teams, doubling revenue streams. Delivered sustained high-growth through visionary leadership, product innovation, and strategic market expansion across the largest market in Latin America.

  • Groupon (2 yrs 1 mo)
    • Regional Vice President of Sales
      2013 - 2014 · 1 yr

      Directed sales and commercial teams for Groupon’s largest region in Brazil and South America, managing a team of 50+ employees and driving annual gross revenues exceeding US$15 million. Key Metrics & Achievements: 20%+ Increase in Monthly Revenue Targets: Instituted performance improvements, category management, and deal prioritization strategies, boosting monthly gross revenue target achievement by over 20%. Founded High-Performing Telesales & Inbound Sales Team: Launched and led a telesales and inbound sales division, achieving a 2x increase in new contract productivity relative to other channels. 40% Reduction in Customer Acquisition Cost: Streamlined sales acquisition processes, reducing cost per acquisition by 40%, significantly improving overall sales efficiency. Drove commercial excellence through strategic team leadership, process optimization, and innovative sales channel development across a critical Latin American market.

    • Head of Sales Operations
      2012 - 2013 · 1 yr

      Responsible for managing all the operational departments supporting the growth and performance of all sales teams: Lead Generation; Account Management; Farming and Partner Management. In charge for a total base of more than 50,000 merchants and a team of 40+ direct employees.

    • Strategic and Commercial Planning Manager
      2012 - 2012 · Less than a year

      Responsible for the commercial and strategic planning of daily deals on Groupon’s local pages ensuring continuous growth, best deals mix, category optimization and cross-functional efforts to maximize sales. In charge for approximately 300 deals on a daily basis and a team of 5 direct employees and 20 indirect.

  • Associate Consultant at Value Partners
    2011 - 2012 · 1 yr

    Delivered high-impact strategic consulting projects for market-leading multinational and Brazilian corporations across telecom, technology, media, financial, and industrial sectors. Contributed to engagements spanning several countries, leveraging advanced forecasting and operational analysis tools. Key Metrics & Achievements: - Designed and implemented a 5-year Sales Forecast Model for an automotive technology leader (€10B+ revenues), providing actionable projections for sales growth and operational efficiency. - Led Governance Framework and Strategic Planning for a telecom client (€30B revenues), consolidating objectives and defining growth strategies to support market leadership. - Developed multiple strategic project proposals and executed consulting engagements driving expansion and performance improvements in financial, telecom, and industrial sectors. Enabled significant business transformation and operational optimization through data-driven strategy and best-in-class consulting methodologies.