Procter & Gamble India has appointed Kumar Venkatasubramanian as the Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2024.
Kumar will take over the reins from LV Vaidyanathan, who is stepping down after 28 years of dedicated service to the company. Vaidyanathan, who joined P&G in 1996, held various leadership positions across different regions, including India, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand. He played a pivotal role in driving the company’s commitment to Citizenship, focusing on Community Impact, Equality and Inclusion, and Environmental Sustainability.
Bringing a wealth of experience, Kumar, who joined P&G in 2020, has held leadership roles in P&G India, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand. Most recently, he served as CEO for the ANZ business. With a strong dedication to equality and inclusion, he has positively impacted both employees and the community over the past two decades. His expertise lies in team management, leadership development, strategy, business development, and sales. Kumar holds an MBA degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Durgapur.
Welcoming Kumar to the leadership board, Stanislav Vecera, P&G President for Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, said, “I am thrilled with Kumar Venkatasubramanian’s appointment as the India CEO, who has been an integral part of the P&G India growth story for well over two decades. Kumar is no stranger to the India organisation, having spent many years building and executing our business strategies here. The India business and people will immensely benefit from his leadership and vision, and collectively I am certain they will take the India business to new heights while maintaining a balanced growth outlook.”
Kumar added, “It is a moment of great pride for me to come back to India and spearhead the P&G business in the country. I look forward to being back in the market, learning more about the Indian consumers, and serving their needs. The India organisation is on a momentum, delivering consistent results and a balanced top and bottom-line growth. It will be important for us to remain focused on our integrated growth strategy, as I believe it is the right strategy for us to deliver sustained outcomes. We will focus on a portfolio of daily use products where performance drives brand choice and raise the bar on all aspects of our superiority strategy – product, package, brand communication, retail execution, and value. We aim to lead constructive disruption in the industry across the value chain. I believe that our agile, empowered, and accountable organisation will be at the heart of our growth. I look forward to working with our incredibly talented team in India once again and playing a part in the India growth story.”
Extending wishes to outgoing CEO Vaidyanathan, Vecera said, “I want to thank LV for his outstanding leadership of the India organisation, and his service to P&G for nearly 3 decades. I wish him all the best for his future endeavours.”
Vaidyanathan commented, “It has been a great honour and privilege to lead our business in India. The journey has been incredibly fulfilling. I am so proud of every P&G employee for demonstrating commitment and passion to serve our consumers, customers, and stakeholders, and for the results we collectively achieved. I am confident in the continued success of the company and the people.”
