Brands
HNGIL appoints Rakesh Mehta as COO, north after Madhvani takeover
KOLKATA: Hindustan National Glass & Industries Ltd (HNGIL) has appointed Rakesh Mehta as chief operating officer, north, with immediate effect, strengthening its leadership team following its acquisition by Independent Sugar Corporation Ltd (INSCO), part of Uganda-based Madhvani Group, in September 2025.
The appointment signals HNGIL’s post-acquisition push to sharpen operational execution and accelerate growth in northern India. Mehta will oversee manufacturing facilities across the region, with a mandate spanning supply-chain optimisation, production efficiency and market expansion across pharmaceuticals, liquor, beverages and food packaging segments.
Mehta brings more than two decades of experience across finance, commercial operations, contracting and regional leadership. Prior to joining HNGIL, he served as finance head – north at Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd from 2013, and held senior roles at Reliance Retail, managing distribution, logistics and operations across Gurugram and key northern markets.
Commenting on the appointment, chief strategy and corporate affairs officer Suraj Mehta, said the leadership addition comes at a pivotal moment for the company. He added that Mehta’s operational depth and strategic perspective would strengthen northern operations and support HNGIL’s ambition to retain leadership in container glass manufacturing.
Rakesh Mehta said he was excited to join HNGIL following the acquisition and looked forward to driving efficiency, innovation and scalable growth to deliver world-class glass packaging solutions to customers.
Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Kolkata, HNGIL operates 11 furnaces and 44 production lines, supported by advanced glassmaking technology sourced from Europe and the United States.
Brands
Rohini Laya Venkateswaran named executive director at Gillette India
P&G veteran with two decades of experience steps into leadership role
NEW DELHI: Rohini Laya Venkateswaran has been appointed executive director at Gillette India Pvt. Ltd., bringing with her more than two decades of experience across sales, strategy and brand leadership within the consumer goods sector. In her new role, she will help steer the company’s strategic direction and growth while strengthening its footprint in the grooming and personal care category.
Venkateswaran joins the board after a long career at Procter & Gamble, where she spent nearly 21 years shaping sales strategy, building brands and driving market expansion across India and international markets.
Most recently, she served as chief sales officer for India at P&G. Prior to that, she was vice president and country manager for east gulf markets, overseeing operations in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar while also guiding sales strategy across the Gulf region, including the UAE.
Earlier in her career, she led sales strategy and planning for India while serving as marketing leader for brands such as Olay and Old Spice. During this stint, she focused on reshaping go-to-market channels and building awareness through digital, social and influencer-led campaigns to drive growth.
Her journey at P&G also included roles such as director sales strategy and planning leader India, associate director modern retail and ecommerce, regional manager for Delhi and Rajasthan, and several key account and trade marketing roles across the country. She also spent time in the United States working on the P&G Walmart international team, collaborating on global retail initiatives.
Venkateswaran holds an MBA in marketing from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from RV College of Engineering.
With her mix of sales acumen, brand-building experience and global exposure, Venkateswaran’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on growth and market leadership for Gillette India.
