Brands
Puma names Ramprasad Sridharan as managing director India
MUMBAI: PUMA India has appointed Ramprasad Sridharan as its new managing director, signalling a fresh stride for the brand in one of its most important markets. Sridharan steps into the role following Karthik Balagopalan’s decision to explore new interests outside the company.
With over two decades of experience in the fashion and footwear industry, Sridharan brings deep retail knowledge and leadership expertise to Puma. His career spans senior positions across major brands including United Colors of Benetton India, Clarks and Reebok India, where he has overseen operations, strategy, marketing and digital growth across Asia-Pacific and India.
Puma chief commercial officer Matthias Bäumer said Sridharan’s appointment would strengthen the company’s operations and help translate global strategic priorities into local success. He added that Karthik Balagopalan’s two-decade-long contribution to Puma had been invaluable and wished him the very best for his future endeavours.
Sridharan’s appointment reflects Puma’s ambition to continue scaling its footprint in India, leveraging his deep industry insight to fuel growth, enhance retail operations and reinforce the brand’s market presence.
As Sridharan takes the reins, Puma India looks poised to step up its game, combining global strategy with local expertise to energise the market and deliver on its growth ambitions.
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.
