Brands
Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages names Sunaina Dhanuka strategy chief and COS to CEO
MUMBAI: Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages has elevated Sunaina Dhanuka to head of strategy and chief of staff to the CEO, signalling a sharper focus on long-term growth and execution within India’s largest Coca-Cola bottling operation.
In her new role, Dhanuka will work closely with the chief executive to drive strategic priorities, strengthen organisational alignment and support value creation across the wider Coca-Cola ecosystem.
She brings more than 17 years of experience spanning commodities markets, risk management, sourcing, trading and strategic investments. Before joining Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages in a senior leadership capacity, she held key roles across global firms including The Coca-Cola Company, Unilever, Olam, Macquarie Group, Morgan Stanley and Arthur Andersen & Co.
Her cross-sector background across FMCG, commodities and financial services is expected to bolster the brand’s strategic planning and execution as it navigates a competitive beverages market.
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.
