Brands
Harsh K. Rai named CEO of Mahindra’s farm division & gromax
Seasoned business leader returns to India to head farm division and gromax
MUMBAI: Mahindra Group has appointed Harsh K. Rai as CEO of its farm division and gromax business, marking a significant new chapter in the executive’s three-decade corporate journey.
In his new role, Rai will steer the strategic direction and growth of Mahindra’s farm equipment and agri solutions portfolio, focusing on innovation, scale and deeper market reach across the agricultural ecosystem. His appointment comes at a time when India’s farming sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by mechanisation, technology and evolving rural aspirations.
Announcing his move, Rai struck a personal note. “Back in India. Back to roots. Joined Mahindra Group as CEO – farm division & gromax,” he shared. Reflecting on his first few weeks in the field, he spoke of meeting “talented teams, passionate partners and friendly farmers”, and praised Mahindra’s legacy of trust and its enduring commitment to innovation in agriculture. “Looking forward to build it together,” he added.
Rai joins Mahindra after serving as CEO of overseas spinning at Aditya Birla Group in Jakarta from August 2023 to January 2026. Prior to that, he was senior executive president at UltraTech Cement, where he spent over four years in Mumbai overseeing key business operations.
A large part of his career, however, was shaped at PepsiCo, where he held multiple leadership roles over 14 years. From marketing head for new brands such as Tropicana and Gatorade to vice president sales and commercial unit gm for India food and beverage, Rai built a reputation for driving growth across regions and categories. He also served as CEO and managing director of NourishCo Beverages Limited, the joint venture between PepsiCo and Tata, and sat on its board.
His early career began at Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, where he rose through the ranks from management trainee to regional manager in the lighting division.
From beverages to building materials and textiles, Rai has led businesses across sectors and geographies. Now, as he returns to India’s heartland with Mahindra’s farm portfolio in hand, the focus shifts to fields rather than factory floors. If his track record is anything to go by, the seeds of growth may already be sown.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
