MAM
Sharad Aggarwal takes over as CEO of Godfrey Phillips India
Mumbai: FMCG major Godfrey Phillips India Ltd (GPIL) on Tuesday announced the appointment of Sharad Aggarwal as chief executive officer of the company. He will be reporting to GPIL president and managing director Bina Modi.
The board of GPIL had met on 16 September and unanimously approved the appointment of Aggarwal, who is currently serving as the COO and whole time director of Godfrey Phillips, said the statement.
Aggarwal will be taking over from Bhisham Wadhera, who has been at the helm of the company from 2015, as he has demitted office on 26 December 2021. According to a media statement, Wadhera will continue to guide the organisation as an advisor and a mentor. “I am delighted with the appointment of Sharad as the CEO for Godfrey Phillips India; in last two years that I have worked closely with him, as a COO. Sharad has provided great value to Godfrey Phillips with an exceptional mix of strategic and people management skills, professional expertise and superior understanding of processes and technology,” shared Wadhera.
“Sharad has been with the organisation since 1994 and has exceptional credentials of delivering results. He has proven himself as an inspiring leader and led transformational changes in the organisation, and I firmly believe he is the right choice to unleash the potential, of Godfrey Phillips to the fullest, create sustainable business with sales and profit growth and value for all stakeholders,” said Bina Modi. “Sharad has shared his vision for the organisation that includes agility in adoption of technology, innovation and data science. He has the appropriate balance of Ggowth and P&L orientation. His people philosophy includes nurturing an inclusive and uniform culture of productivity and collaboration. He believes in furthering a sense of belongingness and ownership across the organisation. We will surely reach new heights under his dynamic and energetic leadership.”
Aggarwal is also the FICCI executive committee member, PHD Environment Committee’s core member, and serves as GMA’s governing council member, a body committed to local causes and development of Ghaziabad Industries and Institutions.
“I thank the board and Dr Modi to have vested this faith and confidence in me. With the support of my dynamic team, I am confident of fulfilling the expectations of leadership and the organisation,” commented Sharad Aggarwal. “I also take this opportunity to thank Mr Wadhera for his contribution that has helped the company reach scale new heights. I certainly have big shoes to fill.”
Aggarwal is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School. He also holds a degree in electronics from REC Nagpur, a post graduate diploma in business management with gold medal from IMT Ghaziabad and is also a certified six sigma black belt.
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
