MAM
Bajaj Electricals elevates Anuj Poddar to the role of managing director and CEO
Mumbai: Homegrown consumer durables company Bajaj Electricals announced on Tuesday the elevation of Anuj Poddar to the roles of managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO). Shekhar Bajaj will continue as executive chairman of the company.
Anuj Poddar joined the company in late 2018 as its executive director.
This announcement comes on the back of the ongoing and significant transformation journey and keeps in mind the company’s long-term strategy. The separation of the chairman and managing director positions is a continuation of the professionalisation of the management of the company and marks the company’s commitment to strong corporate governance standards, said the company in a statement.
Bajaj Electricals chairman Shekhar Bajaj said, “Over the last few years, we have embarked upon a significant transformation journey at Bajaj Electricals – involving many changes on the business as well as organisational front. In continuation of that, I believe this will provide further impetus to the achievement of our strategic goals and demonstrate our commitment to strong corporate governance. Anuj Poddar has demonstrated exceptionally visionary leadership, executional ability, and passion in driving this transformation journey, and I am confident that in his elevated role he will continue to drive our company forward and add value to all stakeholders.”
Anuj Poddar said, “I am thankful to the chairman and our board for entrusting me with this elevated responsibility. I am truly excited about what lies ahead of us at Bajaj Electricals – we have a clear vision and roadmap for building this future, and together with our entire team, we are committed to being a best-in-class organisation that delivers superior performance and value creation.”
Over the last three years, Bajaj Electricals has undertaken multiple initiatives, including strengthening of the leadership, streamlining of its corporate structure, a turnaround of its performance and balance sheet, and the planned demerger of the EPC business.
Further, the company achieved a key strategic milestone of becoming net-debt-free on 31 March 2022 – a first for the company in over four decades. Having achieved these milestones, Bajaj Electricals is preparing for aggressive growth across its businesses in a focused manner.
The company posted its Q1 FY 22-23 results. For the first quarter of 2022-23, the company achieved revenue from operations of Rs 1,229 crore as against Rs 857 crore, a growth of 43 per cent over the first quarter of the previous year. For the quarter, the company made profit before tax and profit after tax of Rs 57 crore and Rs 41 crore, respectively, as against a loss before tax and loss after tax of Rs 31 crore and Rs 25 crore, respectively, in the corresponding first quarter of the previous year. For the quarter ended 30 June 2022, the company generated positive cash flow from operations of Rs 165 crore in cash equivalents and surplus investments of Rs 254 crore.
Brands
KPMG names Gary Wingrove as global chairman and CEO from October
Record Gmada bids signal rising demand as Rs 1,000 crore bet reshapes Tricity skyline
MUMBAI: KPMG has chosen continuity with a forward tilt. The firm has announced that Gary Wingrove will take over as global chairman and CEO of KPMG International, beginning a four year term from 1 October 2026. Currently serving as global chief operating officer, Wingrove steps into the top role after being nominated by the global board and elected by the global council.
A KPMG veteran with over 25 years at the firm, Wingrove has been closely involved in shaping its recent trajectory. As global COO, he has helped drive the firm’s Collective Strategy, focusing on operational integration, global investments and the steady expansion of the KPMG Delivery Network. He has also been at the forefront of KPMG’s digital push, including the rollout of AI enabled solutions across its global operations.
Before his global role, Wingrove served as CEO of KPMG Australia for nearly a decade, where he led a period of strong growth, almost doubling revenue, profitability and headcount while steering a cultural reset.
He succeeds Bill Thomas, who has led KPMG since 2017 and will work alongside Wingrove over the next six months to ensure a smooth transition.
Thomas leaves behind a firm that looks markedly different from when he took charge. Under his leadership, KPMG’s global revenues have risen by 55 per cent, and its workforce has expanded to more than 276,000 people. He also unified the network of member firms under the Collective Strategy, aligning priorities and strengthening governance.
His tenure saw heavy investment in technology and partnerships, with alliances spanning Microsoft, Google Cloud, SAP, Oracle and ServiceNow. These collaborations, along with platforms like KPMG Clara, have helped the firm scale its AI-led offerings and sharpen its competitive edge.
Beyond growth, Thomas also pushed improvements in audit quality and sustainability. Initiatives such as a multiyear global sustainability strategy and the Our Impact Plan have aimed to embed long term thinking into the firm’s operations and client services.
For Wingrove, the brief is clear but evolving. He has signalled a focus on agility, deep expertise and technology driven solutions as clients navigate an increasingly complex business landscape. He also emphasised KPMG’s identity as a people first organisation, supported by technology and unified through its global network.
The timing of the leadership change comes as KPMG continues to grow, reporting a 5.1 per cent rise in global revenue in FY25, with gains across tax and legal, audit and advisory services. Growth was recorded across all regions, despite a challenging macro environment.
As Wingrove prepares to take charge, the firm appears set on a familiar path with a sharper digital edge. Same playbook, perhaps, but with a renewed focus on speed, scale and smarter solutions.
