Brands
Blue Dart re-appoints Balfour Manuel as managing director for second five-year term
Mumbai: Integrated transportation and distribution logistics company, Blue Dart Express has re-appointed Balfour Manuel as managing director for another term of five years with effect from 16 May 2022. The shareholders of the company approved his re-appointment at the recently held Annual General Meeting, the company said in a statement.
Balfour Manuel has been instrumental in the success of Blue Dart since its inception. He has been with the organisation since its initial days in 1983 and has played a key role in focusing its ‘People Centric’ philosophy.
Blue Dart chairman Sharad Upasani commented, “Despite the VUCA environment, under Balfour’s leadership, we are elated to see the robust growth that Blue Dart has achieved in the last four years. His extensive knowledge and all-round experience in the logistics sector has enabled the organisation to surpass emerging challenges and remain a leader in the logistics space. We are optimistic that, the ensuing years, will be more rewarding and Blue Dart will continue to deliver excellent results year over years.
Balfour Manuel said, “The next five years are going to be challenging and I am grateful to have this opportunity to set new benchmarks. Like always, we will persistently focus on overall sustainable growth and expansion and remain the nation’s trade facilitator and a deeply customer-centric brand, offering wide range of logistics solutions that cater to our customers’ needs.”
“With a keen focus on technology & digitalization, infrastructure, strengthening of our aircraft fleet, our brand and ‘people connect’, we will continue to remain a Provider of Choice, consistently working towards the group’s credo, ‘Connecting People, Improving Lives,” he added.
Further, Blue Dart has strengthened its present Board composition with the induction of Prakash Apte and Padmini Khare Kaicker as Independent Directors of the Company for a term of five years, effective from 28 July 2022.
Prakash Apte’s professional career spans over 40 years, most of which has been with multinationals in various positions related to Specialty Chemicals, Pharma & Agribusiness industries. He brings with him experience in the areas of global business & strategy, finance, governance, leadership and personal values.
A qualified chartered accountant from ICAI, Padmini Khare Kaicker is managing partner of B. K. Khare & Co.. She brings with her experience in the areas of strategy, finance, risk & governance, business and organisational matters.
Brands
Emami names Dhruv Aggarwal as chief growth officer
Former Bain partner steps in as FMCG firm sharpens growth playbook
MUMBAI: Emami Limited has appointed Dhruv Aggarwal as its chief growth officer, effective 25 March 2026, following the resignation of Giriraj Bagri.
Aggarwal joins the FMCG major from Bain & Company, where he most recently served as partner. With over two decades of experience across consulting and strategy, he brings a global perspective shaped by work across India, the US, the UK and Germany.
During his tenure at Bain, Aggarwal advised consumer, retail and media companies on large-scale transformations, business turnarounds and growth strategies. He was also closely involved with India’s startup ecosystem, guiding early-stage ventures on scaling and digital expansion, while supporting private equity and venture capital firms on investment decisions.
His earlier stints include a brief role at Barclays Capital and operational experience at Jindal Power, giving him a mix of financial and industry exposure.
Academically, Aggarwal holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and has also been associated with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a PhD candidate and teaching assistant.
The appointment comes at a time when Emami Limited is looking to sharpen its growth strategy in a competitive consumer market. With a seasoned strategist now at the helm of growth, the company appears set to double down on transformation and expansion in the months ahead.
