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Coca-Cola gets ex-army chief VP Malik as advisor
MUMBAI: Coca-Cola India has appointed retired general Ved Prakash Malik as the chairman of the Coca-Cola India advisory board (IAB). The IAB is the foremost advisory body within Coca-Cola India which advises the leadership team to formulate short and long-term strategies around various business issues. As the chairman, General Malik’s principal role along with other members of the IAB will be to provide guidance to Coca-Cola India on strategic matters and to ensure synergistic communication between the board and the management.
Coca-Cola India and South West Asia vice president public affairs and communications Ishteyaque Amjad says, “We are proud to have General V P Malik as the chairman of the India advisory board. He has been associated with us for many years and we have been benefitted by his guidance, leadership and vision. General Malik’s life and professional experience inspires us to become better in our pursuit to create value for India.”
The IAB meets bi-annually to review the performance of the company in India and discuss the strategic roadmap for the future. Some of the other distinguished members of the board include Deepak Parekh (chairman, HDFC Limited), SK Munjal (managing director, Hero Corporate Services Limited), Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (eminent musician), Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (chairman and managing director, Biocon Limited) and TV Mohandas Pai (chairman, Manipal Global Education Services).
General VP Malik mentions, “I have had the privilege to be associated with CCIPL for years and I am humbled by the trust reposed by the IAB in me. The company is on a transformative journey to offer more choices for beverages to consumers and help Indian farmers through the virtuous fruit circular economy initiatives. This is definitely an exciting time to make a significant contribution to the strategic direction of the firm.”
General Malik will succeed, late Naresh Chandra, padma vibhushan awardee, former Indian ambassador to the US (1996-2001) and cabinet secretary, government of India (1990-1992).
Well-known for his exceptional command during the Kargil War, the former army chief is a recipient of the prestigious param vishishta seva medal (PVSM) and ati vishishta seva medal (AVSM). His honours include ‘Excellence in Leadership’ award by Atur Foundation, Distinguished Fellowship of the Institute of Directors, New Delhi and ‘Pride of the Nation’, award by the Doon Citizens’ Council.
General Malik retired from service in September 2000 and has since been engaged with numerous committees, including two terms with the National Security Advisory Board. In 2007, he was part of the panel to select and rank Top Companies for Leaders in Asia Pacific Region by Hewitt Associates and Fortune Magazine. Currently, he is a member and advisor on the board of some well-known multinational companies.
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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.
