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Former Britannia CEO to captain HUL’s food division
MUMBAI: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has tapped Rajneet Singh Kohli, the former culinary captain of Britannia, to helm its foods division, marking a strategic move in the competitive consumer goods landscape.
Effective 7 April 2025, Kohli will slide into the executive director, foods role, replacing Shiva Krishnamurthy, who is departing to explore external opportunities. With a sizzling 28-year career spanning consumer goods and retail, Kohli brings a recipe for success that could just be the secret sauce HUL needs.
At Britannia, Kohli proved himself a master chef of business strategy, seasoning the company’s market position with product innovation and digital prowess. His leadership portfolio includes appetising stints at Jubilant Foodworks, The Coca-Cola Co, and Asian Paints.
HUL chief executive Rohit Jawa praised Krishnamurthy’s decade-long tenure, highlighting his transformation of the tea portfolio and marketing brilliance. “Rajneet brings extensive experience in managing large foods and beverages businesses,” Jawa said, signalling high expectations for the incoming executive.
The foods business represents a significant growth runway for HUL, with Kohli’s track record suggesting he might just be the perfect ingredient to cook up further success.
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.
