MAM
HUL’s Sudhir Sitapati joins Godrej Consumer Products as MD & CEO
Mumbai: Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) today announced changes to its leadership team, effective 18 October 18 2021. Sudhir Sitapati will join GCPL as managing director and chief executive officer. Nisaba Godrej, currently the chairperson and MD of the company, will continue to serve as executive chairperson. Sitapati’s appointment will enable GCPL to leverage his significant experience in building sustainable and profitable businesses to guide the growth strategy going forward.
During his 22 years at Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), Sitapati led teams across categories and functions in India, Europe, South East Asia and Africa to create significant value for the business. He was appointed to the HUL management committee as an executive director in 2016, making him one of its youngest ever members. Under his leadership, HUL built up its foods and refreshments business as one of the largest in India. This included the $5 billion merger and integration of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare with HUL, the largest deal of its kind in the FMCG sector in India.
Sitapati is currently the co-chair of the CII National Committee of Food Processing and is a past co-chair of the FMCG Committee. He has an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and a BSc in maths with economics honours from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
Nisaba Godrej said, “I am delighted to be welcoming Sudhir to Godrej. His significant experience and passion for building sustainable and profitable brands and businesses aligns very strongly with our purpose at GCPL. Sudhir’s values-based leadership style also makes him a great fit with the Godrej culture. I look forward to his partnership in unlocking the amazing potential of our company and leading its next phase of growth.”
Sitapati added, “I am very inspired by the legacy of the Godrej Group, and GCPL’s purpose of bringing the goodness of health and beauty to consumers across emerging markets. I am excited about working closely with the talented GCPL team to build on the incredible work they are doing and create sustainable, long-term value for our company.”
In his previous roles, Sitapati was instrumental in creating a world-class tea business for HUL in India and leading HUL’s Soaps business in the country. A passionate marketer, he has worked closely on internationally acclaimed purpose-led marketing campaigns for some of HUL’s most iconic brands, including Surf Excel’s ‘Dirt is Good’, Lifebuoy’s ‘Have you washed your hands with Lifebuoy?’ and Brooke Bond’s ‘Taste of Togetherness’.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
