Brands
Nishant Gupta named VP, chief strategy at PepsiCo India
GURUGRAM: PepsiCo has handed the strategy reins for India and South Asia to Nishant Gupta, appointing him vice president, chief strategy, transformation and deployment. In a role that blends big-picture thinking with on-ground execution, Gupta will shape the company’s strategic direction while driving large-scale change across one of its most dynamic markets.
Announcing the move, Gupta said he was excited to begin a new chapter at PepsiCo India and South Asia, and credited the vision and trust of Athina Kanioura and Jagrut Kotecha for the opportunity. His mandate, he noted, is clear and ambitious: enable sustainable, profitable growth while building a more resilient future for both the business and the communities it serves.
Gupta arrives with a résumé that reads like a tour of modern consumer transformation. Most recently, he was partner for CPG and Retail at Tata Consultancy Services, where he managed consulting P&L, opened new client relationships, and led transformation programmes spanning go-to-market strategy, digital and AI roadmaps, supply chains, quick commerce and M&A due diligence across India, the Middle East and Africa.
Before TCS, he held senior consulting roles at KPMG and Accenture, advising FMCG, retail and consumer businesses on growth, efficiency and channel strategy. He also brings entrepreneurial experience as co-founder of Farmery, a direct-to-consumer dairy venture that built a full-stack farm-to-home supply chain and broke even within 15 months.
With deep roots in strategy, operations and execution, Gupta now steps into a role where thinking big is only half the job. The other half is making it happen, at scale, in a region that never sits still.
Brands
Safex Group appoints Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer
Former Standard Chartered executive to steer finance
NEW DELHI: Safex Chemicals has appointed Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for the next phase of expansion in specialty chemicals and global agrochemicals.
In her new role, Malhotra will lead the group’s financial strategy, capital architecture and governance framework as Safex scales operations across multiple verticals including branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing.
A chartered accountant and graduate of Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Malhotra brings more than two decades of experience in business finance, strategic planning, corporate banking and client management.
Before joining Safex, she served as executive director, financial markets at Standard Chartered, where she led teams across India and Sri Lanka and worked closely with large corporates, global subsidiaries and commercial banking clients. Her expertise includes capital structuring, treasury operations, risk management and financial markets led financing solutions.
Safex Group promoter director and joint managing director Piyush Jindal, said the appointment comes at a pivotal time for the company. “Safex stands at an inflection point as we build an integrated platform across branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing. Richa’s experience across global financial institutions will strengthen our financial discipline and help unlock value across the group,” he said.
Malhotra said she was looking forward to contributing to the company’s next chapter of growth. “Safex has built a strong reputation over 35 years with its focus on integrity, innovation and agricultural insight. I am excited to be part of the organisation as it expands its footprint in India and global markets,” she said.
The appointment comes as Safex continues to strengthen its financial foundations and scale operations internationally, positioning itself for future growth milestones.
