Sanjay Rao joins Bata India as CEO and managing director

MUMBAI: Sanjay Rao has joined Bata India as CEO and managing director, taking charge of the footwear company after more than four years with Nike.

Rao announced his appointment on LinkedIn, saying he had joined Bata India after what he described as an “exciting and sport-led” stint at Nike.

He takes over the leadership role in August 2026 and is expected to focus on putting consumers at the centre of Bata India’s growth strategy. In his initial days, Rao said he would focus on listening to the company’s teams, store network, partners and consumers.

Rao brings extensive international retail and fashion experience to Bata India. At Nike, he most recently served as senior director, Nike retail for France and Benelux from July 2025 to July 2026. Before that, he was senior director, Nike retail for France and Francophone Europe from February 2022 to July 2025.

Before joining Nike, Rao spent nearly five years with GUESS? as president and director general of Guess France between March 2017 and January 2022.

Rao previously spent more than seven years with Inditex in a range of leadership positions across India, China and North America.

Between 2010 and 2017, he served as managing director and board member for Zara and Massimo Dutti in India, while also serving as managing director of ITX Trading for South Asia.

Earlier, he was managing director for Inditex’s China North operations and controller for Zara USA and Canada. He began his career with Inditex through its management development programme in Spain and France.

Rao also worked as a senior systems consultant at The TJX Companies between 2003 and 2005.

His appointment comes as Bata India continues to navigate a rapidly changing retail market, where consumers are increasingly blending fashion, comfort, sportswear and digital shopping. Rao’s experience across global footwear, sportswear and fashion retail gives him a broad base as he takes charge of the company’s next growth chapter.