MAM
Vishal Chadha appointed as COO of Bajaj Electricals’ consumer products business
Mumbai: Bajaj Electricals Ltd has announced the appointment of Vishal Chadha as chief operating officer for the consumer products division. Vishal brings with him more than 28 years of extensive experience across leading organisations such as Britannia, Nokia, Snapdeal, and Kohler, with a strong background in sales, category management, marketing, and general management. An alumnus of IIM-Lucknow, Vishal has distinguished himself with notable achievements at Britannia, Nokia and Snapdeal, demonstrating expertise in driving revenue growth and operational transformation. His tenure at Kohler as managing director- India & South Asia has given him a comprehensive understanding of all business aspects, further underscored his proficiency to enhance profitability and elevate the brand to a top-tier position in the industry through strategic B2B initiatives and expansive retail strategies.
Bajaj Electricals chairman Shekhar Bajaj stated, “I would like to welcome Vishal Chadha as the new chief operating officer for our Consumer Products Business. Vishal’s extensive experience and strategic acumen in driving growth and operational efficiency make him a perfect fit for this role. His leadership will be pivotal in accelerating our growth trajectory and enhancing our market presence. We are confident that Vishal will play a key role in our continued success and innovation.”
Bajaj Electricals MD & CEO Anuj Poddar said, “Vishal Chadha brings a wealth of experience with a proven track record in driving growth coupled with margin expansion. He blends a consumer-centric approach towards the marketplace with a focus on operational excellence to ensure strong execution. I am confident his leadership will be invaluable as we continue to drive the next phase of our strategic journey for the Consumer Products Business. Vishal’s expertise will help deliver exceptional value to all our stakeholders.”
Bajaj Electricals’ chief operating officer of consumer products, Vishal Chadha said, “Joining Bajaj Electricals is a remarkable opportunity, and I am excited to contribute to the company’s journey. The organisation stands out for its legacy of trust and commitment to quality. Its consumer products business comprises a dynamic portfolio of iconic, contemporary, and premium brands spanning a diverse range of product categories that are integral to every Indian household. Given the ongoing strategic transformation and innovation-led approach, the business is well-poised to grow rapidly over the coming years. I look forward to leveraging my background across FMCG, consumer devices, and e-commerce to driving greater marketplace gains and establishing a strong and sustainable consumer-centric business model. Together with the talented team here, we will work towards exceeding consumer and stakeholder expectations.”
Brands
Estée Lauder to shed 10,000 jobs as new boss bets on digital shift
The cosmetics giant raises its profit outlook but stays silent on a possible merger with Spain’s Puig, as job cuts deepen and a three-year sales slump weighs on the turnaround
NEW YORK: Stéphane de La Faverie is not done cutting. Estée Lauder announced on Friday that it plans to eliminate as many as 3,000 additional jobs, taking its total redundancy programme to as many as 10,000 roles, up from a previous target of 7,000 announced a year ago. The company, which owns La Mer, The Ordinary, Tom Ford, and Aveda, employs roughly 57,000 people worldwide. The mathematics of what is now being contemplated is stark.
The fresh round of cuts is expected to generate a further $200 million in savings, bringing the total annual savings from the programme to as much as $1.2 billion before taxes. That money, De La Faverie has made clear, will be ploughed back into the turnaround.
A CEO in a hurry
De La Faverie, who took the helm in January 2025, inherited a company that had endured three consecutive years of annual sales declines. His response has been to move fast and cut deep. A significant portion of the latest redundancies reflects his push to reduce headcount at US department stores, long a cornerstone of Estée Lauder’s distribution model but now a channel in structural decline. In their place, he is accelerating the shift toward faster-growing online platforms, including Amazon.com and TikTok Shop, a pivot that is reshaping not just where Estée Lauder sells but how it thinks about its customers.
The numbers are moving in the right direction
Despite the pain, there are signs the medicine is working. Estée Lauder raised its profit outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year, guiding for adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.35 to $2.45, above analyst estimates and a notable step up from the $2.05 to $2.25 range it had guided for in February. Organic net sales growth is expected to come in at 3 per cent, the company said, at the high end of the range it set out in February.
The share price tells a mixed story. After De La Faverie took charge, the stock surged nearly 60 per cent, buoyed by investor optimism that a longtime company insider could finally arrest the decline. But 2026 has been rougher: the shares have fallen 27 per cent this year, weighed down by disappointing February results and the overhang of unresolved merger talks with Spanish beauty giant Puig Brands SA. The company gave no additional details about those discussions on Friday, leaving the market to guess.
Silence on Puig
The proposed tie-up with Puig remains the most consequential unknown hanging over Estée Lauder. A deal with the Barcelona-based group, which owns brands including Carolina Herrera and Rabanne, would reshape the global luxury beauty landscape. But with nothing new to say and a turnaround still very much in progress, De La Faverie is asking investors to trust the process.
Three years of sales declines, 10,000 job cuts, and a merger that may or may not happen. At Estée Lauder, the overhaul has barely started.
