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Chandan Mukherji hands Nestlé India role to Varun Sethuraman
MUMBAI: Nestlé India’s marketing kitchen is stirring up change. After 13 flavourful years of crafting iconic campaigns and steering brand strategy, Chandan Mukherji, senior vice president and director – strategy and marketing communications, will hang up his apron on 31 December 2025.
Mukherji’s tenure has been marked by a recipe of creativity, strategy and purpose. From embracing digital transformation to blending consumer insights with brand storytelling, he helped Nestlé India cook up campaigns that resonated deeply with consumers and reinforced its leadership in the FMCG space. His efforts even earned him the CMO Transformation Award at the Laqshya Pitch Best CMO Awards 2025.
Before his current stint, Mukherji led global consumer insights at Nestlé’s headquarters in Switzerland and previously honed his marketing chops at Hindustan Unilever, bringing a strong foundation in brand and consumer understanding to every role he took on.
Taking over the marketing reins from 1 January 2026 will be Varun Sethuraman, currently business executive officer – cereals. A Nestlé veteran of over 14 years, Sethuraman has built a reputation for strategic thinking and consumer-focused innovation. He was instrumental in rejuvenating Maggi noodles in 2021 and driving growth in the cereals division amid intense market competition.
As head of marketing communications, Sethuraman will oversee Nestlé India’s brand strategy, integrated marketing and consumer engagement efforts, building on Mukherji’s legacy while infusing new ideas into the mix.
With this leadership handover, Nestlé India looks set to serve the next course of its marketing journey, one that promises to be equal parts inventive, data-driven and delightfully human.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
