Colgate-Palmolive India Ltd on Friday announced a significant leadership transition. Prabha Narasimhan, who currently serves as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, has been elevated to a global role within the organization. She will assume the position of Executive Vice President – Marketing, Asia-Pacific Division, effective September 27, 2026.
Simultaneously, the company announced the appointment of Manish Anandani as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Reflecting on Narasimhan's tenure, the company stated that during her four years at the helm, she steered the organization through a transformative growth journey. Under her leadership, the company reinforced its position as the market leader in oral care. The statement noted that she doubled down on strategic premiumisation, accelerating premium portfolio growth to five times the pace of the broader market while delivering volume-led growth, industry-leading profitability, and consistent top-line momentum.
The company added that Narasimhan's combined experience across India and international markets, along with her expertise in brand building and category development, positions her strongly for her new Asia-Pacific mandate.
Manish Anandani joins Colgate-Palmolive from Kenvue—formerly known as Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health—where he served as the Managing Director for India and South Asia. Described as an expert in enterprise strategy, digital and e-commerce transformation, and market expansion, his new appointment marks a homecoming to Colgate-Palmolive. Anandani brings a 30-year career spanning multiple roles, having previously spent 13 years with Colgate-Palmolive India between 2005 and 2018.
This executive transition coincides with a period where Colgate-Palmolive India is actively stepping up its premiumisation strategy to create higher-value growth in the country's oral care market. The company's ongoing focus on premium products, category development, and operational efficiencies comes as it marks 90 years of operations in India. Furthermore, the organization is seeking to strengthen its growth trajectory by increasing investments behind its brands and broader growth opportunities.
"Leadership transitions in established multinational subsidiaries often signal a strategic shift in market focus. Prabha Narasimhan's elevation reflects strong performance in driving premiumisation and market leadership in India, while Manish Anandani's return brings deep institutional memory combined with modern digital and e-commerce transformation expertise. For businesses navigating mature markets, balancing continuity with leadership experienced in enterprise strategy and channel evolution is critical to sustaining long-term growth and operational efficiency." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes
