MUMBAI, India — Colgate-Palmolive India Limited has announced a key leadership transition, naming Manish Anandani as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 28, 2026. Anandani succeeds Prabha Narasimhan, who has been elevated to the role of Executive Vice President of Marketing for the Asia-Pacific Division at Colgate-Palmolive, effective following the close of business hours on September 27, 2026.
During her four-year tenure leading Colgate-Palmolive India, Narasimhan steered the company through a period of transformative growth, reinforcing its market leadership in oral care. Under her watch, the company accelerated its 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. Her leadership also emphasized digital transformation, quick-commerce expansion, and consumer-centric innovation across urban and rural markets.
The incoming Managing Director and CEO, Manish Anandani, brings 30 years of experience across sales, marketing, general management, and senior leadership roles. He joins Colgate-Palmolive India from Kenvue, where he served as Managing Director for India and South Asia. Anandani is returning to Colgate-Palmolive, having previously spent 13 years with the company between 2005 and 2018 in various leadership roles across India, Indochina, and corporate development, culminating as Worldwide Director in Global Customer Development.
The leadership change coincides with Colgate-Palmolive India marking 90 years of operations in the country. The company continues to advance its premiumisation strategy and invest heavily in digital and quick-commerce channels. E-commerce platforms have served as major growth catalysts for the firm, delivering high double-digit top-line expansion with a significant portion of sales originating from premium products.
Colgate-Palmolive India remains focused on science-led innovations in oral and personal care, alongside ongoing sustainability initiatives centered on reducing plastic waste, water and energy conservation, and community programs such as the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures initiative.
"Leadership transitions in established multinational subsidiaries often signal a strategic pivot or a doubling down on existing growth vectors. In this case, Colgate-Palmolive is bringing back an industry veteran with deep institutional knowledge while leveraging outgoing leadership to drive regional marketing. For established enterprises operating in mature markets like India, maintaining continuity while accelerating digital transformation, quick-commerce expansion, and premiumisation remains critical to sustaining long-term market leadership and profitability." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes
