Dabur India has announced a major leadership restructuring, appointing Herjit S. Bhalla as Chief Executive Officer – India Business while elevating Mohit Malhotra to the role of Global CEO as the company sharpens its international growth focus.
According to the company’s exchange filing, Bhalla will assume charge from April 15 and report to Malhotra. The board approved Malhotra’s redesignation as Global CEO with effect from February 17.
The move comes as Dabur looks to strengthen its domestic operations while expanding its global footprint through sharper category execution and international market strategies.
Global FMCG Experience Added to India Operations
Bhalla joins Dabur from The Hershey Company, where he currently serves in a global executive role. His appointment signals a broader shift toward global FMCG-style operating practices, particularly in branding, category management and go-to-market execution.
With more than 25 years of experience, Bhalla has worked across multiple markets and business formats. He spent 16 years at Unilever in sales and marketing leadership positions and also served as Marketing Director in Moscow.
He later moved into organised retail as Chief Operating Officer at Metro Cash & Carry before joining Hershey India as Managing Director in 2018. Over time, he expanded into global leadership responsibilities covering Canada, AEMEA and international customer portfolios.
The appointment marks one of Dabur’s most prominent external leadership hires in recent years, particularly from the global confectionery and multinational FMCG ecosystem.
Global Expansion Push Gains Momentum
The elevation of Mohit Malhotra to Global CEO indicates a stronger international orientation for Dabur as it balances its established India business with overseas growth ambitions.
Dabur, traditionally associated with Ayurveda-led consumer products, has been increasingly expanding its international presence across FMCG categories and markets. The latest leadership changes suggest the company is now separating domestic execution from broader global expansion responsibilities.
Industry observers see the restructuring as part of a wider trend among Indian FMCG companies bringing in multinational talent to accelerate premiumisation, category expansion and modern retail capabilities.
The company has not announced any immediate operational changes linked to the appointments.
Market Research Outlook Analysis
Dabur’s leadership reshuffle points to a larger shift within Indian FMCG companies toward globally integrated management structures and category-led execution models. The appointment of a senior executive with multinational confectionery and retail experience signals growing competitive pressure in branding, innovation and premium consumer segments.
The move may also intensify competition among established FMCG companies and fast-growing D2C brands as firms increasingly prioritise sharper consumer targeting and faster product commercialisation.
Strategically, Dabur appears to be building a dual-focus structure — strengthening domestic execution while simultaneously scaling international operations under dedicated leadership. The broader FMCG sector is steadily moving toward globally benchmarked operating models driven by brand agility, modern trade and international expansion.
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Source: Dabur India
