Dabur appoints Harjeet Bhalla to board of directors following Mohit Malhotra's departure as CEO
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Dabur appoints Harjeet Bhalla to board of directors following Mohit Malhotra's departure as CEO

Dabur has promoted Harjeet Bhalla to the position of full director on the Dabur India board of directors. This appointment will take effect from November 14 for a five-year term, subject to obtaining necessary regulatory approvals. Concurrently, Mohit Malhotra is stepping down as global CEO after more than thirty years with the company.

Mohit Malhotra is leaving his roles as Global CEO and Full Director effective November 13 to pursue personal interests. Harjeet Bhalla will continue to lead growth plans for the business in India, representing the company and defining the strategic direction in its core market.

The company announced that P. D. Narang, currently a Full Director, will remain in his role as Group Director of Corporate Affairs. He will provide strategic guidance across all areas of Dabur Group's business, including overseeing international operations.

Management Comments on Personnel Changes

Mohit Burman, Chairman of Dabur India, thanked Mr. Malhotra in a statement for more than three decades of service and contribution to the organization. He wished him all the best in his personal endeavors.

Burman added that Bhalla's promotion to the board reflects the company's confidence in his leadership qualities and underscores the central role of the Indian business for Dabur's growth. He also noted that Dabur's business, including International Business, will continue to benefit from Mr. Narang's strategic guidance, leveraging his four decades of experience within the Group.

Burman concluded that the planned transition helps clarify areas of responsibility and accountability, ensuring process continuity as the company advances its priorities and prepares for the next stage of growth.

Financial Results and Outlook

The producer of natural fruit juices reported an 11.7 percent increase in net profit, reaching 506 crore rupees in the second quarter of fiscal year '27, compared to the same period last year, driven by increased sales. The FMCG business in India saw a volume growth of 5.5 percent. Net revenue increased by 11.6 percent to 3,563 crore rupees, and Profit Before Interest, Depreciation, and Taxes (PBIDT) grew by 10.4 percent to 804 crore rupees for the July-September quarter.

Bhalla stated in the results press release that the second quarter figures demonstrate brand strength and clearer strategy execution. He noted that the company achieved profitable growth despite operating in a complex external environment marked by geopolitical uncertainty and rising raw material costs. His confidence is based on the growth being widespread and supported by healthy base volumes.

He also emphasized that the evolving channel landscape continues to open significant opportunities for the company. The current quarter showed a notable upturn in general trade retail, a channel that grew by double-digit or high single-digit numbers due to sustained efforts under Project Saksham. The company remains focused on strengthening brands and expanding presence across all channels to maintain growth momentum.

Dabur's International Business grew by 20 percent in Indian rupees for the reporting quarter, supported by strong performance in several key markets, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Turkey.

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Anup Bagchi takes over as CEO and Managing Director of HDFC Bank, succeeding Sashidhar Jagdishan
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Anup Bagchi takes over as CEO and Managing Director of HDFC Bank, succeeding Sashidhar Jagdishan

HDFC Bank, the country's largest private lender, announced on Tuesday that Anup Bagchi has taken on the roles of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank. His predecessor, Sashidhar Jagdishan, left his post on Monday after completing his term, according to stock exchanges.

Bagchi, who has experience working with the ICICI group, becomes the first external leader of HDFC Bank in more than three decades of its history. Previously, he held the position of Managing Director and CEO at ICICI Prudential Life Insurance.

He begins his tenure during a challenging period when the bank is facing several issues, including slowing core income growth and declining margins, which has raised investor concerns. During the earnings call he attended, Bagchi noted that some work related to the bank's merger with the major housing finance giant HDFC in 2023 still needs to be completed, and stated plans to meet with all stakeholders for a better understanding of the bank's operations.

Bagchi also highly praised the strong and determined leadership at HDFC Bank, despite speculation about whether he would stay with the current team or bring in new personnel. Furthermore, Kaized Barucha, an HDFC Bank veteran serving as Deputy Managing Director, announced his intention to retire by December of this year.

Previously, Jagdishan had indicated his inability to extend his tenure amid allegations of corporate governance shortcomings. The bank's own investigation also revealed deficiencies in the practice of depositing large sums by paying the depositor an amount exceeding the card rate under a different name. Jagdishan was also fined for this practice.

In March of this year, the unexpected resignation of the bank's non-executive chairman, Atanu Chakraborty, linked to values and ethics issues, highlighted certain practices within the country's largest private lender. In a report to the stock exchange submitted on Tuesday, HDFC Bank expressed sincere gratitude to Jagdishan for the strategic vision and unwavering commitment demonstrated throughout his distinguished tenure. The bank noted that his leadership played a crucial role in strengthening the bank's performance, culture, and customer-centric approach, as well as successfully completing one of the largest mergers in corporate India.

At the time of publication, HDFC Bank shares were trading at ₹688.7 on the BSE, showing a rise of 0.07 percent, while the benchmark index showed a correction of 0.11 percent.

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