Britannia’s Rajneet Kohli joins Hindustan Unilever as executive director | Company Business News

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Rajneet Kohli, former chief executive and executive director of Britannia Industries Ltd, as executive director, foods. He will take over from Shiva Krishnamurthy, who will move on from his role to pursue an external opportunity. Kohli will join the company’s management committee with effect from 7 April.

Kohli had announced his resignation from the biscuit maker on 6 March and stepped down from his active role at Britannia effective 14 March to pursue an “external opportunity”.

Mint reported Kohli’s appointment on Wednesday evening.

The foods and refreshment division is HUL’s second largest after home care, following a split last year in the company’s beauty and personal care division into beauty and wellbeing and personal care businesses.

In fiscal 2023-24, the foods and refreshment division reported a revenue of ₹15,292 crore, contributing 25% of HUL’s ₹59,579 crore turnover, up from a 17% contribution a decade earlier, according to a November presentation by the company.

HUL had named Shiva Krishnamurthy as executive director of its foods and refreshment division in February last year. Mint could not verify Krishnamurthy’s next move.

Rohit Jawa, CEO and managing director, HUL said, “Under Krishnamurthy’s leadership, HUL became the market leader in tea, delivered iconic communications that won prestigious marketing accolades and transformed the portfolio to win in faster growing spaces. Foods is a large business unit for HUL with strong growth potential. Rajneet brings extensive experience in managing large Foods and Beverages businesses and driving high performance. I am confident that he will lead the Foods business to the next phase of growth and transformation.”

Texts messages and calls to Kohli remained unanswered.

HUL sells food brands such as Kissan ketchup, Bru coffee, Knorr noodles, Brooke Bond tea, Horlicks malt drinks, Lipton tea, and Hellmann’s mayonnaise. Its home care division includes laundry and home cleaning brands such as Surf Excel and Wheel.

The Kwality Wall’s ice cream unit, which was a part of HUL’s business in fiscal year 2024, has since been spun off and is set to list as Kwality Wall’s (India) Ltd.

25-year career

Britannia Industries had appointed Kohli as its executive director and CEO in September 2022, reporting to Varun Berry, its vice chairman and managing director. Britannia’s revenue from operations stood at ₹16,186.08 crore in fiscal 2023-24.

Kohli has served in numerous senior leadership roles over a career spanning 25 years, working with Asian Paints and Coca-Cola. He joined Britannia Industries from Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd, which operates pizza chain Domino’s in India, where he was president and chief business officer.

HUL has seen a series of appointments since 2023. It named Rohit Jawa as its managing director and CEO effective 27 June 2023. That year, it also named Harman Dhillon as executive director of its beauty and wellbeing division. In June 2024, Arun Neelakantan was appointed as executive director, customer development.