Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited is navigating a strategic leadership shift, with Prabha Narasimhan stepping down as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer to take on a broader marketing leadership role within Colgate-Palmolive. Effective close of business on September 27, 2026, Narasimhan will assume the position of Executive Vice President – Marketing, Asia-Pacific Division, marking a pivot toward marketing-driven growth in a fast-evolving region. The board has approved the succession plan, naming Manish Anandani as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for a five-year term from September 28, 2026, subject to shareholder approvals and applicable statutory clearances.
Anandani arrives with more than three decades of experience spanning sales, marketing, general management and leadership roles. He joins Colgate-Palmolive (India) from Kenvue, where he was the Managing Director for India and South Asia. His career has included leadership stints at Johnson & Johnson Philippines, and he previously held the role of VP Sales & Professional Marketing for India. A former Colgate-Palmolive insider as well, Anandani joined Colgate-Palmolive in 2005 and later served as a World Wide Director in Global Customer Development. He holds an electronics degree, an MBA in Marketing, and an Executive MBA (Leadership) from the Tuck School of Business.
The transition signals a continued emphasis on growth and consumer-centric marketing leadership in Colgate-Palmolive (India)’s agenda, particularly in the Asia-Pacific frontier. Narasimhan’s move underscores the importance of marketing excellence as a catalyst for expansion, while Anandani’s appointment brings a blended background of regional leadership, digital and ecommerce transformation, and a track record in building market reach across developed and emerging economies. The arrangement, while subject to shareholder approval, positions Colgate-Palmolive (India) to pursue its strategic priorities under new leadership at the helm of the company.