Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited is signaling a thoughtful refresh of its leadership slate on the back of a steady growth run. In a move reflecting both continuity and fresh momentum, the company announced the resignation of Gunjit Jain from the role of Executive Vice President – Marketing, effective close of business on November 30, 2026, to pursue a professional growth opportunity outside the organisation. In a swift internal succession, Akash Parekh — currently Senior Director, Marketing – Asia Pacific (APAC) — will step into the same fortune-telling mantle as Executive Vice President – Marketing from December 1, 2026, taking over responsibilities from Jain. A parallel governance move saw Ragini Gajaria appointed as Internal Auditor, effective October 22, 2026, strengthening the company’s risk and controls framework from within.
Parekh arrives at the helm of Colgate’s Marketing function with a long track record in brand strategy, market expansion and consumer insights. He has spent nearly 17 years with Colgate-Palmolive across India, North America and the APAC region, bringing a deep familiarity with Colgate’s global playbook and a history of value creation. The leadership change underscores Colgate’s emphasis on sustaining double-digit growth through brand-building, premiumisation and targeted marketing investments.
Gajaria’s appointment as Internal Auditor adds an external-facing lens to Colgate’s governance and risk management. A Chartered Accountant by training, she joined Colgate as Head – Continuous Improvement Group and Enterprise Risk Management in August 2026, bringing a background in risk-based internal auditing, governance and enterprise risk management. Her prior experience includes leadership roles at Asian Paints and strategic stints with the Boston Consulting Group, aligning governance rigor with the company’s growth agenda.
Taken together, the moves signal Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited’s intent to sharpen its executive leadership in Marketing while bolstering internal oversight. As the company continues to navigate a dynamic consumer environment, the leadership transitions position Colgate to sustain momentum in its core oral and personal care portfolios while reinforcing governance and operational discipline across the organisation.