Westlife Foodworld Limited has announced the appointment of Deepa Vidyadhar Bhajekar as an Additional Director designated as a Non-Executive Independent Director, effective from 31 July 2026. The appointment covers a first term of five consecutive years, through the close of business hours on 30 July 2031, and she will not be liable to retire by rotation during this period. The board approved the move, reflecting the company’s intent to strengthen governance with independent oversight.
Bhajekar brings a distinguished blend of scientific rigor, entrepreneurial leadership, and governance experience to the board. She is the Founder and Managing Director of d technology, a company focused on developing and commercializing cutting-edge technologies in collaboration with global partners. Her journey in the food testing and safety space includes founding MicroChem Silliker India and steering it into a joint venture with Merieux Nutrisciences for the Indian market, a path that later culminated in Merieux Nutrisciences’ acquisition of the unit. Her public-service credentials span advisory roles on the Central Advisory Committee and the Scientific Panel of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and she was instrumental in establishing the India chapter of the AOAC International, serving as its Founding President in 2013. Bhajekar currently serves on the Board of Directors of Hardcastle Restaurants Private Limited (McDonald’s West and South India) and engages with global forums and industry bodies on entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership. She holds a Ph.D. in Food Microbiology from ICT Mumbai and completed the Senior Executive Leadership Program (SELPI) at Harvard Business School in 2021.
With a career that blends science, business transformation, and regulatory insight, Bhajekar is expected to contribute a thoughtful perspective to Westlife Foodworld’s strategic decisions, risk governance, and innovation agenda as the company navigates a dynamic food services and retail landscape. Her appointment signals Westlife’s commitment to strengthening its board with seasoned leadership that can translate scientific excellence into scalable growth.