Colgate-Palmolive India CEO Narasimhan promoted to Asia-Pacific role

Colgate-Palmolive India Ltd on Friday said Prabha Narasimhan, its managing director and chief executive officer, has been named executive vice president for marketing in the Asia-Pacific division, effective Sept. 27. Manish Anandani, who previously spent 13 years at the company, will return to take the top India post.

Anandani joins from Kenvue, the consumer health company spun off from Johnson & Johnson, where he was managing director for India and South Asia. His career spans three decades. He spent 2005 to 2018 at Colgate-Palmolive India before leaving to lead a direct-to-consumer venture.

The company credited Narasimhan with accelerating its premium portfolio growth to five times the pace of the broader market during her four-year tenure. Under her leadership, the oral care market leader pushed volume-led growth and industry-leading margins.

"Her experience spanning India and international markets, combined with her expertise in brand building and category development, positions her strongly for her new Asia-Pacific mandate," the company said in a statement.

The transition comes as Colgate-Palmolive India marks 90 years of operations and deepens its premiumisation push to capture higher-value growth. The company said it is stepping up brand investments and focusing on category development.

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) shares traded at $89.70, down 1.29% on the session. The stock carries an Alpha Score of 52 out of 100, a mixed rating. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), the parent of the business Anandani just left, scores a 61, or moderate.

The handover is the latest change in the consumer goods leadership circuit, as multinationals rotate regional executives into faster-growing Asian markets.