Dabur India Limited — one of India's leading FMCG companies founded in 1884 — has appointed Herjit S Bhalla as Chief Executive Officer of its India Business effective 23 April 2026; he will report directly to Mohit Malhotra (Whole-time Director and Global CEO of the company); Bhalla brings over 25 years of experience including 16 years at Unilever (with a stint as Marketing Director in Moscow 2009-2012), Chief Operating Officer at Metro Cash & Carry (2016-17), and senior leadership at The Hershey Company (Managing Director India + Vice President roles for India & AEMEA, Canada & AMEA, and Canada & Global Customers); his role will lead Dabur's domestic growth strategy, market positioning, and brand expansion across sales, marketing, and operational performance.

Dabur India Limited has appointed Mr. Herjit S Bhalla as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its India Business. His tenure will be effective from 23 April 2026. The announcement was made through a regulatory filing and highlights a key step to strengthen the company's leadership for its domestic operations. He will report directly to Mohit Malhotra, who is serving as the Whole-time Director and Global CEO of the company. The appointment of Herjit S Bhalla comes at a time when the FMCG sector in India is witnessing rapid transformation — driven mainly by changing consumer preferences, digital expansion, and rural market growth. As CEO of India Business, Bhalla will lead Dabur's domestic growth strategy, strengthen market positioning and brand expansion, and oversee sales, marketing, and operational performance. His extensive global experience is expected to bring a fresh strategic perspective and enhance Dabur's competitiveness in the Indian market. PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY: Bhalla brings over 25 years of experience across multiple geographies and leadership roles in top global companies. He began his career at Unilever in 2000 and worked there for 16 years; during this period he handled several sales and marketing roles, including serving as Marketing Director in Moscow (2009-2012). In 2016-17, he joined Metro Cash & Carry as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and was part of the Executive Board, gaining valuable experience in retail. Before joining Dabur, Bhalla was associated with The Hershey Company, where he held several key positions: Managing Director – India; Vice President – India & AEMEA (Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa); Vice President – Canada & AMEA (Asia, Middle East and Africa); and Vice President – Canada & Global Customers. His global exposure across India, Canada, and emerging markets adds strong leadership depth to his profile. ABOUT DABUR: Founded in 1884, Dabur is one of India's leading FMCG companies, known for its strong presence in healthcare, personal care, and food products. The company has built a reputation for Ayurvedic and natural products and a strong rural and urban distribution network.

Company

Dabur India Limited

Founded

1884 — one of India's oldest FMCG companies

New CEO of India Business

Herjit S Bhalla

Effective date

23 April 2026

Reports to

Mohit Malhotra — Whole-time Director and Global CEO

Bhalla's experience

Over 25 years across global FMCG and retail

Career stage 1 — Unilever

16 years (joined 2000); included Marketing Director, Moscow (2009-2012)

Career stage 2 — Metro Cash & Carry

Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Executive Board member, 2016-17

Career stage 3 — The Hershey Company

Multiple senior roles: Managing Director – India; VP India & AEMEA; VP Canada & AMEA; VP Canada & Global Customers

Region acronyms

AEMEA = Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa; AMEA = Asia, Middle East and Africa

Bhalla's responsibilities at Dabur

Lead domestic growth strategy; market positioning and brand expansion; oversee sales, marketing, operational performance

Dabur's strengths

Ayurvedic and natural products; healthcare, personal care, food products; strong rural and urban distribution

FMCG sector context

Rapid transformation — changing consumer preferences, digital expansion, rural market growth

• •Dabur India Limited: One of India's leading FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) companies; founded in 1884 by Dr. S.K. Burman in Kolkata; corporate headquarters in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh; promoter group: Burman family; listed on BSE (DABUR) and NSE; market presence in over 100 countries
• •Mohit Malhotra (Dabur): Whole-time Director and Global CEO of Dabur India Limited (since 2019); Bhalla as new India Business CEO will report to him; Malhotra has long Dabur tenure including earlier roles in international business and India Business
• •Herjit S Bhalla: Incoming CEO of Dabur India Business (effective 23 April 2026); over 25 years FMCG and retail experience; career: Unilever (2000-2016, 16 years; Marketing Director Moscow 2009-2012) → Metro Cash & Carry COO (2016-17) → The Hershey Company (multiple VP and MD roles, until 2026) → Dabur
• •Dabur major business categories: Healthcare (Chyawanprash, OTC medicines, digestives, baby care, Honitus, Hajmola); Personal Care (oral care: Dabur Red Toothpaste/Babool/Meswak; hair care: Vatika; skin care); Home Care; Food & Beverages (Real fruit juices, Hommade pastes, Dabur Honey)
• •Dabur major brands: Dabur Chyawanprash, Dabur Honey, Dabur Red Toothpaste, Vatika, Hajmola, Pudin Hara, Real fruit juices, Odomos, Babool, Meswak, Lal Dant Manjan, Glucose-D, Honitus
• •Indian FMCG sector — major competitors: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), ITC, Nestle India, Britannia, Marico, Godrej Consumer Products, Patanjali Ayurved, Emami, Colgate-Palmolive India, Procter & Gamble
• •Unilever: Anglo-Dutch multinational consumer goods company; HQ London (UK) + Rotterdam (Netherlands); global brands include Dove, Lipton, Knorr, Magnum, Surf; Indian arm Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is largest FMCG company in India by revenue; Bhalla worked there 2000-2016
• •Metro AG and Metro Cash & Carry: Metro AG: German multinational wholesale and retail company; HQ Düsseldorf, Germany; founded 1964; Metro Cash & Carry is the wholesale arm; entered India 2003; Bhalla served as COO 2016-17
• •The Hershey Company: American multinational confectionery and food company; HQ Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA; founded 1894 by Milton S. Hershey; major brands include Hershey's Kisses, Reese's, Hershey's Bar; operations in over 90 countries
• •Corporate region acronyms: AEMEA = Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa; AMEA = Asia, Middle East and Africa; APAC = Asia-Pacific; EMEA = Europe, Middle East and Africa; LATAM = Latin America
• •Indian FMCG sector — recent trends: Rural market growth and premiumisation; e-commerce/quick-commerce expansion (Blinkit, Zepto, BigBasket); health and wellness segment growth; Ayurvedic/natural products surge (Patanjali, Dabur, Himalaya); D2C brands competition
• •Burman family (Dabur promoter group): Promoter group of Dabur India Limited; descendants of founder Dr. S.K. Burman (1864-1930); active in Dabur's strategic governance; have diversified into other businesses including healthcare and financial services through other group ventures

1. 1884
   Dabur founded by Dr. S.K. Burman in Kolkata as small Ayurvedic medicines business.
2. 1894
   The Hershey Company founded by Milton S. Hershey in Pennsylvania, USA.
3. 1964
   Metro AG founded in Germany.
4. 2000
   Herjit S Bhalla begins career at Unilever.
5. 2003
   Metro Cash & Carry enters India.
6. 2009-2012
   Bhalla serves as Marketing Director in Moscow at Unilever.
7. 2016
   Bhalla leaves Unilever after 16 years; joins Metro Cash & Carry as COO.
8. 2017
   Bhalla concludes Metro Cash & Carry stint; subsequently joins The Hershey Company.
9. 2019
   Mohit Malhotra appointed Whole-time Director and Global CEO of Dabur India Limited.
10. 23 April 2026
    Herjit S Bhalla appointment as CEO of Dabur India Business takes effect.

• Trap · Effective date

  Correct: 23 APRIL 2026 — NOT 1 January, 1 April, or 1 May. Specific date is 23rd of April.

• Trap · Bhalla reports to whom?

  Correct: Reports to MOHIT MALHOTRA — Whole-time Director and Global CEO of Dabur (since 2019). NOT Anand Burman (Chairman) or any Burman family member directly.

• Trap · Bhalla's career sequence

  Correct: (1) UNILEVER 2000-2016 (16 years, including Moscow 2009-2012) (2) METRO CASH & CARRY 2016-17 as COO + Executive Board (3) THE HERSHEY COMPANY (multiple VP/MD roles) until 2026 (4) DABUR April 2026 onwards. Don't shuffle the order.

• Trap · Moscow stint title

  Correct: MARKETING DIRECTOR (NOT Managing Director) in Moscow at UNILEVER. Period = 2009-2012. NOT a Hershey or Metro role.

• Trap · Metro Cash & Carry role

  Correct: Chief Operating Officer (COO) — NOT CFO, CEO, or Managing Director. Was also part of EXECUTIVE BOARD.

• Trap · Hershey region acronyms

  Correct: AEMEA = Asia + EASTERN EUROPE + Middle East + Africa. AMEA = Asia + Middle East + Africa (no Eastern Europe). Two different acronyms — Bhalla held VP roles for BOTH region groupings (separately covering different scope).

• Trap · Dabur founding year and place

  Correct: FOUNDED 1884 (NOT 1864, 1894, or 1904) by Dr. S.K. BURMAN in KOLKATA. Corporate HQ NOW in GHAZIABAD, UTTAR PRADESH. Don't say Mumbai or Delhi.

• Trap · Dabur's main business areas

  Correct: Healthcare + Personal Care + Home Care + Food & Beverages. Known for AYURVEDIC + NATURAL products. NOT financial services, automobiles, or technology.

• Trap · Hershey's HQ

  Correct: HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA, USA. American confectionery company. Founded 1894 by MILTON S. HERSHEY. Different from Mars or Cadbury (UK).

• Trap · Metro AG nationality

  Correct: GERMAN multinational. NOT British or American. HQ Düsseldorf, Germany. Founded 1964.

• Trap · Unilever home country

  Correct: ANGLO-DUTCH (UK + Netherlands) multinational. HQ in London + Rotterdam. NOT American or just British. Indian arm = HUL (Hindustan Unilever).