Mumbai: General Mills has appointed Shiva Krishnamurthy as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a senior leadership transition for the global food major’s India business. Krishnamurthy will report to Balki Radhakrishnan, Vice President and Managing Director – Global Emerging Markets.
Krishnamurthy joins General Mills after a 24-year stint at Hindustan Unilever (HUL), where he most recently served as Executive Director, Foods & Refreshment. In a statement announcing his move, he said he was “delighted to join the General Mills mission of Making food the world loves,” pointing to the company’s iconic brands, strong food science capabilities and deep talent pool as key strengths. He added that the organisation’s learning-led and inclusive culture positions it well to capitalise on the India growth opportunity.
“Powered by a culture that fosters learning, growing and belonging, we are well placed to address the India opportunity. I look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by my predecessors,” Krishnamurthy said.
Welcoming the appointment, Radhakrishnan said Krishnamurthy’s leadership style aligns closely with the company’s priorities. “Shiva’s consumer-first approach and people-centric leadership are a perfect fit for our vision in India, reinforcing our commitment to putting consumers at the heart of everything we do and building exceptional talent,” he noted.
Reflecting on his time at HUL, Krishnamurthy described the company as his “professional alma mater,” often dubbed The CEO Factory. He acknowledged the role played by several leaders in shaping his career, including Sanjiv Mehta, Sudhir Sitapati, Hanneke Faber, and the late Anil Gopalan.
An alumnus of XLRI Jamshedpur, Krishnamurthy began his professional journey with a brief stint at PepsiCo before joining HUL in 2000 as an Area Sales Manager in customer development. Over the years, he built a wide-ranging portfolio across marketing and general management, leading brands such as Lifebuoy and Lux in skin cleansing, driving Rin innovation in Southeast Asia, and heading South Asia’s tea business from 2015.
During the past decade under his leadership, HUL consolidated its position as the market leader in the Indian tea category. He also served as Vice President, Foods & Beverages, for Unilever South Asia, further strengthening his exposure to large-scale food and refreshment portfolios—experience that now sets the stage for his new role at General Mills.
