Mumbai: Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. (GCPL) has announced a leadership transition, with Sudhir Sitapati resigning as Managing Director and CEO with immediate effect, bringing his five-year tenure at the FMCG company to an early close.
Sitapati tendered his resignation on August 10, stating that he believed “the task I had set for myself here is done” and that it was the right time to move on. He has also offered to support his successor during the transition.
Sitapati joined GCPL as Managing Director and CEO in October 2021 for a five-year term. During his tenure, the company focused on strengthening its portfolio, driving growth and improving operating performance across its markets.
GCPL has appointed Aasif Malbari, currently the company’s Chief Financial Officer, as Managing Director and CEO for a five-year term, effective August 12, 2026. Vishal Kedia has been appointed interim CFO following Malbari’s elevation.
In his resignation communication to GCPL Executive Chairperson Nisaba Godrej, Sitapati highlighted the company’s performance during his tenure.
He noted that GCPL generated an average monthly total shareholder return of around 10% between May 7, 2021 and August 9, 2026, compared with approximately 8% for the NIFTY FMCG index. He also pointed to favourable analyst sentiment, noting that 97% of analysts rated the stock Buy or Hold.
Sitapati further highlighted the company’s recent operating momentum. GCPL’s Q1 FY27 revenue growth stood at 19%, supported by 9% underlying volume growth, with both figures representing multi-quarter highs.
The leadership transition comes as GCPL continues to build on this operating momentum and pursue its growth agenda across markets and categories.
Sitapati joined GCPL after more than two decades with Hindustan Unilever (HUL), where he began his career as a management trainee in 1999. Over 22 years, he held leadership roles across sales, marketing and multiple FMCG categories, with experience spanning India, Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa.
He was appointed to HUL’s Management Committee as Executive Director in 2016. As Executive Director – Foods & Refreshment, he was involved in the transformation of the company’s foods and refreshments business, including the integration of the $5-billion GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare acquisition, which brought brands such as Horlicks and Boost into HUL.
His experience at HUL also included leadership of its soaps and tea businesses, as well as involvement in several of the company’s purpose-led initiatives.
Beyond his corporate career, Sitapati is the author of The CEO Factory: Management Lessons from Hindustan Unilever, which examines the management practices and culture that have helped HUL develop business leaders. He holds an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and a BSc in Mathematics with Economics Honours from St Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
The appointment of Aasif Malbari provides GCPL with an internal succession plan. Malbari has been serving as the company’s CFO and brings nearly three decades of experience across the FMCG and automotive sectors, including roles at GCPL, Tata Motors and Hindustan Unilever.
His elevation comes as GCPL seeks to sustain its recent business momentum while navigating its next phase of growth.
The transition marks the conclusion of Sitapati’s leadership at GCPL, where he was brought in from HUL in 2021 to lead the company through its next stage of development. With Malbari taking over as MD & CEO, GCPL will now look to build on the foundations laid during Sitapati’s tenure while continuing to focus on growth, operational performance and long-term value creation.
