Mumbai: Sula Vineyards has appointed former Chief Operating Officer Chaitanya Rathi as an Additional Non-Executive Non-Independent Director, marking his return to the company’s Board as it looks to strengthen its next phase of growth.
Effective August 6, 2026, Rathi rejoins India’s leading wine producer after previously serving in key leadership roles across two tenures spanning more than a decade. Most recently, he was Chief Operating Officer from 2019 to 2023, where he oversaw multiple business functions, led a team of over 400 members, and played a pivotal role in Sula’s successful Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2022.
Rathi first joined Sula in 2006 and was instrumental in building the company’s hospitality and wine tourism business during his initial tenure from 2006 to 2013. Today, Sula welcomes more than 400,000 visitors annually and has established a growing wine tourism and hospitality footprint.
Commenting on the appointment, Rajeev Samant, CEO, Sula Vineyards, said, “Chaitanya has played an important role in Sula’s journey and brings a deep understanding of our business and culture. Over the years, he has helped shape our wine tourism business and played a key role in Sula’s IPO journey. We are very pleased to welcome him back to Sula, this time on the Board, and I am confident that his entrepreneurial mindset and diverse experience will bring valuable perspective as we take Sula into its next phase of growth.”
Commenting on his appointment, Chaitanya Rathi said, “Sula continues to be very close to me, having been an important part of my journey for many years, and I am delighted to return in this new role. I look forward to bringing the perspective and experience I have gained from working with and investing in diverse consumer businesses to support Sula’s next phase of growth. I am excited to work alongside Rajeev and the Board to contribute meaningfully to the Company’s journey and create long-term value for all stakeholders.”
Beyond Sula, Rathi has held senior operating and investment roles across high-growth businesses and has served as a board member and strategic advisor to several companies. He is currently the Founder of Searchlight ETA, an Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) and Search Fund platform in India.
With more than two decades of experience spanning consumer businesses, alcoholic beverages, hospitality, investments and entrepreneurship, Rathi brings extensive strategic and commercial expertise to Sula’s Board. The company said his experience in business strategy, operational scaling, investments and value creation will support its efforts to strengthen its core wine business, expand its wine tourism and hospitality footprint, explore new growth opportunities, and create long-term value for stakeholders.
