NEW DELHI, August 21, 2026: Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd has announced a major leadership transition, appointing Manish Anandani as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Anandani will take charge from September 28, 2026, succeeding Prabha Narasimhan, who is moving into a senior Asia-Pacific role within the global Colgate-Palmolive organisation.
The leadership change comes as Colgate-Palmolive India looks to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive consumer-goods market, with premium products, digital commerce and evolving consumer preferences becoming increasingly important to growth. The company’s board has approved Anandani’s appointment for a five-year term, subject to shareholder and other statutory approvals.
Manish Anandani Returns to Colgate
Anandani is returning to Colgate-Palmolive after several years away from the company. He most recently served as Managing Director for India and South Asia at Kenvue, the consumer-health company formerly known as Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health. His career spans approximately three decades, covering sales, marketing, general management, e-commerce, consumer health and senior leadership positions.
His earlier experience at Colgate gives him familiarity with the company and the oral-care category. Anandani also has academic qualifications in electronics and marketing, along with an Executive MBA in leadership, adding a combination of technical, commercial and management experience to his profile.
His appointment is particularly significant because India’s oral-care market is changing rapidly. Consumers are increasingly looking beyond basic toothpaste and toothbrush products toward specialised and premium offerings, while e-commerce and digital channels are creating new opportunities for consumer brands.
Prabha Narasimhan Moves to APAC Leadership Role
The transition also represents a major career progression for Prabha Narasimhan, who has served as Colgate-Palmolive India’s Managing Director and CEO since September 2022. She will step down from her India leadership position at the close of business on September 27 and become Executive Vice President – Marketing for the Asia-Pacific Division effective September 28.
Narasimhan joined Colgate after a long career at Hindustan Unilever, where she held senior leadership positions including Executive Director for Home Care. During her tenure at Colgate-Palmolive India, she led the company through a period of changing consumer behaviour and increasing competition in India’s fast-moving consumer goods sector.
Her move to the Asia-Pacific marketing role gives her a broader regional mandate within the Colgate-Palmolive group, making the reshuffle a leadership transition rather than an exit from the company.
Colgate Focuses on Its Next Growth Phase
The appointment of Anandani comes at a time when Colgate-Palmolive India is seeking to maintain growth while responding to competition from both established FMCG companies and newer consumer brands. Reuters reported that the company is betting on premium products and e-commerce as important drivers of future growth. Colgate-Palmolive India’s shares fell around 1% following the announcement.
Anandani’s experience across consumer health, marketing, sales and digital commerce could therefore prove valuable as the company develops its next phase of growth. His return also brings an executive with prior knowledge of Colgate’s operations back into the organisation.
The leadership transition is expected to formally take effect on September 28, marking the beginning of Anandani’s five-year mandate and a new chapter for one of India’s most recognised oral-care companies.
