On Thursday, March 6, 2025, Britannia Industries, one of India’s leading food companies, announced that its CEO and executive director, Rajneet Singh Kohli, has tendered his resignation, effective March 14, 2025. The resignation, as stated in a regulatory filing, comes after Kohli decided to explore an opportunity outside of the company. This decision marks the end of Kohli’s relatively short tenure at Britannia, where he served as CEO since September 2022.

The announcement of Kohli’s resignation has generated considerable attention in the corporate world, considering his leadership role in one of India’s most prominent food and beverage companies. In the filing, Britannia Industries confirmed that the Board of Directors had acknowledged Kohli’s resignation and that he would be relieved of his duties at the close of business hours on March 14, 2025.

The filing also conveyed Kohli’s sentiments, quoting him saying, “After much thought and deliberation, I have reached a tough and difficult decision, to resign from the services of the company with effect from March 14, 2025, to pursue an external opportunity. It has been a privilege to work as part of Britannia leadership for over 2.5 years.” His words suggest that the decision was not an easy one, reflecting the weight of his responsibilities at Britannia.

Kohli’s departure comes at a time when Britannia is a key player in the Indian packaged foods market. The company, which is well-known for its biscuit brands like Britannia Marie, Good Day, and Treat, as well as dairy products such as milk and cheese, has seen significant growth in recent years. Under Kohli’s leadership, Britannia expanded its presence and continued its trajectory of growth, leveraging his extensive experience in leading large-scale companies across multiple sectors. Despite Kohli’s relatively brief time at Britannia, his professional background and leadership acumen have undoubtedly left a mark on the company’s strategic direction during his tenure.

Rajneet Singh Kohli’s professional journey prior to his appointment at Britannia is noteworthy. Before taking the reins at Britannia, Kohli had an extensive career with multinational companies. He held leadership roles at several major organizations, including Domino’s India, Asian Paints, and Coca-Cola, where he gained a reputation for driving growth and innovation. These experiences helped Kohli develop a deep understanding of the consumer goods sector, which he subsequently applied in his role at Britannia.

At Domino’s India, Kohli played a key role in growing the brand’s market share and expanding its reach across the country. He also worked at Asian Paints, a company well-regarded for its customer-centric approach, where Kohli gained valuable insights into operational efficiency and product diversification. His time at Coca-Cola also provided him with a global perspective on business strategy and brand management. With such a diverse background, Kohli brought a wealth of knowledge to Britannia, steering the company through a highly competitive market environment.

During Kohli’s time as CEO of Britannia, the company saw various strategic initiatives that helped it maintain its dominant position in the Indian food industry. Under his leadership, Britannia not only expanded its product offerings but also focused on improving its distribution networks, ensuring that its products were available across India’s vast and diverse geography. In addition, Britannia made moves to strengthen its digital and e-commerce presence, recognizing the growing importance of online sales channels in an increasingly digital world.

Furthermore, Kohli’s leadership was marked by a strong focus on sustainability and innovation. Britannia, like many other companies in the FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) sector, has been under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Kohli understood the need for Britannia to align itself with evolving consumer expectations, particularly with regard to environmental responsibility. Under his tenure, the company made efforts to improve its supply chain, reduce waste, and enhance the sustainability of its packaging materials. While there was much work still to be done, Kohli’s leadership laid the groundwork for a future that would see Britannia embrace more sustainable practices in line with global trends.

Despite the positive developments, Kohli’s tenure at Britannia was not without challenges. The Indian food industry has been undergoing rapid changes, with shifting consumer preferences and increasing competition from both traditional players and new entrants in the market. The pandemic also had a significant impact on the consumer goods sector, forcing companies like Britannia to rethink their strategies in terms of supply chain management, product innovation, and customer engagement. In this context, Kohli had to navigate these challenges while continuing to ensure the company’s profitability and growth.

Kohli’s resignation could be seen as a turning point for Britannia, which will now need to look for a new leader to guide it through the next phase of growth. Given the strong foundations laid during his tenure, the new CEO will have the opportunity to build on Kohli’s work while navigating the changing dynamics of the food industry.

Author: MUSTAFA ANAND