Homegrown FMCG major Dabur has appointed Herjit Bhalla, a senior executive at The Hershey Company, as its new India chief executive officer, effective April 15.
Current India CEO Mohit Malhotra will transition into the role of global CEO, marking a key leadership reshuffle at the company.
Bhalla, who currently serves as vice president – Canada and global customers at Hershey, will report to Malhotra in his new position. The development was first reported by ET in late January and later confirmed by the company in an exchange filing.
Strengthening leadership bench
Bhalla brings more than eight years of experience at Hershey, where he handled roles across Canada, Asia-Pacific, West Asia and Africa. His prior stints include leadership positions at Metro Cash & Carry and Hindustan Unilever Limited.
Hershey’s portfolio includes global confectionery brands such as Kisses, Reese’s and Jolly Rancher.
The move comes amid a broader wave of executive changes across India’s consumer goods sector over the past year. Companies including Britannia Industries, L’Oréal, Nestlé India, and others have announced leadership transitions as they recalibrate strategies for a shifting consumption environment.
Business performance
Dabur, known for brands such as Real juice and Vatika shampoo, reported a 7.3% year-on-year rise in consolidated net profit to ₹553.61 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Consolidated revenue increased 6.1% to ₹3,559 crore during the period.
The company said demand trends in India showed gradual recovery following GST rate cuts, supporting volume growth in key categories.
With Bhalla’s appointment and Malhotra’s elevation to a global mandate, Dabur is positioning itself for the next phase of growth, both domestically and internationally.
