On Friday, Bata India said that Gunjan Shah will join Bata India as the Chief Executive Officer(CEO). Bata India is the leading footwear brand in India. Gunjan Shah has earlier worked with Britannia as Chief Commercial Officer. Shah has rich experience at the managerial level. Before joining Britannia in 2007, he has also worked with global brands including Asian Paints and Motorola.
Bata India Appoints Gunjan Shah as new CEO
Gunjan Shah is all set to join Bata India as the CEO. He will take over from Sandeep Kataria. In November 2020, Bata India promoted Kataria as the Global CEO of the leading footwear brand.
As per the agreement, Shah will join Bata India next month. He will be responsible for the main operations of Bata in India.
Talking about Shah’s appointment, Kataria said:
“India has always been a significant market for us from a global perspective. A dynamic leader like Gunjan will spearhead the company’s operations in India and given his extensive experience and track record, I am confident that he will take the Bata brand to even greater heights and deliver strong growth.”
Shah has more than a decade of experience at different managerial levels. At the beginning of his career, he worked with prestigious brands like Asian Paints and Motorola.
Bata India Chairman Ashwani Windlass is quite happy with Shah’s appointment in the firm. He praised Shah a lot. Ashwani showed full confidence in Shah’s skills due to his extraordinary experience.
Talking further about Shah, he said:
“Backed by decades of experience working with powerhouse brands, Gunjan understands the Indian market’s complexities and varied nuances. I’m confident that he will add value and strengthen Bata’s position in the Indian market.”
Shah’s Background and Past Experience
Shah is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata. He has worked in different sectors including consumer durables, telecom, and FMCG.
Gunjan Shah also has high respect for Bata India. He is enthusiastic to join the talented team of Bata. Talking about his new assignment, Bata India CEO-designate Gunjan Shah said:
“I am excited about the journey ahead. As an iconic brand, Bata has become an integral part of the Indian fabric.”
He further added:
“I realize that I have big shoes to fill in and I am thrilled about working with the talented & experienced Bata team. I look forward to building on the legacy of my predecessors in taking the Bata brand to new heights.”
Meanwhile, Britannia Industries, the ex-employer of Shah, has also revealed that he has stepped down from his position. In an official statement released by food company Britannia Industries, its spokesperson said:
“This is to confirm that Gunjan Shah, Chief Commercial Officer at Britannia Industries Ltd has resigned from the company to pursue new opportunities.”
Britannia praised Shah’s work during his tenure. The company said that he has played a key role in Britannia’s growth during his tenure. He has worked in different departments in Britannia for more than a decade.