Colgate Palmolive India: Meet Manish Anandani, set to replace Prabha Narasimhan as MD & CEO

In a major leadership change, Prabha Narasimhan has resigned as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Colgate-Palmolive India, 27 September, 2026. She will move to a global role as Executive Vice President, Marketing, Asia‑Pacific Division.

Manish Anandani will succeed her as MD and CEO from 28 September, with a five-year term approved by the board, the company announced in an exchange filing.

Narasimhan’s tenure ends at the close of business on 27 September. Anandani will then assume the role on 28 September.

Who is Manish Anandani? Meet new MD

Manish Anandani's career and past work

Anandani, who previously held senior roles at Kenvue India, Johnson & Johnson, and Colgate‑Palmolive, brings three decades of experience in enterprise strategy, digital transformation and market expansion.

Anandani’s appointment marks a homecoming, as he worked with Colgate‑Palmolive between 2005 and 2018, culminating in the role of Worldwide Director in Global Customer Development.

Anandani's profile on LinkedIn describes him as a global business executive with "20+ years of experience with diverse global companies (Pepsi, Johnson & Johnson, Colgate-Palmolive) across different industries (Food & Beverage, Consumer Packaged Goods), cross functions/areas (P&L management, Brand Marketing, Sales, Customer Management, eCommerce, Global function) and various geographies across globe."

As per his bio, Anandani has also led the “acquisition of a company from the identification of the target, performing due diligence, valuation, negotiation of the entire deal, acquiring the target and finally integration of the new business into the existing business successfully.”

“Most of assignments have been with clear focus on significantly accelerating growth, regaining leadership and/or establishing new business models to win in changing market place,” Anandani's Linked profile added.

Manish Anandani's education

Anandani holds degrees in Electronics and Marketing, along with an Executive MBA in Leadership from Tuck School of Business, USA.

The company confirmed that none of its directors is related to Anandani, and he is not debarred from holding office by SEBI or any other authority.

Reason for leadership change?

As per the exchange filing, Narasimhan will be promoted to Executive Vice President, Marketing, Asia-Pacific Division, Colgate-Palmolive.

The company said, “Resignation of Ms. Narasimhan (DIN: 08822860) as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective close of business on September 27, 2026, pursuant to her promotion as the Executive Vice President Marketing, Asia-Pacific Division Colgate-Palmolive.”

In her resignation letter, Narasimhan said, “This is to inform you that pursuant to my promotion as the Executive Vice President - Marketing, Asia-Pacific Division of Colgate-Palmolive, I hereby resign from the position of Managing Director & CEO of Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited with effect from close of business on September 27, 2026. Consequently, I shall also cease to be a Director of the Company and Member of Stakeholders' Relationship Committee, ESG & Corporate Social Responsibility Committee and Risk Management Committee of the Company effective aforesaid date.”

“It has been my pleasure to serve on the Board as Managing Director and CEO of the Company. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the distinguished members of the Board and the Leadership Team for the support extended to me during my tenure,” she wrote.

About Prabha Narasimhan

Narasimhan has been the Managing Director and CEO of Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited since 1 September 2022. CP India had announced her appointment in March 2022.

Narasimhan had joined Colgate from Hindustan Unilever (HUL), where she led the Home Care category as Executive Director and served on the HUL Leadership Team.

Narasimhan has nearly 25 years of experience in customer development, consumer marketing and innovation across geographies and multiple categories, including home care, food, personal and skincare.

CP India leads the oral care market, producing and marketing toothpastes, tooth powder, toothbrushes, oil‑pulling products and mouthwashes under the Colgate brand. It also offers a specialised range of personal care products under the Palmolive brand.