Prior to this role, Shah was the chief commercial officer at cookie maker Britannia Industries. Shah ’s career, which spans consumer durables, telecom and FMCG, has also worked with brands such as Asian Paints and Motorola.
“Over the past few years, we have been consistently delivering strong growth in the highly competitive footwear market. Backed by decades of experience working with powerhouse brands, Gunjan understands the Indian market’s complexities and varied nuances. IHe will add value and strengthen Bata’s position in the Indian market,” Ashwani Windlass, chairman of
, said in a press statement.
To which Sandeep Kataria, global CEO of Bata Brands, 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, he will deliver strong growth.” Kataria was the first Indian to be elevated to the global role of the footwear major.
Shah holds a Bachelor of Technology (Computers) from VJTI, Mumbai and a Postgraduate Diploma in management from the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata.
Gunjan Shah, CEO-designate of Bata India Ltd, said, “As an iconic brand, Bata has become an integral part of the Indian fabric. I look forward to building on the legacy of my predecessors in taking the Bata brand to new heights alongside creating long term sustainable value for all stakeholders in the company.”
Bata India is one of the largest footwear retailers in the country and sells about 47 million pairs of footwear every year besides accessories and bags through its 1600 outlets and franchise stores.
