HUL’s Kedar Lele To Become Castrol India Managing Director

Hindustan Unilever Ltd.’s (HUL) Kedar Lele will become the managing director of Castrol India Ltd. in November, replacing Sandeep Sangwan, who will move to another role within the BP Group.

Sangwan will relinquish his office as managing director with effect from close of business hours on 31 October, the lubricants maker said in a stock exchange announcement.

He was appointed as managing director of the company on 1 January 2020, and his term was due to expire on 31 December 2024, it added.

Castrol India said its board appointed Lele as an additional director and managing director of the company with effect from 1 November. His appointment will be for five years, subject to the approval of shareholders.

Lele will join Castrol from HUL on 1 October as vice president of Castrol India and South Asia and work closely with Sangwan for a smooth transition.

WHO IS KEDAR LELE?

Lele has over 25 years’ experience spanning advertising, internet, FMCG sales and marketing and general management roles, of which he has spent around 20 years at Unilever.

Lele, who began his career in 1998 with a role in advertising, has also worked with Monster.com, Bplinnovision/bplnet.com, Mudra Communication Ltd. and Kimberly Clark Lever Ltd., among others.

Castrol India said Lele has led diverse business segments (ice creams, infant and feminine hygiene) and channels (shakti, rural, modern trade, and e-commerce) and he brings a comprehensive understanding of the India and South Asia market.

Lele holds an MBA from the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, with a dual specialization in Strategic Marketing and Operations Management, according to the statement.

He graduated from Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad with a specialization in Brand Management & Account Planning, it said.

(Send feedback to editor@cornerofficejournal.com)