Grasim Industries announced the appointment of Sachin Sahay as Chief Executive Officer of Birla Opus Paints, effective February 16, 2026, as the Aditya Birla Group steps up execution in its decorative paints foray. The Board of Directors approved the appointment during a meeting held on January 16, 2026, based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

Board Approval and Appointment Details

The board meeting commenced at 11:00 a.m. IST and concluded at 11:18 a.m. IST on January 16, 2026. Sahay will also be designated as Senior Management Personnel of the company from the same date. The company disclosed this information in compliance with Regulation 30 and other applicable provisions of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

Leadership Transition

The appointment comes after Rakshit Hargave, former CEO of Birla Opus Paints, resigned in November 2025 to pursue opportunities outside the company. Hargave, who joined Grasim in 2021, played a pivotal role in taking the paints division from project stage to launch, setting up six integrated manufacturing facilities and building nationwide distribution and supply-chain capabilities. During the interim period, Grasim Managing Director Himanshu Kapania had been overseeing the paints business.

Professional Background and Experience

Sahay joins from ITC Limited, where he last served as Executive Vice President – Sales. He brings over 30 years of leadership experience in Sales & Marketing across entrepreneurial roles and multi-geography assignments in India. His extensive experience includes:

• Playing a pivotal role in ITC's FMCG transformation journey
• Creating and scaling up ITC's FMCG channel from greenfield operations to its current national footprint
• Leading the launch and growth of multiple brands
• Building large-scale distribution capabilities across urban and rural markets
• Driving complex transformation initiatives with a strong balance of process rigor and people leadership

Key Achievements and Market Impact

Sahay has been instrumental in implementing field force automation and streamlining common stockist operations across ITC's diverse portfolio. His work spanned multiple categories including cigarettes, foods, and FMCG, enabling efficient capital deployment and optimized partner engagement. This experience positions him well to lead Birla Opus Paints' growth strategy and market expansion initiatives.

Shares of Grasim Industries were trading 0.37% higher at ₹2,806.10 as of 11:50 a.m., recovering from intraday lows of ₹2,791.00 following the leadership announcement.

Grasim Industries has announced a key leadership appointment for its paints division, naming Sachin Sahay as the Chief Executive Officer of Birla Opus Paints. This strategic appointment brings experienced industry leadership to the company's paints business segment.

Leadership Transition at Birla Opus Paints

Sachin Sahay joins Birla Opus Paints from ITC, where he served as Executive Vice President. His extensive experience in the consumer goods sector is expected to contribute significantly to the strategic direction and operational excellence of the paints division.

Strategic Implications

The appointment reflects Grasim Industries' commitment to strengthening its paints business with experienced leadership. Sahay's background in consumer goods and his executive experience at ITC position him well to lead Birla Opus Paints in the competitive paints market.

About the Appointment

This leadership change represents part of Grasim Industries' ongoing efforts to build robust management teams across its various business divisions. The appointment of an experienced executive like Sahay demonstrates the company's focus on bringing industry expertise to drive growth in the paints segment.