Haleon Appoints Kedar Lele as President for India Subcontinent

Consumer healthcare company Haleon announced the appointment of Kedar Lele as its new President for the India Subcontinent, following a period of vacancy. The appointment, announced on Friday, sees Lele taking charge this month as the company strengthens its leadership in the Indian market.

Leadership Transition

Lele joins Haleon from Castrol India Ltd, where he served as Managing Director. He will officially assume his new role this month, replacing Navneet Saluja, the ISC General Manager, who retired in October 2025 after a distinguished tenure with the company.

Professional Background and Experience

Lele brings over 25 years of experience across various sectors, including Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), advertising, digital innovation, and the automotive industry. Before his tenure with Castrol, where he spent almost a year and a half, Lele built an extensive career at Hindustan Unilever Ltd spanning nearly two decades.

During his time at Hindustan Unilever, he held multiple senior positions including:

• Executive Director for Sales and Customer Development in South Asia
• Chairman & Managing Director of Unilever Bangladesh

Lele also previously worked as a marketing executive with Kimberly-Clark Lever Ltd earlier in his career.

Educational Qualifications and Board Positions

Lele holds strong academic credentials in business and marketing. He completed his MBA in Strategic Marketing and Operations from the Indian School of Business and earned a postgraduate diploma in Marketing Communications from MICA, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Beyond his executive roles, Lele serves on the board of TVS Automobile Solutions and previously held the position of Vice President at the Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Bangladesh.

Role and Strategic Responsibilities

As ISC President, Lele will become a member of the Haleon Executive Team (HET), the company's global leadership forum. This appointment strengthens alignment with the organization's 'Win as One' strategy. According to the company, Lele will drive India's leadership in powering Haleon's ambition of reaching 1 billion more consumers by 2030 and advance its purpose of delivering better everyday health with humanity.

About Haleon's Operations in India

Haleon operates as a consumer healthcare company in India, offering over-the-counter (OTC) products to address everyday health needs. The England-based company focuses on several key health categories including oral care, digestive health, pain management, respiratory health, and Vitamin and Mineral Supplements.