Colgate-Palmolive (India) champions long-term value creation for its diverse stakeholders through a robust and fair governance mechanism. Our governance structures, leveraged by the pillars of integrity and transparency, help to adhere to ethical standards and also to propagate core values across the business. With a sharp focus on meeting regulatory compliances with all applicable laws in areas of our operation, we consider ethical behavior an imperative for upholding fair business practices. Guided by a highly engaged board and management , we ensure the highest standards of governance mechanisms.
As the highest decision-making body, the Board of Directors play an integral role in translating our corporate values into our business operations. They discharge their fiduciary responsibilities in a fair, respectful and transparent manner while ensuring that the business processes are aligned with the highest standards of ethics and integrity. The Board is responsible for establishing policies, strategies, goals and evaluating ethical performance.
The amalgamation of our Board members sheds light on our commitment towards diversity. Comprising of individuals with varying skill sets, age, gender, knowledge and experience, the culmination of their collective expertise and dedication to facilitate sustainable growth is at the heart of the economic, social and environmental impact that we have been able to create over the course of years. In FY 2022-23, we achieved equal representation of men and women in our Board of Directors. As on March 31, 2023, the Board of the Company had equal representation from men and women.
The strength of Colgate-Palmolive (India)’s systems and processes lies in well-defined policies and frameworks that empower the Directors and Senior Management to pursue organizational objectives. Our diverse board, corporate and sustainability policies help to foster a culture that prioritizes responsible ethical and sustainable business practices.
https://www.colgateinvestors.co.in/policies
https://www.colgatepalmolive.com/en-us/who-we-are/our-policies
Colgate-Palmolive (India) employs a responsible approach to enhance organizational performance across the environmental, social and governance paradigms. Our emphasis on conducting business in a fair and responsible manner is supported by the strong foundation of business ethics, governance and transparency. We hold our Code of Conduct as a moral guide for abiding by high standards of ethics and integrity in our business activities. We organize training programs, employee engagement sessions and interactions with the leadership team regularly to encourage our employees, suppliers and other stakeholders to abide by the Code.
We are steadfast in our approach to combat unethical practices and our robust compliance management systems effectively track and prevent such cases.
Mr. Mukul Deoras is a global business leader with rich experience across multiple geographies. He is the President of the Asia Pacific Division of Colgate-Palmolive. Mukul holds a postgraduate degree in Management from IIM, Ahmedabad. He joined the Company in 2004 and has since served as Managing Director in Thailand and India, Chairman in India, President of the Asia Division, and Global Chief Marketing Officer. He was appointed as the Chairman of Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited in September 2018.
Ms. Prabha Narasimhan is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited. She joined the Company in 2022 from Hindustan Unilever (HUL), where she led the Home Care category as Executive Director and served as a member of the HUL Leadership Team. She has over 25 years of rich and varied experience in Customer Development, Consumer Marketing and Innovation across geographies and multiple categories, including Home Care, Foods, Personal and Skin Care. She is a post-graduate from the India Institute of Management, Bangalore and Melbourne Business School.
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer
A senior financial sector expert, Ms. Shyamala Gopinath has guided and influenced diverse national policies. She was the Deputy Governor of the RBI for seven years, and was on the RBI Board. She is an Independent Director on the Boards of a few companies, including not-for-profit entities. She is also the Chairperson of the Board of Governors of IIM, Raipur. She was appointed as a Director on the Company’s Board in May 2015.
Dr. (Ms) Indu Shahani is a passionate educationist who continues to redefine education sector. She is the President and Chairperson at the Indian School of Design and Innovation, and the Founding Dean of Indian School of Management and Entrepreneurship. She has been the Principal of H.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai. She has an Honorary ‘Doctor of Letters’ degree awarded by the University of Westminster in London. A former Sheriff of Mumbai, Indu was appointed as a Director on the Company’s Board in 2012.
Ms. Gopika Pant has over 37 years of legal experience and is a member of the ABA and The Supreme Court Bar Association. She has significant experience in Indian corporate and commercial laws and is a specialist in cross border commercial transactions. She is also a keen environmentalist and holds a Diploma in Environmental Law with the World Wide Fund for Nature. She was also an advisory for Times Bank in India’s first private banking merger with HDFC Bank and Japan Bank for International Cooperation in various equity and debt transactions. She was appointed as a Director on the company’s Board in May 2020.
Ms. Sukanya Kripalu is a consultant in the fields of marketing, strategy, advertising, and market research. An alumnus of IIM, Kolkata, she has rich work experience with Nestle India Limited, Cadbury India Limited and Kellogg’s India. She was appointed as a Director on the Company’s Board in June 2018.
Mr. Vikram Singh Mehta was the Chairman of the Shell Group of Companies in India from 1994 till 2013. He began his career as a Member of the Indian Administrative Service, and was Advisor to the Public Sector ‘Oil India’. Awarded Asia House’s ‘Businessmen of the year’ award in 2010 and ‘Best Independent Director’ award by Asian Centre for Corporate Governance and Sustainability in 2016. He was appointed as a Director on the Company’s Board in 2001.
Mr. Sekhar Natarajan has rich experience in the Agriculture and Rural sector. After his retirement and now as Managing Partner of M/s. S.N Consultants, he continues to stay involved with the Agriculture Industry by providing advice and strategic guidance to local and international companies including private equity investors. A qualified Chartered Accountant and Cost Accountant, he possesses extensive knowledge of strategic thinking, business development and mergers and acquisitions. He was appointed as a Director on the Company’s Board in May 2020.
Mr. M.S. Jacob provides overall financial leadership, including on Investor Relations at Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited. He joined the Company in 1995 in the Continuous Improvement Group. Over the course of 28 years, he has served at leadership roles in Finance at Colgate-Palmolive subsidiaries in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Hong Kong. He is a Commerce graduate from Mumbai University and Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He was appointed on the Company’s Board in October 2016.
Mr. Surender Sharma leads the Legal and Secretarial Team in advising the business on issues of Legal Compliance, devising and implementing litigation strategy as well as issues of Ethics and Corporate Governance in a dynamic regulatory environment. He joined the Company in October, 2017 and has experience of over 23 years across leading companies in the areas of Legal, Secretarial and Corporate Affairs. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Delhi and is a fellow member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He was appointed on the Company’s Board in May 2020 and as a Company Secretary in February 2022.