Nestlé India sees senior exits as HR head and general counsel step down

Nestlé India is witnessing a significant reshuffle in its top ranks, with two senior executives set to depart the company after long tenures.

Anurag Patnaik, Head – Human Resources for the South Asia region, has decided to step down from his role, the BW People reported. A veteran of more than two decades with the company, Patnaik has been a core member of Nestlé India’s leadership council and a key architect of its people strategy during a period of accelerated market growth. His successor is expected to be announced soon, with both internal and external candidates reportedly under consideration.

Joining him in transition is Chandan Mukherji, Director and Senior Vice President – Strategy, Marketing and Communication. Mukherji, another long-serving Nestlé leader with over 20 years at the company, has played a central role in shaping brand positioning and communication strategy for the FMCG major.

Simultaneously, the company’s legal function is also undergoing leadership change. General Counsel and Head of Legal & Compliance, Venkateswaran T.S., is set to retire after more than three decades in corporate law and regulatory leadership. As per Business Standard, he has been instrumental in steering Nestlé India through complex legal and policy challenges, including food safety regulations and compliance reforms.

As part of the succession plan, Dhvani Rao, currently Associate General Counsel – Food, IP, HR & Digital Laws, has been promoted to General Counsel and Head – Legal & Compliance, effective 1 January 2026. Rao joined Nestlé in 2012 and has since led key mandates in intellectual property, digital governance, and employment law. Her elevation underscores the company’s preference for continuity in critical leadership roles.

These moves come as Nestlé India, the maker of Maggi noodles and Nescafé, continues to strengthen its leadership pipeline amid an evolving consumer landscape and expanding portfolio. Analysts note that the leadership changes mark an important transition phase as the company adapts to shifting market dynamics, regulatory scrutiny, and digital transformation within the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

Further announcements on the HR leadership succession and strategic restructuring are expected in the coming weeks.