Hindustan Unilever appointed Hemant Bakshi as Executive Director-Home & Personal Care

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on 20 January 2012 declared the appointment of  Hemant Bakshi, Executive Director of Sales and Customer Development as Executive Director-Home & Personal Care. Bakshi succeeded Gopal Vittal, Executive Director-Home & Personal Care, HUL, who quit HUL to pursue an external opportunity. Gopal had contributed significantly to building the marketing leadership capability of HUL.

HUL also announced the appointment of Manish Tiwary, Vice-President-Modern Trade as Executive Director-Sales and Customer Development, HUL. With this appointment Tiwari joined the Management Committee, HUL's top executive team led by Nitin Paranjpe, Managing Director and CEO, HUL.

Hemant Bakshi

Hemant Bakshi had joined the company in June 1989 and has worked in various sales and marketing assignments across Personal Products and Home Care categories. He was appointed Executive Director, Sales and Customer Development for HUL, on 1 September 2008. Bakshi has led the transformation of the customer development function and has further strengthened the distribution edge of HUL through a number of path-breaking initiatives.

Manish Tiwary

Manish Tiwary  had joined the company in June 1995 and has worked in various sales, marketing and general management assignments across HUL. Manish had earlier served as the General Manager, Sales and Customer Development, HUL, in North India. He has been involved with the organised retailing business from the early stages and is an active member of various industry forums in this area.

Manish has contributed significantly to developing the capability of HUL's Modern Trade team delivering record growth for the company through this channel.

Gopal Vittal

As a key member of Paranjpe's team, Vittal was responsible for consolidating and rejuvenating HUL's home and personal care business (HPC), which consists of marquee brands like Dove, Axe, Lux and Surf.

Three and a half year stint as executive director of Hindustan Unilever was Vittal's second stint at the company. He had joined the company as a  management trainee after graduating from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad in 1992.

Key words- current affairs January 2012, Hindustan Unilever, marketing leadership,  Indian Institute of Management, management trainee, industry forums