Dabur brings in global bite with Hershey veteran Bhalla, Mohit Malhotra elevated to Global CEO

In a move that blends legacy Ayurveda with multinational marketing muscle, Dabur India has brought in confectionery-sector heavyweight Herjit S. Bhalla to lead its India business—injecting a distinct Hershey’s-style commercial sharpness into the homegrown major’s next growth phase.

Bhalla, currently a global executive at The Hershey Company, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer – India Business and will take charge from April 15, reporting to newly elevated Global CEO Mohit Malhotra, according to the company’s exchange filing on Tuesday.Also Read: FMCG sector poised for strong growth in FY27: Abneesh Roy

The board approved Malhotra’s redesignation with effect from February 17, signaling a sharper global focus for the homegrown FMCG major as it seeks to expand international playbooks alongside its strong India base.

A Sweet spot strategy

The hire signals more than routine succession planning. Dabur appears to be borrowing from the global FMCG playbook—precision branding, sharper category play, and faster go-to-market cycles—capabilities Bhalla honed across multinational roles.

With over 25 years of experience, he has worked across diverse markets and formats, including 16 formative years at Unilever, where he handled sales and marketing leadership roles and served as Marketing Director in Moscow.

He later moved into modern retail as COO of Metro Cash & Carry, before joining Hershey India as managing director in 2018 and rising to global portfolios spanning Canada, AEMEA and international customers.

Seasoned operator returns to India FMCG frontlines

India’s consumer market is fragmenting into premium niches, quick-commerce channels, and health-led segments—areas where multinational discipline in pricing, promotion, and portfolio architecture often outperforms traditional domestic approaches.

An alumnus of Delhi University and Management Development Institute Gurugram, Bhalla represents a growing trend: Indian consumer majors hiring leaders with global P&L exposure to future-proof domestic growth.