Shailesh Jejurikar: In a first, P&G sends Indian to corner office

Mumbai: Procter & Gamble, the world's biggest consumer goods company, named Mumbai-born Shailesh Jejurikar its chief executive effective next January, at a time when the maker of Pantene shampoo and Tide detergent is struggling to navigate slowing sales, changing trade policies and global economic headwinds.

The 58-year-old, currently chief operating officer at P&G, joins a growing league of Indians at the helm of multinationals.

He will be the first Indian and Asian to head the US-based company in its 187-year-old history.


Jejurikar will replace Jon R Moeller, the Cincinnati company's CEO since November 2021 who will become executive chairman, P&G said late on Monday in the US. Jejurikar will be taking over the reins at a difficult time for the consumer goods sector. The company, considered to be a bellwether for the global consumer economy, has been flagging weak underlying consumption in the US, Europe, China and elsewhere, with no visibility on the timeline of recovery in the interim. In April, P&G slashed its annual core earnings outlook, citing the impact from rapid changes to the US tariff policy. As part of a two-year restructuring plan, it plans to cut about 7,000 jobs, reorganise the supply chain and exit certain brands and markets.

Indians at Helm
“Shailesh has been an integral part of P&G's leadership team, with substantial contributions across multiple businesses and in both developed and developing regions, notably in fabric care and home care and, most recently, in P&G’s enterprise markets,” said Joe Jimenez, lead director of P&G’s board. “He has consistently delivered strong results where he has led. Shailesh is an outstanding leader, and the company will benefit from his ongoing leadership to build on the strong foundation he has helped create.”

P&G’s board has also nominated Jejurikar to stand for election as a director at the annual shareholder meeting in October.

“I am honoured to serve as P&G’s CEO," said Jejurikar. "P&G people, our brands, and our capabilities in innovation and operational excellence fuel my confidence for a future of sustained growth and value creation.”

Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra posted on X, “Shailesh Jejurikar’s appointment as CEO proves yet again that Indian-American leaders can navigate not just tech, but the hearts and minds of US consumers.”

Born to corporate life
Jejurikar’s family hails from Jejuri village in Maharashtra’s Pune district. The younger of two sons of a senior executive at Imperial Chemical Industries, he spent his formative years in Mumbai and Hyderabad, with frequent trips to Kolkata, and Gomia in Jharkhand, where his father was posted.

He was a batchmate of Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella at the Hyderabad Public School, which he represented at the under 17-cricket league.

“A fitness enthusiast and avid reader, he is also great at forging relationships," said Rajesh Jejurikar, his older brother, who is CEO of Mahindra Group's automotive and farm division. “He is an extremely family-oriented and caring person and visits India at least thrice to spend time with our mother.”

Jejurikar’s wife, Sankhya, is a visual artist. The couple has two sons, Shashank and Siddharth.

Jejurikar, the first COO at P&G, graduated in economics from the Mumbai University in 1987 and completed his post-graduation from IIM-Lucknow in 1989. He joined P&G in India from campus as an assistant brand manager, personal healthcare, and has worked across many roles across the globe over the past three decades.

He is a firm believer in the India story.

“If we project the population and the economic growth, it is only going to get better. And India will be a larger market and is going to organically grow dramatically,” Jejurikar told ET during a 2023 interview. "India is now at a critical inflection point that will see the spurring of further economic growth and consumer opportunity."