'We aim to grow organically and through acquisitions'

Dabur India’s new chairman Anand Burman, 55, is likely to spend more time in India (he was mostly in London earlier) as he takes over the mantle of the Rs 2,234-crore consumer goods company. He spoke shortly after chairing his first board meet. Excerpts:

Will you continue as the chairman of Dabur Pharma as well?

I will not be the chairman of both companies. Some changes will be made in the management structure of Dabur Pharma, but I cannot comment on those right now.

While you have a CEO, the perception is that the family calls the shots in Dabur.

This is completely untrue. Dabur is professionally run and the family calls the shots only when it comes to broad policy decisions. After all, the family has majority shareholding and its philosophies should reflect in the decisions the company takes.

Nothing has changed. The Burmans had four board seats — three non-executive and one executive — and it will continue like that.

Since the next generation is taking over as the chairman and vice-chairman of the company, would it mean some changes in strategies and new businesses?

Not in the short term. And I cannot comment on what we plan to do in the long term.

Do you think Dabur has an image issue?

Not at all. The company has done some great work in the past and you’ll see new products in the future as well. We aim to grow organically as well as through acquisitions. We are working on private labels, to be sold through our health and wellness stores, modelled on the Watson stores of Hong Kong.