Ex-business head of Mars India MV Natarajan to join VLCC

NEW DELHI: Chocolate and confectionery maker Mars International's former India business head MV Natarajan is set to join VLCC Personal Care as chief business officer.

Natarajan, who moves from heading confectionery maker Wrigley's operations in India (Wrigley is a subsidiary of Mars Inc), will take up his new assignment at the wellness firm in the middle of this month.

Natarajan confirmed the development to ET.

Prior to his role at Wrigley's, Natarajan was heading Mars International's India operations. He has also worked with consumer goods firms Mari co and Coca-Cola, besides retailer Reliance Retail.

Debuted as slimming services provider in the mid-90s, VLCC's businesses, which now include beauty treatment clinics, cosmetics and training academies, operate out of over 11 countries.

In the middle of last year, VLCC had intended to go for a public offer to raise Rs 400 crore to fund its overseas expansion plans for setting up wellness centres. But the company did not pursue the public offer and is now learnt to be preparing for an IPO in 2017-18.

Existing shareholders at VLCC include Indivision India and Leon International.

India's estimated $11.7-billion beauty and personal care market is led by giants such as Hindustan Unilever and Procter & Gamble.