HUL appoints Hemant Bakshi as executives director sales as Sanjiv Kakkar leaves for Russian posting

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) today announced key changes in the management committee of the company.

Sanjiv Kakkar, currently executive director sales and customer development of HUL has been appointed chairman, Unilever Russia, Ukraine and Belarus (RUB), with Hemant Bakshi, currently regional category vice president, skin, south Asia, Unilever, replacing Kakkar as executive director, sales and customer development in the management committee.

Both the appointments take effect from 1 September 2008.

Bakshi, a chemical engineering from IIT Bombay and has done his PGDM from IIM Ahmedabad. He joined HLL in June 1989 and has worked in various sales and marketing assignments spanning across personal products and home care categories. He was business manager leading one of the new ventures in 2000 and later became regional manager, south, in 2002. He was appointed as regional brand vice president (FAL and Lifebuoy), south Asia, for Unilever in January 2005. In May 2006, he was appointed as regional category vice president for skin, south Asia, Unilever.

Kakkar is BA (Economics) and PGDM from IIM Ahmedabad with 24 years work experience. He joined the company in June 1984 and has worked in various sales and marketing assignments. His marketing experience spans across categories including beverages, personal products and oral and hair care.  In March 2006, Kakkar was appointed as executive director, foods and joined the management committee on 1 January 2007.

Formerly, Hindustan  Lever, HUL is India's largest FMCG company with a presence in over 20 distinct categories in home and personal care products and foods and beverages.