GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare announced Navneet Saluja will head the residual unlisted business of the company after Unilever completes the acquisition of its portfolio of Horlicks and Boost health drinks.
The unlisted entity has brands like Sensodyne toothpaste, Crocin analgesic, and Iodex pain balm. The majority of GSK Consumer’s India portfolio, comprising the health drinks, comes under the listed entity and this will now move to Hindustan Unilever, the local unit of Anglo-Dutch FMCG giant Unilever. The health food drinks business contributes close to 75% to GSK Consumer’s sales.
According to GSK Consumer spokesperson, Mr. Saluja’s role is revised. He also added, “We confirm that Navneet Saluja is the designate general manager, India sub-continent, for the retained GSK Consumer Healthcare business,”
He further said India remained an “important” market for GSK and that the company would continue to invest in growth opportunities for its over-the-counter and oral health brands. The companies are still waiting for certain legal approvals to close the deal announced in December 2018. The transaction involved HUL acquiring the businesses through an all-equity merger, valuing GSK Consumer at Rs 31,700 crore.
Navneet Saluja is working with GSK as Managing Director since January 1, 2018. He has multi-sectoral experience including FMCG, Telecom and Retail where he has consistently displayed a strong track record of managing successful businesses in highly volatile and diverse markets. He has created winning strategies to accelerate top-line growth and increased profitability through engaged talent in high-performance organizations.
During his career spanning 30 years across India, Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, he has worked across Sales and General Management roles in leading FMCG companies including Cadbury, Gillette, Kellogg’s. He has also worked in leadership positions with Reliance Retail and Reliance Infocom.
Navneet is an alumnus of Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS). He is married with two children.
