▶ WHEN SURESH NARAYANAN presented Nestlé India’s performance for the quarter ended December at a recent post-earnings call, he began his speech by highlighting the company’s success in spite of a challenging business environment. With inflation running high and demand faltering, at least in the hinterlands, fast moving consumer goods companies like Nestlé were being tested to the hilt. That however has failed to dent his resolve of emerging stronger—a habit he has cultivated over his three-decade-old journey in the corporate world.
In fact, if one were to describe Nestlé India’s performance under his stewardship as Chairman and MD over the past seven years, there probably isn’t a-PwC India’s Best CEOs ranking—has since emerged stronger than ever despite the odds. Having then served the Swiss giant for 17 years in various roles across regions, Narayanan was flown back to India in mid-2015 to lead the fire-fighting exercise that the FMCG major needed at the time.
