EPL appoints Anand Kripalu as MD and global CEO

Based in Mumbai, Kripalu will replace Sudhanshu Vats, who joined Essel Propack as CEO and MD in 2020. Vats will stay with the company till August end to enable a smooth leadership transition.  

Davinder Singh Brar, chairman, EPL, said, “I am delighted to welcome Anand as CEO and managing director of the company. Anand has an exceptional track record, a deep understanding of evolving consumer trends, and the unique ability to shape the culture and talent of global organisations. We believe that Anand is the ideal leader for EPL’s next phase of growth. I would also like to thank Sudhanshu for his enormous contribution during a challenging period in strengthening our market leadership and wish him all the best for the future.”

Amit Dixit, head of Asia for Blackstone Private Equity and director on EPL’s board, said, “We are privileged to have Anand join the Blackstone portfolio company family of industry-leading CEOs and directors. Anand’s credibility with customers in the consumer industry, proven track record as CEO of a large-cap publicly listed company, and experience of driving growth at scale will enable EPL to reach new heights.” 

He added, “More importantly, Anand’s people-friendly leadership style and global outlook will energise the team at EPL across the ten countries we operate in. We are excited about this strong addition to the talented management team, which will enable EPL to build leadership bandwidth for its next phase of growth. A big thank you to Sudhanshu Vats for his valuable leadership and contribution to the company. Our best wishes are with him for the next chapter in his career.”

Kripalu is an IIT Madras BTech Electronics graduate and holds an MBA from IIM Calcutta. He has also completed the Advanced Management programme at Wharton Business School.

Commenting on this new role, Kripalu said, “I am excited to lead EPL, an extraordinary company with global leadership in its segments and a pioneer in innovation and sustainability. It is one of the most successful multi-national consumer companies headquartered out of India. I look forward to working closely with Blackstone, which has a strong record in the B2B2C space, the board, and the talented and devoted employees of EPL. We are committed to creating value and delight for all our stakeholders – customers, suppliers, employees, and shareholders.” 

He has more than 30 years of experience in the FMCG industry, Before joining EPL, he was at the helm of Diageo India. In his seven years, he helped the company grow its businesses and brands through innovation, transformed sales, and built an organisation with the right structure, talent, and culture. He was also a member of Diageo’s Global Executive Committee. His other stints include close to eight years with Mondelez International and 22 years with HUL.