Havells Appoints Varun Berry As Independent Director To Strengthen Leadership

Havells India Ltd. has appointed former Britannia Industries CEO Varun Berry as an Independent Director, according to an exchange filing released on Wednesday. The appointment marks a significant addition to the company’s board, bringing in an experienced industry leader with over four decades of leadership across major global and Indian consumer goods firms.

As per the filing, Berry has been designated as an Additional Director (Independent) with effect from April 22, 2026. His inclusion comes shortly after his departure from Britannia Industries, where he served as Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, and Managing Director from January 2013 until November 2025. His long tenure at Britannia was marked by leadership roles in business expansion and operational transformation.

Before his stint at Britannia, Berry had an extensive career at PepsiCo, where he held multiple senior positions across geographies. He served as CEO of PepsiCo Foods India from 2010 to 2013 and earlier led PepsiCo International’s dairy and juice division. He also worked as Country Manager in the Philippines and held senior operational roles in Vietnam and India, reflecting a broad international management background.

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Berry’s earlier professional experience includes a role at Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), where he worked with Brooke Bond India from 1986 to 1992 in marketing. He also served as Market Unit General Manager at PepsiCo India from 1993 to 2000. Academically, he completed a Strategic Management course at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in 2003, and participated in the Global Leadership Program at IMD Switzerland in 2008.

Havells noted in its filing that Berry brings approximately 40 years of experience across leadership roles in companies such as HUL and PepsiCo, both in India and internationally. The company highlighted his track record in managing startups, business turnarounds, joint ventures, and high-growth enterprises as key strengths that will contribute to its board-level governance.

In a separate decision, Havells also re-appointed Namrata Kaul for a second five-year term as an Independent Director. Kaul, a veteran banker with more than 30 years of experience, has held senior roles in corporate banking, debt capital markets, and corporate finance across India, Asia, and the United Kingdom. She previously served as Managing Director at Deutsche Bank AG, where she led the Corporate Bank practice in India and oversaw risk, credit, compliance, and regulatory functions for the bank’s corporate portfolio.

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