Bata India Limited has appointed Sanjay Rao as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, marking a leadership transition at one of the country’s leading footwear brands.
Rao succeeds Gunjan Shah, who has completed a five-year tenure at the helm of the company.
Rao brings over two decades of leadership experience across retail and consumer businesses in India, South Asia, China, and Europe. Prior to joining Bata India, he served as Senior Director, Nike Retail, overseeing operations across France and the Benelux region.
Panos Mytaros, Chief Executive Officer of Bata Group, said India remains a key long-term growth market for the company and highlighted the need for stronger consumer connect, faster trend responsiveness, and enhanced relevance.
“India is one of Bata Group’s most important markets and one of our biggest long-term growth opportunities. Bata India has a powerful brand, deep consumer trust, strong foundations and significant room to grow. The next chapter must be about becoming even closer to consumers, strengthening our relevance, responding faster to trends and giving consumers the shoes they want for every part of their lives,” Mytaros said.
He also thanked outgoing CEO Gunjan Shah for strengthening the business and building a solid foundation for future growth.
Welcoming Rao, Ashwani Windlass, Chairman of Bata India, said his global retail experience and consumer understanding make him well-positioned to lead the company’s next phase.
“We are delighted to welcome Sanjay to Bata India. His versatile background, proven track record and deep understanding of consumer and retail markets make him well suited to lead the company into its next phase of growth, with a strong focus on consumer relevance, product strength and long-term value creation,” Windlass said.
The company said Rao’s appointment comes at a time when it aims to deepen consumer engagement and accelerate growth in the Indian market.
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