EPL, a global specialty packaging company, announced the appointment of Hemant Bakshi as the Managing Director and Global Chief Executive Officer, effective January 01, 2026.
Hemant will join EPL on October 13, 2025 and will be the CEO Designate of the Company till December 31, 2025. Anand Kripalu shall continue in his role as MD & Global CEO till Dec 31, 2025, and then transition to a Board role with EPL.
Hemant has over 30 years of experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. He spent three decades at Unilever in senior leadership roles across India and Indonesia, including as CEO of Unilever Indonesia, a $3 billion public listed business and later as Non-executive Chairman of Unilever Indonesia. He drove consistent profitable growth, transformed go-to-market strategies, and led diversity and inclusion initiatives. Hemant also founded and led GroNext Technologies, a Unilever-funded venture building a B2B marketplace for traditional trade stores, scaling it to 12 markets across Latin America, Asia, and Turkey with over $1 billion in GMV. Hemant received his Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from IIT, Mumbai and holds an MBA from IIM, Ahmedabad.
Hemant Bakshi said, “I am excited to lead EPL, a global leader in sustainable packaging and a partner to leading consumer brands, with a strong track record of innovation. As one of India’s most successful multinational consumer businesses, EPL is well positioned for its next phase of growth. I look forward to partnering with the Board, and our passionate team across the world to deliver exceptional value for our customers, suppliers, employees, and shareholders.”
Davinder Singh Brar, Chairman, EPL, said, “I am privileged to welcome Hemant as MD & CEO of the company. His proven leadership across global markets, deep understanding of consumer behavior, and ability to inspire high-performing teams make him exceptionally well-suited to steer EPL into its next phase of expansion. I would also like to thank Anand for his enormous contribution in strengthening EPL’s market leadership and wish him all the best for the future.”
Animesh Agrawal, Managing Director at Blackstone and Director on EPL’s board, said. “We are delighted to have Hemant join the Blackstone family. His stellar reputation in the consumer industry, proven record of leading large enterprises, and ability to drive innovation position him perfectly to lead EPL into its next chapter. His global outlook and people-centric leadership will energize our team across the globe. We also extend our gratitude to Anand for his impactful leadership and wish him continued success in the future.”
Anand Kripalu, MD & Global CEO of EPL, said. “Over the last few years, we have been able to accelerate EPL’s growth and profitability, with focus on sustainability, innovation and geographical expansion. As I take a step back from active roles, I take great delight in welcoming Hemant Bakshi, who I have known since my Unilever days, to lead the next chapter of this journey. I have no doubt that under his leadership, the company will reach even greater heights. I look forward to my continued association with EPL as a member of its board.”
