Anant Goenka, who was earlier MD and CEO, CEAT, will now be vice chairman of the tyre major, while Arnab Banerjee, current chief operation officer (COO) will step into his shoes as MD & CEO, starting 1 April, 2003.
Goenka, an alumnus of Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management was head of specialty tyres, CEAT, for less than a year in the initial years of his career journey. From 2007 to 2010, he was associated with KEC International, first as vice president corporate and then as executive director – supply chain.
From 2010 to 2012, he was deputy managing director, CEAT. Two years into this role, he became managing director.
For a year in between, from 2018 to 2019, he served as chairman, ATMA India. He is also vice chairman, Zensar Technologies.
During his over ten decade long stint as MD & CEO, the tyre company underwent major makeover in terms of branding, production and technology. Recognised by Forbes magazine as the ‘Next Generation Business Leader of the Year’ in 2017, Goenka was also amongst ‘India’s 40-under-40 Business Leaders’ recognised by Economics Times-Spencer Stuart.
Goenka, who is the son of Harsh Goenka, group chairman, RPG, has also studied finance from The Wharton School. Under his leadership CEAT grew from a Rs 370 crore company to a Rs 5,800 crore firm.
Acknowledging Anant’s contribution, his father admitted that his son managed to successfully “lead the company through a transformative phase where technology, brand-building and capacity-creation have been the key themes”.
With this elevation, Anant Goenka will “be able to focus more on specific subjects besides his deeper engagement in driving new businesses at the group level”.
The senior Goenka also wished Arnab Banerjee, who has been elevated to MD & CEO success in his new role as he takes “CEAT to a new phase of growth and excellence”.
Banerjee is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and has been associated with CEAT since 2005.
In the initial years of his career, Banerjee was area sales manager, Berger Paints India, Kolkata. A year into this role, in 1989, he was promoted to area sales manager – North Bengal. By 1993, he became divisional sales manager – West, based out of Mumbai.
His next stop was Marico, where he joined as regional manager – East in 1995, based out of Kolkata. Three years later, he became sales development manager, based out of Mumbai. By 2003, he had climbed to the position of head – new business development & head – Sundari LLC.
It was in 2005 that he joined CEAT as VP – sales and marketing, based out of Mumbai. Having spent over 14 years at CEAT, by 2019, he was chief operating officer.
Under his leadership, the tyre company has witnessed innovation in marketing, digital capabilities, sales and distribution strategy, manufacturing flexibility and seamless supply chain processes.
Given his company-wide exposure, he is the right choice for the role of MD & CEO.
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