The Empowerer

SANJIV MEHTA DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITY AND RELIED ON QUICK MARKET FEEDBACK AND COST CONTROL IN ORDER TO THRIVE IN THE MARKETPLACE

- AJITA SHASHIDHAR

BEST CEO MEDIUM COMPANIES

Total Income/ 3-yr CAGR

₹39,518cr/6.83%

PBIT/ 3-yr CAGR

₹9,395 cr/15%

PAT/ 3-yr CAGR

₹6,738 cr /14.49%

3-yr Average TSR

16.92%

Average Market Cap Y-o-Y Growth *

25.8%

ROE/ ROCE

86.11%/117.25%

CASH/ DEBT

₹5,017cr/NIL

Net Profit Margin

15.07%

*For Oct 2019-Sept 2020; Standalone data; total income, PBit & Pat net of extraordinary items; tSR: total shareholder returns; Source: aCe equity

On March 17, as India started reporting cases of coronavirus, Hindustan Unilever decided to ask employees to work from home. As the fear of contacting the virus loomed large, MD & Chairman Sanjiv Mehta’s message to his core team was: “Look after our people and the people will look after the business.” Nine months down the line, the 61-year-old head honcho of India’s biggest FMCG company is proud of his employees and business. He says his employees are more agile and resilient than ever and talks about a humble factory employee who told him that he went to work every day not to make soaps but save lives of millions of Indians. “Our first priority was safety of our people across the value chain. Then, we made sure that our supply lines were running. We also kept our fingers on the pulse of consumers to understand their behaviour. We also heightened focus on cash and costs despite being a zero-debt company. Last, but not the least, was helping the community.”