Sanjay Rao Appointed MD & CEO of Bata India, Replacing Gunjan Shah

Bata India has appointed Sanjay Rao as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 24, 2026 for CEO duties, with his five-year MD tenure commencing October 1, 2026 and concluding August 23, 2031. Rao replaces Gunjan Shah, who will step down after completing his five-year leadership term at the company.

Rao brings over 20 years of retail and consumer leadership experience spanning India, South Asia, China, and Europe. Most recently, he served as Senior Director of Nike Retail, overseeing operations in France and the Benelux markets. His career also includes significant roles at Inditex, where he contributed to developing Zara's business in India through a joint venture with the Tata Group, and at Guess, where he held the position of Country Director for France. He holds an MBA from INSEAD.

Bata Group leadership expressed confidence in the appointment. Panos Mytaros, CEO of Bata Group, stated that India represents one of the company's most important markets and biggest long-term growth opportunities, noting that Bata India possesses a powerful brand, deep consumer trust, and strong foundations with significant room for expansion. Ashwani Windlass, Chairman of Bata India, welcomed Rao's appointment, citing his versatile background and proven track record in consumer and retail markets as ideal qualifications to lead the company's next growth phase.

Market reaction to the announcement was notably positive, with Bata India's stock rising 8.13% to trade at ₹733.65 per share on the BSE as of 1:40 PM on the announcement day, reflecting investor confidence in the leadership transition and company outlook.