Akash Parekh: All you need to know about Colgate-Palmolive India’s next Marketing Chief

Akash Parekh, currently Senior Director, Marketing, Asia Pacific (APAC), at Colgate-Palmolive, will take over as Executive Vice President, Marketing, at Colgate-Palmolive (India) from December 1, 2026. He will succeed Gunjit Jain, who is set to leave the company on November 30 after more than 18 years to pursue a professional growth opportunity outside the organisation.

The appointment, approved by the company’s Board of Directors, brings Parekh into the leadership role after nearly two decades with Colgate-Palmolive, during which he has held marketing positions across India, North America and the Asia-Pacific region.

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Parekh joined Colgate-Palmolive in 2009 and has progressed through several roles spanning brand management, innovation, category marketing and global marketing. His career at the company includes assignments in Mumbai, New York and Hong Kong, reflecting a progression from domestic brand responsibilities to regional and global marketing roles.

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According to his LinkedIn profile, Parekh is currently based in Hong Kong SAR, where he has served as Senior Director of Marketing since May 2024. Before this, he was Associate Director, Global Marketing, in New York from March 2021 to June 2024.

He previously served as Head of Toothpaste Marketing in Mumbai from January 2019 to March 2021, followed by a stint as Marketing Manager between July 2015 and December 2018. His experience also includes a short-term assignment in Manila, Philippines, from February to June 2015.

Earlier in his career at Colgate-Palmolive, Parekh held the positions of Senior Brand Manager from 2013 to January 2015, Brand Manager from 2011 to 2013, and Brand Manager, Innovation, from 2010 to 2011. He began his association with the company in a consumer insights role in 2008.

Before joining Colgate-Palmolive, Parekh worked at The Nielsen Company as Manager, RMS, from 2006 to 2008. This marked the beginning of his professional career, with experience in retail measurement and consumer insights preceding his move into brand management.

Parekh holds a Master of Business Administration in Marketing/Marketing Management from Mumbai Educational Trust (MET), MET League of Colleges, where he studied between 2004 and 2006. He has also completed the Global Leadership Development Program at Stanford University, according to published reports.

With experience across consumer insights, innovation, brand management and regional marketing, Parekh’s appointment places him at the helm of marketing at Colgate-Palmolive India as the company prepares for its next phase of brand and business growth.