Volatilities will come and go: Nestlé India’s Suresh Narayanan

Suresh Narayanan, whose term as Nestlé India Chairman and MD comes to an end this July 31, has written to the shareholders about his ‘career’s greatest challenge’ and the present economic landscape

by e4m Staff
Published: Jun 5, 2025 9:17 AM | 1 min read

As he prepares to step down from his role at the helm of Nestlé India, chairman and managing director Suresh Narayanan painted a candid picture of India’s economic landscape—one shaped by both "inflationary pressures and unexpected opportunities."

In his final letter to shareholders, part of the company’s annual report for 2024–25, Narayanan reflected on a career-defining tenure that spanned over 26 years. His departure on July 31 will mark the end of an era, with Manish Tiwary, former Amazon India executive, set to take over the reins.

“We live in capricious times—where muted consumer demand, inflation, and tighter wallets intersect with moments of possibility,” Narayanan wrote. He acknowledged that market “volatilities will come and go,” but admitted that his initial months as chairman in 2015 were among the toughest of his professional journey.

That period coincided with one of Nestlé India’s most turbulent episodes—the ban on its flagship Maggi noodles over regulatory concerns. Though the brand was eventually cleared and returned to store shelves, the controversy left deep scars.

Yet, in a testament to resilience and strategic rebuilding, Maggi today claims its place as the largest market for the brand globally. As Narayanan put it, the company has weathered its share of “black swans and gray rhinos,” emerging stronger from each.