Aparna Bhawal moves on from KFC India after a strong stint

Aparna Bhawal has decided to move on from her role as Chief Marketing Officer at KFC India and Partner Countries, bringing to a close more than a three-year stint with the brand.

She is currently transitioning out of her role and is expected to formally exit the company by May 2026.

After a defining stint at KFC India, Bhawal is understood to be moving on to her next chapter.

With over two decades of experience in marketing leadership, Bhawal has built a diverse career across leading organisations. In addition to her role at KFC, part of Yum! Brands, she has served as Vice President – Marketing at HT Media and held brand leadership roles at Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble. Her experience spans brand building, consumer engagement and driving growth across categories.

As per sources, the groundwork laid over the past few years has set the KFC brand up strongly for sustained momentum. Bhawal brought both strategic depth and creative ambition to her role. During her tenure, she played a key role in steering a business turnaround while repositioning the brand for its next phase of growth, sharpening its cultural relevance and strengthening its connect with younger consumers.

As she transitions, Bhawal is excited to explore new opportunities where she can continue building and scaling brands at inflection points.

Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Bhawal has also been actively involved in industry bodies. She serves on the Managing Committee of The Advertising Club of India (2025–26) and is an Advisory Board Member at the Indian Influencer Governing Council.

Her contributions to the marketing ecosystem have been widely recognised, including being featured in BW’s Top 100 Marketers list and BW Marketing World’s Most Influential Women list for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025.