Gunjit Jain steps down as Executive Vice President, Marketing, at Colgate-Palmolive India

Gunjit Jain, Executive Vice President, Marketing at Colgate-Palmolive (India), is set to leave the company after more than 18 years, with his resignation taking effect at the close of business on November 30, 2026. Jain is moving on to pursue a professional growth opportunity outside the organisation, the company said in a regulatory filing.

The company’s Board of Directors has approved the appointment of Akash Parekh, currently Senior Director, Marketing, Asia Pacific (APAC), to succeed Jain from December 1, 2026.

Jain took charge of marketing at Colgate-Palmolive India in February 2023. His remit covered business strategy, commercial planning, demand generation and marketing operations, along with leadership of a team of more than 200 professionals across marketing and professional B2B functions. His tenure in the role included work on the company’s premiumisation strategy, brand-building efforts and growth across e-commerce and quick commerce.

Jain joined Colgate-Palmolive in June 2008 as a management trainee in India. He subsequently moved across sales, retail marketing and brand management, taking on the role of Senior Brand Manager, Oral Care, between 2011 and 2014. In that position, he managed the company’s toothbrush portfolio before moving into regional marketing roles across Southeast Asia.

His subsequent responsibilities included the home care and personal care businesses in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, where he oversaw brand strategy, innovation and commercial execution.

In 2018, Jain moved to Colgate-Palmolive’s global marketing team in New York as Associate Director, Global Marketing Oral Care. His work there included the global relaunch of Colgate Total and international expansion plans for brands such as Tom’s of Maine and Hello.

In his resignation letter, Jain acknowledged the support he received during his time with the company. “I am extremely grateful to the Company for an incredible tenure of over 18 years,” he wrote, expressing gratitude to the Board and leadership team. Details of his next professional assignment have not been disclosed.

Parekh, who will take charge of the marketing function on December 1, brings around two decades of experience spanning consumer marketing, brand strategy, commercial execution and market expansion. He joined Colgate-Palmolive in 2009 and has held roles across India, North America and APAC. As Senior Director, Marketing, APAC, he currently leads regional marketing strategies for the division.

Before joining the company, Parekh began his career at Nielsen in 2006.