Diageo India’s CMO Ruchira Jaitly: A trailblazer in marketing and innovation

Ruchira Jaitly is a seasoned marketing and business leader with over 23 years of experience across strategy, sales, marketing, innovation, and business creation. She has worked in diverse sectors, including FMCG, nutrition, telecommunications, and now alco-beverages, leading brands through various stages of growth and transformation.

Currently, Jaitly serves as the Chief Marketing Officer at Diageo India, a position she has held since August 2023. Prior to this, she was the Executive Vice President of Marketing at the company from October 2021 to August 2023. In her role at Diageo, she oversees brand strategy, consumer engagement, and marketing execution for a wide portfolio of spirits brands, steering Diageo’s growth in a competitive market.

Before joining Diageo, Jaitly was Head of Marketing at HMD Global, where she managed product portfolio planning, marketing, and go-to-market strategies for Nokia devices and accessories in India. She developed consumer and customer engagement plans and led the company’s omnichannel approach, including digital transformation and direct-to-consumer (D2C) initiatives.

Jaitly’s work at Royal DSM as Director of Strategy and Nutrition Challenges showcased her ability to blend business impact with social responsibility. She created MANDI, a food and beverage start-up focused on combating malnutrition, and launched the consumer brand NUShakti. She also led the ‘Streedhan’ campaign, which highlighted nutritional issues affecting women.

Her longest stint was at PepsiCo India, where she held multiple senior roles over nearly 11 years. As Senior Director of Marketing for Beverages, she managed the entire brand portfolio, including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7UP, and Gatorade. She launched large-scale consumer campaigns like 'Crash the Pepsi IPL' and led product innovations, such as Nimbooz Masala Soda and new Lay’s and Kurkure formats. Her work on Pepsi IPL (2014–2015) was one of the largest consumer activations for PepsiCo in India and the Middle East.

Jaitly began her career at Unilever as a management trainee, working in challenging sales territories in Western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. She progressed into brand activation and strategy roles in the hair care category, gaining valuable early experience in FMCG marketing.

Her diverse experience across sectors and geographies, combined with her ability to drive both business and social impact, positions her as a dynamic leader in the Indian marketing landscape.