Selection Board

Deepika Warrier is the Chief Marketing Officer at Bajaj Auto Ltd. She is the brand steward for the corporate brand (Bajaj Auto – The World’s Favourite Indian) as well as global and local brands such as Bajaj Pulsar, Chetak Electric scooter, the iconic Bajaj three-wheeler portfolio and partnership brands such as Triumph and KTM/ Husqvarna premium bikes. Deepika has a career spanning more than 30 years of emerging markets FMCG experience with more than a decade of CXO experience in India and across Asian markets.

Prior to her current role, Deepika served as Chief Marketing Officer for Diageo (USL) India between July 2020 and July 2023. She led marketing and innovation across a portfolio of beverage alcohol brands, including Johnny Walker, McDowell’s No. 1, Baileys, Smirnoff, Royal Challenge, Smirnoff, Tanqueray, and Singleton. Prior to Diageo, Deepika spent 20 years in PepsiCo, in her last stint at PepsiCo, Deepika was CEO and MD of Nourishco Beverages (formerly a 50-50 JV between PepsiCo India and Tata Global Beverages). Deepika is known as a consumer-centric and transformational marketer, brand builder, and commercial leader who has driven double-digit top-line growth and equity and shared gains via winning holistic consumer work.

Prior to PepsiCo, Deepika worked in companies such as Gillette India, Ogilvy Mather, and Britannia Industries. Deepika is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and holds an honors degree from Lady Shriram College, Delhi University.

Ms. Kavita Jagtiani, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of L&T Finance Ltd., is based in Mumbai and is renowned for her expertise in leading marketing and communications strategies. In her current role, she is spearheading the branding and communication efforts towards positioning the Company as an admired and inspirational financial institution, creating sustainable value for all its stakeholders. This includes developing and implementing strategies across all product categories and channels thus driving the organisation to a higher stature.

Kavita has over 24 years of rich experience in brand building and marketing. She has a proven track record in strategic planning, category creation, innovation, consumer insights, in-market brand activation, and integrated marketing campaigns.

In her previous role at Pidilite Industries, Kavita had worked for over a decade, and served as the Regional Marketing Chief of International Business where she had honed her skills in steering integrated marketing communications and crafting award-winning campaigns across diverse regions.

Before her tenure at Pidilite, Kavita held leadership roles at esteemed organizations like ICICI Bank Ltd., General Mills India, and Weikfield Consumer Products Pvt. Ltd., where her work has received several global and national accolades.

Kavita's educational background includes an Exemplary Certification in Digital Strategies for Business from Emeritus & Columbia Business School, New York, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management in Marketing from Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship Education. She also holds a master’s degree in commerce from Mumbai University. Her vast experience and academic achievements underscore her capability to drive organizational growth and brand elevation.