Coca-Cola’s India bottling arm, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), has named Hemant Rupani as its next CEO, starting September 8, 2025. Rupani will take over from Juan Pablo Rodriguez, who is moving on to a new role within the global Coca-Cola system.
This is a big moment for Coca-Cola in India. HCCB is the company’s largest bottler in the country. And now, a new leader is stepping in with over two decades of rich and wide experience.
A Journey Across Icons
Rupani’s career began in 1997 at ICI India Limited, a paint company. Just two years later, he joined PepsiCo India in 1999. After a brief move to Infosys Technologies in 2002, he returned to PepsiCo in 2004, rising to the role of Senior Vice President, Customer Marketing for India Beverages. That’s no small title.
In 2010, he joined Vodafone and later moved to Britannia Industries in 2014 as VP, Sales and Business Head of Breads. At each stop, he climbed steadily—leading big teams and driving major business growth.
Mondelez to Coca-Cola: A Strong Switch
Rupani spent the last nine years at Mondelez International, a global snack giant. He started in 2016 as Sales Director for India, then became Managing Director for Vietnam, and finally served as Business Unit President for Southeast Asia. His region covered countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
It’s no surprise Coca-Cola picked him. He knows how to manage large teams and drive results across markets.
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What He Brings to Coca-Cola
Rupani has both local and global experience. That’s gold in a market like India, where Coca-Cola is focusing hard on growth. His background in sales, marketing, and regional leadership gives him the edge HCCB needs.
He holds a mechanical engineering degree from Regional Engineering College, Jaipur, and an MBA in marketing from the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University.
He will report to the HCCB board of directors.
Big Moves Behind the Scenes
In December 2024, Coca-Cola announced a deal where the Jubilant Bhartia Group will buy 40% of Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings Pvt Ltd, which owns HCCB. So, this CEO change comes at a critical time—new money, new leadership, and new goals.
This isn’t just another top job shuffle. Coca-Cola is betting on serious leadership as competition heats up in India’s beverage market. Rupani knows the game, and now, he’s on the other side of it—this time, with the red label.
Takeaway: Coca-Cola’s India game is getting sharper. And with Hemant Rupani at the wheel, expect bold moves ahead.
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