Sudhir Upadhyay appointed Chief Sales Officer and Kunal Madan named Chief Marketing Officer as the company strengthens internal leadership and future-ready vision
New Delhi, 13th February 2026: Radico Khaitan Ltd., one of India’s largest homegrown alcobev companies, has announced a leadership progression in line with its strategic priorities of premiumisation, global brand building, and future readiness. The move reflects Radico Khaitan’s sustained efforts to build organisational resilience and long-term growth momentum, with next-generation CXO leadership assuming charge of their respective verticals to deepen capability and sharpen execution.
The Company has elevated Mr. Sudhir Upadhyay as Chief Sales Officer and Mr. Kunal Madan as Chief Marketing Officer; both seasoned, internally developed leaders with over a decade-long association with Radico Khaitan and deep industry experience, underscoring its emphasis on advancing next-generation leadership as it enters its next phase of growth.
Under the leadership of Mr. Abhishek Khaitan, Managing Director, Radico Khaitan, the core leadership team comprises Mr. Dilip Banthiya, Chief Financial Officer, and Mr. Sanjeev Banga, President – International Business, and is supported by Sudhir Upadhyay, Chief Sales Officer; Kunal Madan, Chief Marketing Officer and Saket Somani, Head – Finance & Strategy, together ensuring a strong blend of seasoned experience and next-generation leadership to drive momentum across markets.
Commenting on the leadership realignment, Mr. Abhishek Khaitan, Managing Director, Radico Khaitan, said, “At Radico Khaitan, our growth has always been powered by people. We deeply believe that true leadership is not imported, it is cultivated. Over the years, we have consciously chosen to elevate talent from within the organisation, because when individuals are given responsibility, trust, and the opportunity to grow, leadership is shaped organically. Empowering our next generation of leaders is not just a strategic priority, it reflects our faith in our people and our conviction that those who grow with the organisation are best placed to carry its values forward. This belief continues to strengthen our leadership bench and enables us to build a future-ready, globally competitive company with purpose and pride.”
Radico Khaitan continues to strengthen its leadership pipeline through a deliberate focus on internal progression and continuity, ensuring stability while building for the future. As part of the Company’s ongoing leadership evolution, role transitions are being undertaken, including Mr. Amar Sinha stepping down from his role as Chief Operating Officer. During his tenure, he has played an important role across multiple phases of the Company’s growth and has contributed to several brand initiatives within the portfolio. On this development, Mr. Abhishek Khaitan added: “We sincerely appreciate Amar’s contributions during his tenure with the Company. His commitment and efforts across key initiatives have supported our growth journey, and we thank him for his dedication. We wish him the very best in his future endeavours.”
Mr. Amar Sinha, Chief Operating Officer, Radico Khaitan, said: “It has been an absolute privilege to be part of Radico Khaitan’s growth journey and to contribute during such an exciting phase of transformation and expansion for the Company. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Abhishek Khaitan for his visionary leadership, unwavering trust, and constant encouragement, which have been instrumental in shaping the Company’s trajectory. His clarity of purpose and bold strategic direction have inspired all of us to raise the bar consistently. I am equally thankful to my colleagues across the organization for their collaboration and commitment. I am proud of what we have built together and remain confident that Radico Khaitan will continue to scale new heights in the years ahead.”
Sudhir Upadhyay reflects Radico Khaitan’s long-standing commitment to building leadership from within. With over 25 years of industry experience and more than a decade with the Company, he has been elevated to Chief Sales Officer after serving as National Sales Head for the past two years. In his new role, he will further strengthen execution capabilities and drive distribution excellence across markets.
Kunal Madan comes with over 20 years of experience across global sales and marketing, and more than 12 years with the Company, he has played a pivotal role in building and scaling the premium and luxury portfolio, including strengthening its global travel retail presence. In his new role, he will lead the Company’s overall marketing strategy, brand architecture and premiumisation agenda across markets.
To further enhance management bandwidth and accelerate premium growth, Radico Khaitan onboarded Ajay Kakkar last year to head the Premium On-Trade vertical. With over two decades of industry experience across modern trade, off-trade and institutional channels, he is focused on driving distribution expansion and strengthening the Company’s presence in high-growth on-premises segments.
With a strengthened leadership team and sharper strategic focus, Radico Khaitan is well-positioned to accelerate its premiumisation journey and deliver its next phase of growth.