Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting has announced the elevation of Kumar Chander to the position of CEO and MD.
He will step into the shoes of Vineet Agrawal who is superannuating in January 2026 after four decades of service.
Kumar Chander, who is currently serving as president-Southeast Asia and Yardley India, will take over as CEO, effective 1 February, 2026. He will work closely with Agrawal to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
Vineet Agrawal joined Wipro in 1985 at a time when the main focus of the business was vanaspati, soap, and lighting within India. He became CEO of Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting in 2002. Over the past two decades, he has led the transformation of the company into a global FMCG conglomerate. Under his leadership, Wipro Consumer Care completed 15 strategic acquisitions, significantly expanded its global brand portfolio, and grew Santoor into one of India’s top two soap brands.
Today, Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting operates in over 60 countries across categories including personal care, home care, skin care, foods, lighting and seating products.
Azim Premji, chairman, Wipro Enterprises, acknowledged how Vineet Agrawal “has played a defining role in shaping Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting into a formidable, globally-respected business, growing it from Rs 300 crore in 2003 to over Rs10,600 crore now, transforming it from a domestic player to a truly international business.”
Agrawal has successfully led 15 strategic acquisitions, and built a strong platform for innovation and growth. Premji thanked him “for his extraordinary contribution over four decades.”
Premji is confident of Kumar Chander’s “strong track record across India and international markets”, having spent 33 years in Wipro already, and his “sharp strategic insight and executional depth”.
Chander has played a significant role in making the company on top in the Malaysian personal care market and amongst the top three in several other markets. According to Premji, “Kumar’s humility, fairness, strategy and business acumen make him exceptionally well-placed to lead us into the next chapter.”
Vineet Agrawal also expressed “full confidence in Kumar” emphasising that “his distinctive leadership style and global experience will guide Wipro to even greater heights”.
Kumar Chander himself considers it “an honour and privilege to lead Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting at this important moment. Wipro has shaped me both personally and professionally. I am committed to building on the strong foundation laid by Vineet and the many teams across the world who have shaped this remarkable organisation. Together, we will continue to grow with purpose and create meaningful impact across markets.”
Kumar has been with Wipro Consumer Care for 34 years and has led operations across India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. As President – Southeast Asia and Yardley India, he played a key role in integrating Wipro Consumer Care’s international acquisitions and establishing the acquired brands into leadership positions in these geographies.