Detailed Narrative
Leadership Transition at EPL Limited
Anand Kripalu announced his decision to retire from active executive responsibilities, stepping down as MD and Global CEO of EPL Limited by the end of 2025. He will transition to a Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director role by March 31, 2026. Hemant Bakshi has been appointed as CEO-Designate, effective October 13, 2025, and will take over as CEO from January 1, 2026. Kripalu emphasized that this decision was made after considerable thought and in close consultation with promoters and the Board, viewing it as a natural transition.
Anand Kripalu's Achievements and Legacy
During his tenure, Anand Kripalu highlighted significant improvements, including a nearly 500 basis points expansion in margins over the last 12 quarters. Revenue contribution from Beauty & Cosmetics, Personal Care & beyond now exceeds 50% of total revenue. The company also expanded into new markets like Brazil and Thailand, and 38% of its total volumes are now recyclable. EPL achieved EcoVadis Platinum status, placing it in the top 1% of 150,000 assessed companies globally for sustainability.
Strategic Foundation for Future Growth
Kripalu outlined a robust strategy based on 'four Cs' (categories, customers, countries, cost) and 'four enablers' (ambition-driven innovation, digitization, enhanced sales/marketing capability, and building a 'one EPL' culture). This framework has driven structural improvements and is expected to sustain future performance. The company has a clear roadmap to deliver double-digit revenue growth and aims to improve ROCE from around 18% today to over 25% by FY29.
Hemant Bakshi's Vision and Initial Impressions
The incoming CEO-Designate, Hemant Bakshi, expressed his immediate positive impressions of EPL, particularly its leadership in sustainability, its success as a multinational company operating out of India, and the high quality of its talent. He stated his commitment to spending the next few months understanding the company deeply and setting in place the plan for the future. Bakshi looks forward to meeting customers and employees globally to gain ground-up insights and partner with the Board, investors, and teams to deliver exceptional value.
Continuity and Shareholder Confidence
Both Anand Kripalu and Hemant Bakshi assured stakeholders of a seamless transition, with Kripalu continuing to support Bakshi until March 2026 and then transitioning to a Non-Executive Director role. Kripalu also addressed analyst concerns regarding major shareholder Blackstone, stating their commitment remains strong and that Indorama's minority stake has been leveraged positively to get the Thailand plant running in record time, indicating no negative impact on the company's operations or leadership decisions.