Bata Shoe Appointment: In a first, Bata Shoe Organization, has appointed an Indian as the head of the global footwear manufacturer and retailer.  The announcement was made by the international footwear major on Monday in which India CEO Sandeep Kataria has been elevated to the position of global CEO Bata Brands with immediate effect. Kataria will take the helm after Alexis Nasard, who served as the company’s CEO for almost five years. Also Read: Farmers' Protest: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Defends Farmers Rights In India, Raises Concerns Over Protests

What did the company say?

Under his leadership, Bata India doubled its profits driven by double-digit topline growth, and sponsored some of the most ingenious campaigns, including ‘Surprisingly Bata’, that revamped Bata’s image as a more vibrant and contemporary brand, targeted at younger consumers. Kataria has helped in driving the company’s “consistent growth and profitability.

Who’s Sandeep Kataria?

The 49-year-old Kataria has been holding the position of CEO, Bata India before being elevated to the top role.  He is an alumunus of IIT-Delhi and XLRI-Jamshedpur. Kataria was a gold medallist of the 1993 PGDBM batch at XLRI. The leader holds 24 years of work experience at Unilever, Yum Brands, and Vodafone in India and Europe. He joined Bata India as CEO in 2017.  Prior to taking over the charge of Bata India Ltd, Kataria was at Vodafone India as chief commercial officer He has also held top sales and marketing posts at Yum! Brands, KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. His longest stint of more than 17 years has been at the consumer goods company, Unilever, where he was responsible for building and managing Indian and global markets. At Bata India Ltd, Kataria has been tasked with the transformation of the footwear giant into a modern, contemporary brand for generations to come.In July 2019 Sandeep has been appointed President of the newly‐formed India region and is member of the Executive Committee.

What did Kataria say after being elevated to the top post?

Kataria said he is confident of the company’s future prospects despite the pandemic that is currently going on. “I am honoured to accept this new appointment and excited by the journey ahead of us. Bata is a brand with an enviable reputation for high quality, affordable footwear. I have been privileged to be part of Bata’s success in India and I look forward to building further on our proud, more than 125-year history as shoemakers to the world. While 2020 has presented unique challenges, the appeal of our brands and the passion of our people provide every reason for confidence regarding our prospects in the years ahead,” he said.

Founded in 1984, Bata sells more than 180 million pairs of shoes every year at 5,800 stores. The company has 35,000 workers operating in 70 countries and also runs local production facilities in 22 of its own manufacturing units across five continents, the statement said. In India, Bata sells nearly 50 million pairs of shoes every year and serves more than 120,000 customers per day, the statement added.