Leadership reshuffle underscores India’s strategic importance in Mars’ global growth agenda as the country’s pet food market eyes $2 billion opportunity

Delhi: In a move that reinforces India’s growing relevance within its global portfolio, Mars, Incorporated has appointed Manish Syag as Managing Director of its Pet Nutrition division in India. The leadership transition comes alongside the elevation of outgoing India MD Salil Murthy to a global mandate based in London.

Syag will now steer a business that houses some of the country’s most recognised pet care brands, including PEDIGREE, WHISKAS and SHEBA, in what is widely regarded as one of India’s fastest-emerging FMCG segments.

A Market at Inflection Point

India’s pet food category, though still nascent compared to developed markets, is entering a structural growth phase. Rising disposable incomes, urbanisation, increasing nuclear households and greater awareness around pet health are reshaping consumption behaviour. Industry projections suggest the segment could expand into a $2 billion category over the next decade.

In that context, Syag’s elevation signals a continuity-driven growth strategy rather than a directional shift.

An alumnus of IIM Lucknow with over two decades of FMCG experience, Syag has held senior sales leadership roles at Hindustan Unilever Limited and GSK Consumer Healthcare before joining Mars in 2024 as Chief Sales Officer. During his tenure at Mars India, he has been credited with shaping the company’s next growth chapter in pet nutrition, particularly across distribution expansion and sales execution.

“I am excited to take on this role and lead the next phase of growth for our business in India,” Syag said, highlighting the company’s intent to expand access and deepen trust among pet parents. He emphasised that the India strategy would remain anchored in the Mars Five Principles and its global purpose of creating “A Better World For Pets.”

Strategic Continuity, Global Expansion

Syag succeeds Salil Murthy, who has been elevated to the role of Global Vice President, Enterprise Transformation, Mars Pet Nutrition. In his new London-based position, Murthy will focus on advancing long-term transformation initiatives across markets, strengthening organisational capability and accelerating digital and AI-driven growth strategies.

Murthy’s move underscores the depth of leadership talent emerging from the Indian business, which has grown steadily under his stewardship.

Reflecting on his tenure, Murthy described leading the India pet nutrition business as deeply fulfilling, citing strong growth momentum and the development of a high-performing team. In his global role, he will work on simplifying and future-proofing operating models across geographies.

Francisco Fernandez, Regional President for Rapid Growth Markets at Mars Pet Nutrition, characterised the dual appointments as part of a deliberate leadership development strategy. He noted that India is among the most important growth markets within Mars’ pet nutrition portfolio and that cultivating local leadership is central to its long-term global plans.

Building on a Two-Decade Presence

Mars Pet Nutrition has been present in India since 2002, beginning with the launch of PEDIGREE. In 2007, the company established the country’s first pet food manufacturing facility, marking a pivotal moment in the formalisation of India’s organised pet food category.

Over the years, the company has expanded its manufacturing and distribution footprint, serving millions of pets and pet parents nationwide. Its portfolio now spans both dog and cat nutrition, with increasing premiumisation trends evident in urban centres.

The India business operates within Mars’ broader global pet care ecosystem, which remains one of the company’s most dynamic segments. Globally, pet nutrition has benefited from humanisation trends, digital retail penetration and premium product innovation—patterns that are gradually taking root in India as well.

India’s Expanding Role in Global Strategy

From a strategic standpoint, the leadership transition reflects a broader reality: India is no longer a peripheral growth story for multinational FMCG companies. It is emerging as a talent hub and a demand engine.

For Mars, aligning experienced FMCG leadership with a high-growth pet category offers a blend of operational rigour and entrepreneurial agility. Syag’s mandate will likely centre on accelerating distribution reach, strengthening brand equity and building scalable operational systems suited to India’s heterogeneous retail landscape.

As competition intensifies both from domestic players and global entrants the next phase of growth will depend on deepening consumer education, enhancing supply chain resilience and expanding omnichannel presence.

The leadership reshuffle positions Mars to pursue that agenda with continuity at the local level and transformation focus at the global level.

In a category where emotional connection and brand trust drive loyalty, steady leadership and long-term commitment remain decisive advantages. With India’s pet care market entering its defining decade, Mars’ latest appointments suggest it intends to lead from the front.