For the first time in history, Bata gets an Indian as its Global CEO.

In India, if we talk about shoes, Bata has been a household name for a long time now. But the
fact is that never before in its history of 126 years, did Bata have a Global CEO of Indian origin.

Recently, Sandeep Kataria, aged 49, has been chosen to be the Global CEO of the company.
He was already leading the firm as Bata India CEO. Prior to him, Alexis Nasard was heading the
international organization.

Bata India is currently the largest retailer and leading manufacturer of footwear in India and is
part of the global organization Bata Shoe Organisation. The origin of Bata (now Swiss
headquartered) can be traced back to 1894, when the ninth-generation shoemakers, Tomas
Bata and his brother Antonin set up the company in Czechoslovakia.

They made their way to India way early in the 1930s and set up Bata’s first Indian factory for
producing rubber and shoes near Calcutta. Since then, Bata has been the go-to name for
excellent quality footwear. They hold a major share in the footwear industry with over 1200
stores across the country.

Sandeep Kataria has already brought laurels to Bata with his successful leadership and had
double-digit topline growth in his tenure with the company since 2017. For instance, a campaign
named “Surprisingly Bata” was launched in India through which he changed the brand image of
the footwear company and targeted the youth of the country.

Talking about Sandeep Kataria’s new role, Ashwani Windlass, Chairman, Bata India, said:
“Over the past few years, the India team has delivered exceptional growth in footwear volumes,
revenues, and profits, and has strengthened Bata’s customer measures in a highly competitive
footwear market. The Bata Group and Bata India both stand to benefit greatly from Sandeep’s
extensive experience.”

Sandeep has a rich retail experience and has held top sales and marketing positions with
renowned brands like KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Unilever. Prior to joining Bata, he was the
Chief Commercial Officer at Vodafone India. Sandeep’s vast experience and his commitment to
taking Bata to a higher level with his leadership will be a positive addition to the global shoe
brand.

30-01-2021