Procter & Gamble (P&G), the global consumer goods major behind household brands such as Tide, Ariel, and Pampers, has appointed its Chief Operating Officer, Shailesh Jejurikar, as President and Chief Executive Officer. The India-born executive will take over from current CEO Jon Moeller on January 1, 2026, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
With this elevation, Jejurikar joins a growing list of Indian-origin CEOs at the helm of global corporations, alongside Sundar Pichai (Google), Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Arvind Krishna (IBM), Shantanu Narayen (Adobe), Neal Mohan (YouTube), and Leena Nair (Chanel).
A three-decade-long ascent
Jejurikar, 58, has spent his entire professional career at P&G, joining the company in 1989 as an assistant brand manager in the Personal Health Care business in India, soon after completing his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow. He rose steadily through the ranks, holding a wide range of leadership positions across geographies and categories.
The incoming CEO has been part of P&G’s global leadership team since 2014. As CEO of the company’s Fabric & Home Care division, a nearly $30 billion portfolio comprising brands like Tide, Ariel, Febreze and Downy, Jejurikar drove consistent growth through innovation, supply chain integration, and market expansion. The division became a benchmark within the company for business transformation.
In his current role as Chief Operating Officer, he oversees P&G’s Enterprise Markets, a cluster that includes Latin America, India, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and manages several of the company’s critical business enablers such as Information Technology, Global Business Services, Manufacturing, and Sales.
Board confidence
“Shailesh has been an integral part of P&G’s leadership team, with substantial contributions across multiple businesses and markets,” said Joe Jimenez, Lead Director of the P&G Board. “He is an outstanding leader, and the company will benefit from his ongoing leadership to build on the strong foundation he has helped create.”
Jejurikar will succeed Moeller, who has been with the company for 36 years and served as CEO since 2021. Moeller will remain as Chairman of the Board after stepping down as CEO.
Taking charge at a time of uncertainty
Jejurikar’s appointment comes at a time when the Cincinnati-headquartered FMCG major, like its peers, is navigating considerable macroeconomic headwinds. Amid the ongoing US-China trade tensions and pricing pressures in key markets, P&G has trimmed its annual sales and earnings forecast. In its latest quarterly report, the company flagged weaker consumer sentiment, currency volatility, and higher input costs as key challenges.
However, analysts expect Jejurikar’s deep understanding of both developed and emerging markets to be critical in steering the company’s next phase of growth.
Deep Indian roots
A native of Mumbai, Jejurikar completed his undergraduate studies at Elphinstone College before pursuing management education at IIM Lucknow. He is also an alumnus of Hyderabad Public School, the same institution that counts Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella among its former students.
Beyond corporate responsibilities, Jejurikar has been active in civic and industry forums. He chairs the board of Cincinnati’s Center City Development Corp (3CDC), serves on the boards of Otis Worldwide Corporation and The Christ Hospital, and has represented P&G in several trade and environmental forums.
Between 2016 and 2021, he also served as executive sponsor for P&G’s global sustainability strategy, helping embed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities across operations. Jejurikar’s appointment reinforces a broader trend of Indian executives ascending to leadership positions in global multinationals, especially in the technology, finance, and consumer goods sectors. Come 2026, he will become the first Indian to lead P&G in its 187-year history.