Sudhanshu Vats, Managing Director of Pidilite Industries, is set to take charge as the new Chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). The formal announcement is likely at the industry body’s Annual General Meeting, which is scheduled for later today, reported Storyboard 18. Vats, who served as ASCI’s Vice Chairman in 2024–25, will succeed Partha Sinha, the outgoing Chairman.
From soaps to standards
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Vats brings over three decades of experience across consumer goods, energy, and media.
He started his career with Hindustan Unilever in 1991 which was his home for the next two decades. During his tenure, he managed sales, marketing and general management across categories across brands such as Lipton, Rin, Surf, Lux, Pears, Lifebuoy, Vim and Wheel. He also played an important role in the launch of products such as Domex, Lipton Ice Tea and Comfort in India.
In his final role at Unilever, as Vice President – Laundry, South Asia, and Global Vice President for Radiant, he helped the South Asia laundry business cross the €1 billion turnover mark in 2011. Under his global stewardship, Radiant grew into the fastest-expanding laundry brand worldwide, crossing €500 million in sales. Vats also spent a year at BP India in 2004–05, where, as Vice President – Marketing, he oversaw the relaunch of the Castrol Master brand.
Industry leadership roles
Apart from corporate assignments, Vats has been actively engaged in shaping the wider industry landscape. He has served as Chairman of CII’s National Media and Entertainment Committee, Vice President of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, and a Director at the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC).