India’s biscuit giant Parle Biscuits has named George Kovoor as chief executive officer, marking the first time the century-old, family-run company has installed an outside CEO at its helm. The appointment took effect September 1.
Kovoor arrives with more than 30 years at PepsiCo under his belt, where he worked across various consumer-facing businesses and geographies. His hiring signals a deliberate shift for Parle, which has historically kept top leadership within the founding Chauhan family, toward professionalizing its management as it eyes further expansion.
Managing Director Ajay Chauhan framed the move as an effort to build on the company’s legacy while sharpening its competitive edge. In a statement, he said the leadership team was eager to collaborate with Kovoor to reinforce Parle’s capabilities and unlock new avenues for growth, pointing to Kovoor’s track record of delivering results, building talent pipelines, and operating in complicated markets as key reasons for the hire.
The timing is notable. Founded in 1929 in Mumbai’s Vile Parle neighborhood — from which it takes its name — Parle has long dominated India’s mass-market biscuit category, anchored by Parle-G, widely regarded as one of the best-selling biscuit brands globally by volume. But the packaged food landscape in India has grown considerably more crowded, with both multinational players and nimble domestic challengers pushing into snacking and confectionery. Bringing in a leader steeped in PepsiCo’s consumer-goods playbook suggests Parle is preparing to defend its turf more aggressively while also pursuing new growth channels.
Beyond Parle-G, the company’s portfolio includes Monaco, Krackjack, Hide & Seek, and Melody, distributed through a retail network that reaches more than 7.5 million outlets across India. Parle has also been steadily building an international footprint, with growing sales in parts of Asia and Africa.
Kovoor’s appointment will be closely watched as an early signal of how Parle intends to balance its roots as a family-led institution with the demands of a fast-changing, increasingly competitive Indian food market.