Bata Corporation global CEO Sandeep Kataria has resigned, five years after becoming the first Indian to head the Switzerland-based footwear major, people privy to the development told ET. An official announcement is expected this week with succession plans currently underway. “Kataria will likely stay on for six months to support the leadership transition,” one of the sources said.
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Details on Kataria’s next move are not known yet. People cited above said he is stepping down to pursue other professional opportunities. Bata did not respond to ET’s request for comment until press time Sunday. Kataria also could not be immediately reached for comment. Kataria, 55, is exiting Bata after an eight-year tenure – three years as Bata India head before taking the top global role in 2020.
During his tenure, Bata underwent a transformation, modernising its brand identity, streamlining operations, and accelerating digital and design-led innovation. “Under his direction, Bata sharpened its positioning in key markets across Asia, Africa, and Europe as part of its broader strategy to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive and digitally disrupted market,” one of the persons cited above said.
There was also a shift toward agile global supply chain models — with India emerging as a strategic hub for design and sourcing. Kataria, an engineer from IIT-Delhi and postgraduate from XLRI, worked with Unilever, Yum! Foods and Vodafone before joining Bata in 2017. Under his charge at Bata, the Indian business grew at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20%, from Rs 1,707 crore in FY21 to Rs 3,554 crore in FY25.
“Over the last couple of years, following the change in management (at Bata), a renewed focus on growth has been evident, characterised by a brand refresh, the introduction of new product lines, and enhancements in the backend supply chain infrastructure,” brokerage Motilal Oswal said in a recent report.
“Despite muted demand, Bata is seeing early traction in the value segment. Strategic inventory cleanup, curated product refreshes, and franchise-led expansion are positioning the company for improved efficiency and gradual margin recovery, though nearterm pressures persist,” it said. Bata is India’s biggest footwear firm by revenues as well as volumes, with annual turnover of Rs 3,554 crore, selling about 50 million pairs every year through more than 1,960 stores. The country is also expected to be Bata’s second largest sourcing and design hub after Italy.
Bata India, with four factories, is the largest shoe-producer in Asia. Founded in 1894 in what is now the Czech Republic, Bata is a family-owned business selling 150 million pairs of shoes of about 20 brands and labels including Bata, North Star and Power. With a population of 1.4 billion, India is among the fastest growing and largest international markets for footwear companies. In recent years, though, sports shoes companies have been growing faster than formal shoes – where Bata traditionally had a strong foothold with lower pricing – due to increased casualisation at workplaces. Bata India’s sales growth was flat during FY25.
