Sandeep Kataria, the global Chief Executive Officer of Bata Corporation, has announced his resignation after a five-year tenure at the helm of the renowned footwear major. Kataria, who made history as the first Indian to lead the Switzerland-based company globally, is stepping down to pursue other professional opportunities. An official announcement regarding his departure and the ongoing succession plans is expected from Bata later this week.
Sources close to the development indicate that Kataria, 55, is likely to remain with Bata for up to six months to ensure a smooth and seamless leadership transition. His departure marks the end of an impactful eight-year association with Bata, which includes his initial three years as the head of Bata India before assuming the global CEO role in 2020.
Under Kataria’s leadership, Bata underwent a significant transformation, modernizing its brand identity, streamlining global operations, and accelerating digital and design-led innovation. He was instrumental in sharpening Bata’s market positioning across key regions in Asia, Africa, and Europe, adapting the brand to an increasingly competitive and digitally disrupted retail landscape. Notably, his tenure also saw a strategic shift towards more agile global supply chain models, with India emerging as a critical hub for design and sourcing for the company.
Before his elevation to the global CEO position, Kataria spearheaded Bata India’s impressive growth. During his charge, the Indian business reportedly grew at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20%, with revenues increasing from ₹1,707 crore in FY21 to ₹3,554 crore in FY25. This growth was attributed to a renewed focus on brand refresh, introduction of new product lines, and enhancements in the backend supply chain infrastructure. While Bata India’s sales growth was flat in FY25 amidst muted demand, the company has been focusing on strategic inventory cleanup, curated product refreshes, and franchise-led expansion, particularly in semi-urban markets.
An alumnus of IIT-Delhi and XLRI Jamshedpur, Kataria brought extensive experience from his previous leadership roles at global firms such as Unilever, Yum! Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut), and Vodafone across India and Europe, prior to joining Bata in 2017.
Bata, founded in 1894 and still a family-owned business, operates in over 70 countries, selling approximately 150 million pairs of shoes annually through more than 1,960 stores globally. With four factories, Bata India is Asia’s largest shoe producer, and the country is expected to solidify its position as Bata’s second-largest sourcing and design hub after Italy.
The search for Kataria’s successor is currently underway, with the company focused on identifying a leader who can build upon his legacy and continue to steer Bata’s global growth trajectory in a dynamic market environment.
Key Highlights:
- Sandeep Kataria, the global CEO of Bata Corporation, has resigned after a five-year tenure, having been the first Indian to hold the top global position.
- He is expected to remain with the company for up to six months to facilitate a smooth leadership transition, with an official announcement anticipated this week.
- During his time, Kataria led a significant brand and operational transformation for Bata, focusing on modernization, digital innovation, and strengthening India’s role as a key sourcing and design hub.
- His departure comes as Bata continues to navigate a challenging retail landscape and seeks to appoint a successor to drive future growth.