Britannia Industries Ltd announced on Monday that Varun Berry, who has guided the company through a decade of remarkable expansion and diversification, has resigned from his roles as Executive Vice-Chairman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Berry tendered his resignation on 6 November 2025, and the board, during its meeting on 10 November, formally acknowledged his decision and approved the waiver of his notice period.
“Accordingly, he shall be relieved from the services of the company with effect from the close of business hours on November 10, 2025,” Britannia stated in a regulatory filing.
Following his departure, Berry will also step down from several key board committees, including the Stakeholders Relationship, CSR, Risk Management, Finance, Strategy and Innovation Steering, and IT Committees.
Ink Dive: Devender Gupta Joins Trident Group as Head of Human Resources and Employee Relations
The announcement marks the end of an era for one of India’s most influential consumer goods leaders. Since assuming charge as Managing Director in 2014, Berry has steered Britannia—maker of Good Day, Marie Gold and NutriChoice biscuits—into a new phase of growth, evolving it from a biscuit manufacturer into a diversified food enterprise with a robust presence in dairy, snacking, and adjacent categories.
The board has approved the appointment of Rakshit Hargave as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director for a five-year term beginning 15 December 2025, based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. In the interim, Natarajan Venkataraman, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, will assume the role of interim CEO.
Since the departure of former CEO Varun Kohli, Berry had been fulfilling the duties of both Chairman and Managing Director, while also acting as CEO.
In a related development, Birla Opus, a subsidiary of Grasim Industries, informed stock exchanges that Hargave would officially step down from his post on 5 December. In his resignation letter, Hargave stated that he intended to “pursue career opportunities outside the company.” Hargave had joined Birla Opus in November 2021.
Insights from agencies
