Sandeep Kataria is the first Indian to become Global CEO of Bata

In the 126-year history of famous shoes brand ‘Bata’, Sandeep Kataria has become the first Indian to be elevated to the position of global CEO of the company. The 49-year old has been working as Bata India’s CEO since 2017.

Sandeep Kataria is one of the few Indians to lead the global operations of a renowned firm. An engineer from IIT Delhi, Kataria’s work experience is exemplary. He was associated with Unilever, Yum Brands and Vodafone in India and Europe for about 24 years, before joining Bata India.

The Switzerland-headquartered footwear brand has found many takers in India, as the country is the most major market for Bata. Under the leadership of Sandeep Kataria, Bata India was able to double its profits. The company also initiated campaigns like ‘Surprisingly Bata’ to boost the brand image.

Bata was able to post a net profit of Rs 327 crore on revenues of Rs 3,053 crore in 2019-2020. Talking about the development, Kataria said in a statement, ““I am honored to accept this new appointment and excited by the journey ahead of us.

Bata is a premium brand with an enviable reputation for high quality, affordable footwear. I have been privileged to be part of Bata’s success in India and I look forward to building further on our proud, 120-year history as shoemakers to the world.”

Incepted in 1894 by Tomas Bata, Bata is one of the world’s leading shoemaker. The company not only designs stylish footwear, but it is known for offering the products at an affordable price. Bata sells around 180 million pairs of shoes each year across its 5,800 stores. The company operates in more than 70 countries with over 35,000 employees.

Bata has a great presence in India with a store in every small and big city. It is the largest footwear retailer in the country, having evolved over the last many years with changing dynamics of the market.