Kolkata: Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd., a leading player in the lubricants industry announced the appointment of Mr. Abhijit Kulkarni as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). With over two decades of diverse experience across top-tier MNCs including Unilever, Castrol and Coca Cola, Mr. Kulkarni brings a wealth of expertise in strategic marketing, brand development, sales, and general management. In his new role, he will assume responsibility for overseeing Gulf Oil’s B2C and B2B business segments (excluding OEM), synergy, marketing, and will report directly to Mr. Ravi Chawla, Managing Director & CEO of Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd.
Mr. Kulkarni joins Gulf Oil from Unilever, where he held several leadership positions over 16 years, including Cluster General Manager for Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam in the FMCG major’s ice cream business with P&L responsibilities. Throughout his career, he has led several high-impact initiatives, such as turning around Unilever’s Thailand ice cream business and launching premium brands like ‘Magnum’ in India. His strong business acumen, combined with his expertise in driving competitive growth, portfolio management, and building high-performance teams, will be instrumental in elevating Gulf Oil’s Channel business and aligning these key segments with the company’s broader commercial goals.
Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Ravi Chawla, Managing Director & CEO of Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd., said, “We are delighted to welcome Abhijit Kulkarni to Gulf. His extensive leadership experience and proven track record in delivering accelerated business growth by driving brand, sales & marketing initiatives & contributing to the strategic agenda make him a valuable addition to our team. With his deep expertise across markets and sectors, I am confident that Mr. Kulkarni will bring fresh energy in our B2C and B2B profitable growth trajectory as we continue to expand our market shares.”
Speaking on his appointment, Mr. Abhijit Kulkarni said, “Gulf is an aspirational brand and its strong legacy and brand presence offer a unique opportunity to contribute to the company’s growth story. The company’s commitment to continuous innovation and excellence makes it an exciting time to join the organization. I look forward to working with the passionate team at Gulf Oil to deliver value to our customers, partners, and stakeholders.”
Mr. Kulkarni holds an MBA from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) and a Bachelor of Engineering from Government College of Engineering, Pune (COEP). His diverse leadership roles in both Indian and international markets have equipped him with a unique perspective on driving business success in dynamic environments.
About GOLIL
Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited (GOLIL), part of Hinduja Group and Gulf Oil International, is one of the leading players in the lubricant market in India and has a top 2 / 3 position in key segments amongst the private sector brands. GOLIL has a wide range of world class-leading products in the automotive and industrial lubricants space catering to B2B and B2C segments with a growing distribution network. The brand has tie-ups with over 30 leading OEM’s and a leader in the direct sales network to industrial, infrastructure and institutional customers, and exports to over 25 countries. Along with automotive and industrial lubricants, greases, we have a growing share in the 2-wheeler batteries segment. In India, we have a strong manufacturing and R&D bases with two plants in Silvassa and Ennore, Chennai. The brand is working towards being future-ready to offer additional mobility solutions and has recently tied up with Indra Technologies- UK based charger/mobility company and ElectreeFi, an EV SaaS provider to drive the change.
Today, globally the Gulf brand is present in more than 100 countries across five continents. The Gulf Oil International Group’s core business is manufacturing and marketing an extensive range of over 400 performance lubricants and associated products for all market segments.
Gulf enjoys a strong brand recall built through association with brand ambassadors like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Smriti Mandhana, Chennai Super Kings coupled with global sporting partnerships like Williams Racing etc.
