Bata India Appoints Sanjay Rao as Managing Director & CEO
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September 2026 : Bata India has recently appointed Sanjay Rao as its new Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer. Taking over at a pivotal moment, Rao brings over two decades of cross-continental experience to lead the iconic footwear brand into its next chapter of growth, brand transformation, and consumer relevance.
Rao’s appointment blends deep operational expertise across international markets with an intrinsic understanding of the Indian consumer landscape. His global perspective - spanning India, South Asia, North America, China, and Europe - will be instrumental as Bata India expands its market presence, digitizes its retail footprint, and accelerates its focus on premium, fashion-forward, and sport-led offerings.
Rao brings a rich, 20-plus-year track record across renowned global fashion, sportswear, and technology brands. Most recently, he served as Senior Director of Nike Retail for France and the Benelux region. Prior to Nike, he spent nearly five years as President & Director General of Guess France.
His career also includes a transformative decade-long tenure at Inditex, where he played a pivotal role in establishing Zara’s footprint in India via its joint venture with Tata Group, alongside leading business operations as Managing Director across South Asia and China North, and managing finance as Controller for Zara USA and Canada. Earlier in his career, Rao gained valuable experience at The TJX Companies, Model N, and Citi.
He holds an MBA from INSEAD, a PGDBM in Systems and Finance from T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal, and a Bachelor of Engineering degree from The National Institute of Engineering, Mysore.
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