Bata India Shares Jump 17% After Sanjay Rao Named New Managing Director And CEO

Bata India shares surged more than 17% in afternoon trade on June 19 after the footwear maker announced the appointment of Sanjay Rao as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

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In its regulatory filing, Bata India said Rao joins the company from Nike, where he most recently served as Senior Director, Nike Retail, overseeing operations in France and the Benelux region. He brings over two decades of experience across retail and consumer businesses spanning India, South Asia, China and Europe.

Before joining Nike, Rao worked with Inditex and was involved in setting up Zara’s India operations through its joint venture with the Tata Group.

Bata India share price climbed as much as 17.02% to ₹794 after the company informed exchanges that Rao would take charge following the completion of current CEO Gunjan Shah’s five-year term.

Leadership Transition At Bata India

The company said Gunjan Shah will step down after completing his five-year mandate. During his tenure, Bata India focused on strengthening its retail network, expanding product offerings and enhancing customer experience.

Bata Group Chief Executive Officer Panos Mytaros said India remains one of the group’s most significant markets and a key driver of long-term growth.

In a statement issued by the company, Mytaros said, “India is one of Bata Group’s most important markets and one of our biggest long-term growth opportunities. Bata India has a powerful brand, deep consumer trust, strong foundations and significant room to grow.”

He added that the next phase of growth would require the company to stay closer to consumers, respond faster to trends and strengthen its product portfolio. According to Mytaros, Rao’s retail expertise and understanding of the Indian market make him well positioned to lead the business.

Board Acknowledges Outgoing CEO

Bata India Chairman Ashwani Windlass thanked Gunjan Shah for his contribution over the last five years, saying he helped strengthen the business, improve consumer experience and build a strong leadership team.

Commenting on Rao’s appointment, Windlass said, “His versatile background, proven track record and deep understanding of consumer and retail markets make him well suited to lead the company into its next phase of growth, with a strong focus on consumer relevance, product strength and long-term value creation.”

The announcement was well received by investors, pushing Bata India shares sharply higher and placing the stock among the top gainers during the session. Market participants will closely watch the company’s strategy under its new leadership as it seeks to strengthen its position in India’s footwear market.