Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd. recently appointed Abhijit Kulkarni as its Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). With over 20 years of experience across companies like Unilever, Castrol, and Coca-Cola, Kulkarni brings expertise in strategic marketing, brand development, sales, and general management.
In his new role, he will oversee Gulf Oil’s B2C and B2B business segments, excluding OEM, focusing on synergies and marketing initiatives. He will report directly to Ravi Chawla, the Managing Director and CEO.
Before joining Gulf Oil, Kulkarni served in various leadership roles at Unilever, including as Cluster General Manager for the ice cream division across Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. His work included leading initiatives such as restructuring the Thailand ice cream business and launching premium brands like Magnum in India. Mr. Kulkarni’s experience in competitive growth, portfolio management, and team development is anticipated to support Gulf Oil’s objectives in the channel business and contribute to its overall commercial goals.
Ravi Chawla expressed optimism about Mr. Kulkarni’s appointment, noting his background in brand, sales, and marketing, which could be valuable in advancing Gulf Oil’s B2C and B2B segments. Mr. Kulkarni stated that he is looking forward to contributing to Gulf Oil’s growth and working with the team to enhance value for customers, partners, and stakeholders.
Kulkarni holds an MBA from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the Government College of Engineering, Pune (COEP). His leadership roles in both Indian and international markets have given him a comprehensive perspective on driving business success in diverse environments.