After spending more than 15 years at PepsiCo India, Shailee Chatrath Tyagi has joined Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) as Head of Functional Nutrition Portfolio (Brand Building).
In her new role, Shailee will lead iconic brands such as Horlicks, Boost, and Horlicks Plus — names that have shaped India’s nutrition market for decades and are now being repositioned for a new generation of health-conscious consumers.
A New Focus for HUL’s Nutrition Business
HUL’s Functional Nutrition Drinks portfolio has been undergoing a steady transformation in recent years. The company has been reframing its offerings from traditional “health drinks” to modern, science-backed functional nutrition brands.
Recent launches such as Horlicks Plus for adult nutrition, Horlicks Pro Fitness as a meal replacement, and millet-based variants have expanded the portfolio’s relevance. HUL is also investing in sugar reduction, positive nutrition goals, and ready-to-drink formats to appeal to evolving consumer preferences.
Shailee’s mix of experience across brand building, sales, e-commerce, and partnerships is expected to strengthen the company’s strategy in this fast-growing category.
15 Years at PepsiCo
Before joining HUL, Shailee had a long and successful stint at PepsiCo India, where she worked across multiple functions and geographies.
Her most recent role was Director – Head of India Growth Office & Franchise Sales (South, West & Rajasthan) for PepsiCo’s beverages division. She was responsible for joint business planning with key bottlers such as Varun Beverages Ltd (VBL) and Pearl Beverages, managing investments, innovation rollouts, and channel strategies. Under her leadership, PepsiCo’s beverage business delivered consistent share gains and double-digit volume growth in the past three years.
Earlier, she led several brand and innovation projects — strengthening 7UP’s position in South India, scaling 7UP Nimbooz across the country, and launching Lay’s Crispz, India’s first pellet-based chip. She also developed consumer engagement campaigns like 7UP Voice of Tamil Nadu with A.R. Rahman and the Lay’s Flight of Flavours initiative.
In her commercial roles, she handled P&L responsibility as Director – Organised Trade Channels, covering E-commerce, Modern Trade, Away-From-Home, and Bulk Water. She helped build PepsiCo’s e-commerce-first portfolio and expanded its presence on Q-commerce and food delivery platforms.
She also conceptualised the Pepsi-IMAGES Foodservice Awards to recognise excellence in foodservice partnerships and was instrumental in signing marquee pouring deals with Domino’s and Burger King.
During the pandemic, Shailee led the #PepsiSaveOurRestaurants campaign with the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) and Swiggy, supporting restaurant workers affected by lockdowns. The initiative earned her PepsiCo’s highest global recognition — the Global Chairman’s Award (2020).
Early Career and Education
Shailee began her career with the Tata Group’s Titan Industries, working first with Tanishq as Assistant Manager – Merchandising & Marketing, where she managed product development for the coloured stone jewellery category and led key campaigns such as Mogham and Diamond Up to 20% Off.
She later joined Titan Eye+ as Area Manager – Retail Operations, helping establish the brand’s retail network in Mumbai and managing a team of over 50 sales professionals.
An engineering graduate with an MBA in Marketing from TAPMI, she has also participated in global leadership programs including the Pepsi Foodservice Global Ambassadors Program and ASPIRE – Harvard Business Executive Program.
A Legacy Connection with Unilever
Shailee’s move to HUL is also a personal milestone. She is a second-generation Unilever professional — her father began his career with Unilever and spent over a decade there. “I was born into a Unilever family,” she says, describing the move as a homecoming of sorts.
Balancing Heritage with Innovation
As she takes charge of HUL’s Functional Nutrition portfolio, Shailee’s task will be to modernise legacy brands like Horlicks and Boost while keeping their emotional connection with Indian households intact.
Her diverse experience across brand management, channel development, and consumer insights is expected to help HUL expand its nutrition portfolio and build stronger engagement in a category that sits at the intersection of health, taste, and trust.
From Beverages to Nutrition: A Natural Evolution
For Shailee Chatrath Tyagi, the move from fizzy beverages to functional nutrition represents not just a career transition but an evolution of purpose — from refreshment to nourishment.
With her track record of driving growth, innovation, and purpose-led initiatives, she is expected to play a key role in shaping HUL’s next phase of leadership in India’s fast-changing nutrition landscape.
