The Man Who Rebooted Bata: Kataria Steps Down, Leaves Big Shoes to Fill

Sandeep Kataria, the first Indian to serve as Swiss shoemaking giant Bata Corporation's Global CEO, has officially stepped down after five trailblazing years in office. Kataria, 55, will remain with the organization for the next six months to ensure an orderly handover, reports indicate.

 

Alumni of IIT Delhi and XLRI Jamshedpur, Kataria has been at Bata since 2017 and headed Bata India before the elevation to the global role in 2020. His tenure witnessed a strong re-modernization of the 130-year-old enterprise, a digital transformation turn, and a strategic re-positioning in core geographies of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

 

During his tenure, Bata India's top line nearly doubled from FY21 at ₹1,707 crore to FY25 at ₹3,554 crore at a CAGR of 20%. He also championed the shift towards casual and athleisure, keeping the brand current with the shifting consumer preferences, especially in India.

 

Kataria's departure is in the context of broader trends in the global footwear industry and a mixed FY25 performance. While the annual net profit of Bata India rose 46% to ₹330.66 crore, growth in revenues slowed down and Q4 earnings declined by nearly 28% year-on-year.

 

Succession planning has already commenced, and although Kataria's next move is not known, industry watchers expect him to go on to develop consumer-facing businesses.

 

Sources: Business Standard, BusinessWorld, IndiaRetailing, Economic Times