Leo Puri to Lead Asian Paints Amid Intensifying Competition

Asian Paints has appointed Leo Puri as its new chairman, effective January 23, 2027. Puri, a former JPMorgan executive, will take over from R. Seshasayee, whose term ends on January 22, 2027. The appointment was made after the nomination and remuneration committee recommended it to the board.

Puri has extensive leadership experience in financial services, private equity, and consulting. He currently serves as India advisory chair at Apax and is a director at various companies, including Fortis Healthcare, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, and Amadeus IT Group. In his previous role, he was chairman for South and Southeast Asia at JPMorgan Chase.

The appointment comes at a challenging time for Asian Paints, which faces increasing competition in India's decorative paints market. With new entrants vying for market share, established players like Aditya Birla Group and JSW Group have also increased their investments.