Staff Writer
New Delhi: Japan-based Nippon Paint Holdings’ NIPSEA Group has named Sharad Malhotra as the next Managing Director of Nippon Paint India, effective December 1, 2025, marking the first time an Indian executive will head the company’s India operations. Malhotra will take over from Jon Tan and report directly to Group CEO Wee Siew Kim, the company announced on Monday.
The appointment signals a strategic shift as the world’s fourth-largest paint company strengthens its focus on India, a market it views as central to its long-term growth. Headquartered in Japan, Nippon Paint is the leading paints and coatings company in the Asia-Pacific region, and India’s expanding consumer base and fast-growing economy have made it a priority market for deeper, sustained investment.
Malhotra is a familiar face within the organisation, having spent fifteen years at Nippon Paint. Over the years, he has built the company’s automotive refinish, wood coatings and light industrial coatings business in India from scratch. A director on the company’s board, he recently garnered attention for steering Nippon Paint’s diversification into paint protection films and other emerging categories. His new role places him at the centre of the company’s growth strategy for India, while he continues to lead Nippon Paint’s global push in the automotive aftermarket segment.
Speaking on the appointment, Group CEO Wee Siew Kim said Malhotra’s performance and leadership made him the right choice to guide the company’s next phase in India. He noted Malhotra’s global experience in scaling the auto refinish business and his strong understanding of both the brand and the markets it serves.
Malhotra called the opportunity a privilege and said he looks forward to building on the company’s strengths at a turning point for both the organisation and the Indian market. He said India’s mix of scale, complexity and opportunity makes it a unique landscape and expressed confidence in expanding the company’s reach while supporting its customers and partners across segments.
As Managing Director, Malhotra will be responsible for steering the strategy and direction of the India Group. His leadership will focus on sustained growth across the country’s diverse paint market, supported by Nippon Paint’s established expertise in Asia and its expanding technological and operational ecosystem.
India’s favourable business environment, skilled workforce and rising infrastructure investments continue to reinforce Nippon Paint’s long-term commitments in the region. Under Malhotra’s leadership, the company aims to enhance value for stakeholders, strengthen its presence across segments and chart a purposeful course in one of the most dynamic markets in the global paints and coatings industry.
