Heinz appoints Seema Modi as India managing director

MUMBAI: American food company Heinz has announced the appointment of Seema Modi as its India managing director.

With this, Modi emerges as the third woman to take charge of a global consumer products firm's India business in the last two years.

Earlier, Prabha Parameswaran has been named as the MD of Colgate Palmolive India, and Sangeeta Pendurkar appointed as MD of Kellogg India in late 2010.

Modi's appointment is the fifth instance of a woman leading a big FMCG company in the country.

Modi is taking over the charges from the N Thiruambalam, who put on his papers after serving the US food company for over a decade. In her prior stint, Modi was the managing director of Heinz ASEAN, which includes Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.

“Seema brings a record of success and broad experience to her new role, including her ability to work cross-functionally, identify consumer insights and develop creative new ideas,” Chris Warmoth, executive vice-president at Heinz Asia Pacific, said in an internal communication to employees.