In one of the most talked-about leadership changes in India’s spirits sector this year, Amar Sinha, Chief Operating Officer of Radico Khaitan Limited has moved after nearly a decade at the helm of operations and joined Allied Blenders & Distillers (ABD) as their new Managing Director in a senior leadership role. Our sources confirmed the move and this also marks a significant talent shift at a time of heightened competition and strategic repositioning across the Indian alcoholic beverages market.
Sinha’s departureconcludes a tenure during which Radico navigated a major premiumisation drive, expanding its branded portfolio and market footprint. Radico’s market capitalisation in the past decade has increased from around ₹1,600 crore at the start of his tenure to nearly ₹40,000 crore, as it sharpened focus on high-growth segments of whisky, vodka, rum and brandy. Sinha states that his decision was ‘purely personal’.
Sinha’s move to ABD also signals the growing ambition of the Mumbai-headquartered listed spirits company – best known for its flagship Officer’s Choice whisky and growing global distribution network. This naturally is a strategic move with ABD actively seeking experienced leadership to bolster its premium portfolio and market execution at a time when competitive intensity in both domestic and international segments is rising.
Radico Khaitan, one of India’s oldest and largest manufacturers of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) has also made its own changes at the top. They’ve promoted Kunal Madan as the CMO and Sudhir Upadhay as the Chief Sales Office. The company also recently launched Rampur Virasat Whisky and today boasts a diversified portfolio that includes brands such as 8 PM Whisky, Magic Moments Vodka, Morpheus Brandy and Rampur Indian Single Malt.
The transition underscores the dynamic talent flows in India’s alco-bev sector amid ongoing premiumisation, brand innovation and consolidation. For Radico, the challenge will be to sustain momentum with newly elevated internal leaders; for ABD, Sinha’s appointment brings fresh operational heft as it seeks to scale further.