Nippon Paint India has appointed Sharad Malhotra as its new Managing Director. This marks a significant milestone as Malhotra becomes the first Indian to hold this position at the company. Nippon Paint India operates as part of the NIPSEA Group, which itself is a subsidiary of Japan's Nippon Paint Holdings.
Leadership and Market Position
In his new role, Malhotra oversees operations across multiple business segments. The company engages in decorative paints, automotive refinish coatings, automotive OEM coatings, and industrial businesses throughout India. Their manufacturing footprint includes seven facilities nationwide, with the largest plant located in Sriperumbudur.
Industry Growth and Regional Strength
Malhotra shared insights about the paint industry's performance. "The Indian paint industry faced some challenges earlier," he noted. "Factors like floods impacted growth in certain periods. However, we have seen significant growth over the past few quarters. We are now looking at decent growth moving forward."
When asked about Nippon Paint's presence in South India, Malhotra expressed confidence. "Southern markets have become highly competitive with new players entering," he explained. "Despite this hyper-competition, we have held our ground strongly. We maintain a very good market share. In Tamil Nadu specifically, we remain the number two brand and continue to strengthen our position."
Expansion and Capacity Enhancement
The company is actively pursuing expansion projects at its Sriperumbudur facility. "We have two plants in Tamil Nadu," Malhotra detailed. "Our Sriperumbudur factory is our largest in terms of capacity. It currently has an installed capacity of 1.2 lakh KL per annum. This represents approximately 60% of our total combined capacity across all seven Indian plants, which stands at two lakh KL."
For the current year, Nippon Paint India plans significant investments. "We are looking at expansion projects within the Sriperumbudur factory," Malhotra revealed. "These will cater to both our decorative paints and industrial paints businesses. We anticipate a 10% to 15% increase in capacity at this location. While investments are still being finalized, they will be substantial."
The company's Ranipet factory serves a different purpose. "Ranipet primarily focuses on industrial coatings," Malhotra added. "It specifically caters to railway coatings requirements."
Research and Development Focus
Research and development remains central to Nippon Paint India's strategy. "R&D is fundamental to our value system," Malhotra emphasized. "We view paint not merely as a coating or color, but as a solution that enhances quality of life while being environmentally responsible."
The company maintains five R&D centers across India. These facilities are supported by the NIPSEA Group's global research ecosystem. This network includes a global R&D center and a dedicated ASEAN R&D hub focusing specifically on color innovation.
"We continue to invest in advanced testing and analytical capabilities," Malhotra stated. "This allows us to evaluate volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, durability, waterproofing, and long-term performance. Our R&D foundation has enabled us to pioneer several innovations."
These innovations include no-odour paints, anti-formaldehyde solutions, advanced exterior protection technologies, and early adoption of water-based enamel paints.
Safety and Environmental Initiatives
Nippon Paint India has integrated safety and environmental responsibility into its branding. "Indian consumers have evolved significantly," Malhotra observed. "They now prioritize quality of life, safety, and environmental responsibility alongside value considerations. Eco-friendliness, which was once a differentiator, has increasingly become a decisive factor in purchase decisions."
The company places safety and eco-friendly attributes at the forefront of all consumer touchpoints. This approach extends from digital platforms to mass media campaigns. "Our decorative paints are lead-free and free from harmful heavy metals," Malhotra assured. "They are predominantly water-based and low in volatile organic compounds. This ensures safety for occupants and minimizes environmental impact."
These efforts receive independent validation through certifications like GreenCo Gold and GreenPro.
Distribution Network and Business Units
Nippon Paint India operates close to 50 warehouses across the country. However, not all these facilities handle decorative paints. "We are looking at synergizing our decorative and automotive aftermarket paints distribution," Malhotra mentioned. "The distribution networks can be effectively integrated."
The company has also established wood coatings as a separate business unit. "Wood coatings is not a new area for us," Malhotra clarified. "We have been involved in this segment for several years. However, starting this year, we have created it as a distinct business unit to bring more focus and attention to its development."
Nippon Paint India now operates five core business units in the country. These include automotive OEM coatings through a joint venture with Berger, automotive refinish, decorative paints, industrial coatings, and wood coatings. The company is developing a sixth area described as "beyond coatings." This represents opportunities outside traditional paint products where expansion potential exists.
E-commerce and Future Directions
The company entered e-commerce platforms in January 2025 and has seen positive results. "E-commerce is growing steadily," Malhotra reported. "We are looking at adding more products to our online offerings. More importantly, we are working toward offering complete painting solutions to consumers."
Malhotra highlighted a current limitation in online paint sales. "Today, if you purchase a can of paint from an e-commerce site, you only receive the paint itself," he noted. "We are working toward providing a comprehensive painting solution. This represents an important direction for our business development."
Under Malhotra's leadership, Nippon Paint India continues to focus on expansion, innovation, and environmental responsibility while strengthening its market position across India.
