ITC Veteran Emerges as Top Contender for Birla Opus Leadership
Sachin Sahay stands as the leading candidate to assume the chief executive officer position at Birla Opus. The Aditya Birla Group-backed paints disruptor appears ready to name its new leader soon. Sahay currently serves as executive vice-president for sales operations at ITC Ltd.
Seasoned Professional with Extensive ITC Background
Sachin Sahay brings twenty-three years of experience from his tenure at ITC. He began his career there as a brand manager back in 2002. For the past nine years, he has held his current senior leadership role.
In this capacity, Sahay has managed pan-India sales operations for both cigarettes and FMCG businesses. His responsibilities included overseeing sales strategy implementation and execution. He also handled distributor and field force management while focusing on data analytics and channel strategy development.
Sahay completed his education at SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai. He now prepares to enter the competitive paints industry at a crucial moment.
Leadership Transition in a Dynamic Market
Sahay would succeed Rakshit Hargave, who stepped down as Birla Opus CEO in November 2025. Hargave served as the first chief executive of the paints venture after joining Grasim in 2021. Under his guidance, Birla Opus completed its initial expansion phase.
The company established six manufacturing plants across multiple states during this period. These facilities operate in Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
Following Hargave's departure, Himanshu Kapania has taken temporary charge of the paints business. Kapania serves as managing director of Grasim Industries, the parent company of Birla Opus.
Hargave has since moved to biscuit manufacturer Britannia as their new chief executive officer. This move highlights the increasing mobility of top executives across consumer-focused industries.
Industry Transformation and Competitive Pressures
The paints sector has experienced significant changes recently after years of relative stability. Major business groups have entered the market, creating new competitive dynamics. The Aditya Birla Group launched Birla Opus in 2024 as part of this shift.
JSW Paints further transformed the landscape by acquiring Akzo Nobel's India operations. JSW now consolidates its position after appointing Parth Jindal as chairman of the acquired company last week.
ICICI Securities analysts commented on the leadership change in a November 2025 note. They suggested the departure of the original architect could affect near-to-medium term growth prospects. The research firm noted Birla Opus has captured approximately ten percent market share so far.
The new entrant has invested ₹97.27 billion from its initial ₹100 billion budget. Market leader Asian Paints has already adopted more aggressive strategies in response to new competition.
Manoj Menon, head of research at ICICI Securities, expects continued competitive intensity. He anticipates Birla Opus will make at least one more significant push before evaluating market stabilization. The leadership transition represents a critical factor in this evolving competitive environment.
Corporate Responses and Market Position
Birla Opus did not respond to specific queries about Sahay's potential appointment sent earlier this month. The company received these inquiries on January 8 regarding the chief executive officer position.
Sahay himself has not responded to calls, messages or emails about the new role. ITC also remained silent on questions about their executive's possible move when contacted on January 13.
The paints market in India currently values around ₹70,000 crore. Birla Opus entered this substantial market as a disruptive force backed by significant resources. The upcoming leadership decision comes at a pivotal time for the industry.
