L Catterton Appoints Vikram Kumaraswamy as Partner and Joint Head for India Operations
In a significant move, global investment firm L Catterton has announced the appointment of Vikram Kumaraswamy as Partner and Co-Head of its India operations. Kumaraswamy joins Anjana Sasidharan and Sanjiv Mehta, who are already serving as Partners and Co-Heads at L Catterton India.
Kumaraswamy brings nearly three decades of experience, primarily at Unilever PLC Group, to his new role. Most recently, he served as the Global Head of Corporate Development and Treasury based in London, where he led Unilever’s strategic capital allocation, corporate strategy, portfolio development, deal sourcing and execution, and corporate venturing initiatives. During his tenure, he oversaw transactions worth approximately USD 15 billion, evaluating diverse business models across multiple sectors globally.
Before his stint at Unilever, Kumaraswamy held various positions such as CFO of PT Unilever Indonesia, Vice President of Mergers & Acquisitions in London, and several finance and operational roles at Hindustan Unilever Limited.
At L Catterton India, Kumaraswamy leverages his deep India roots and global experience to help grow the firm's consumer investment platform in one of its key Asian markets. Anjana Sasidharan, Partner and Co-Head at L Catterton India, highlights the growth in various categories in India, attributing it to long-term consumer trends and structural tailwinds. She believes that differentiated companies with sustainable competitive advantages in these categories have the potential to capture market share and enlarge the pie.
Scott Chen, Managing Partner for L Catterton Asia, emphasizes that Kumaraswamy's unique background with substantial investment experience and operating know-how complements the capabilities of Sanjiv Mehta and Anjana Sasidharan. Sanjiv Mehta, Executive Chairman of L Catterton India, welcomed the appointment of Vikram Kumaraswamy, stating that he is a widely respected investor and operator with deep roots in India and vast experience across the world.
Currently, Kumaraswamy also serves as a Non-Executive Director at Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC. As L Catterton manages approximately USD 37 billion in equity capital and operates across private equity, credit, and real estate through 18 offices globally, the addition of Kumaraswamy to its India operations is expected to further strengthen its presence in the region.
[1] Unilever Newsroom [2] L Catterton Press Release [3] Hindustan Unilever Limited Press Release [4] Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC Annual Report
- In his new role at L Catterton India, Vikram Kumaraswamy, with his extensive experience in strategic capital allocation, portfolio development, and corporate venturing, is expected to contribute significantly to the growth of the firm's consumer investment platform in one of its key Asian markets.
- With the addition of Vikram Kumaraswamy to its India operations, L Catterton, which manages approximately USD 37 billion in equity capital and operates across private equity, credit, and real estate through 18 offices globally, aims to further strengthen its presence in the region.
- Anjana Sasidharan, Partner and Co-Head at L Catterton India, believes that differentiated companies with sustainable competitive advantages in various categories in India have the potential to capture market share and enlarge the pie, attributing this growth to long-term consumer trends and structural tailwinds.
- Scott Chen, Managing Partner for L Catterton Asia, commends the unique background of Vikram Kumaraswamy, with his substantial investment experience and operating know-how, as a valuable addition to the capabilities of Sanjiv Mehta and Anjana Sasidharan.
- Apart from his role at L Catterton India, Vikram Kumaraswamy also serves as a Non-Executive Director at Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC, indicating his strategic involvement in the financial and technology sectors.
