Grasim names Sachin Sahay as new Birla Opus CEO

Grasim Industries on Friday announced the appointment of Sachin Sahay as the new CEO of its paints business, Birla Opus.

Sahay’s selection comes over two months after the unexpected exit of former CEO Rakshit Hargave, a move that had surprised analysts and raised concerns about the company’s growth trajectory in a highly competitive paints market. Since its launch in February 2024, Birla Opus has invested significantly in expanding its manufacturing facilities across India and offered substantial discounts, gaining market share primarily at the expense of industry leader Asian Paints.

Sahay will officially take charge from February 16. He joins Birla Opus from ITC, a diversified conglomerate, where he served as executive vice president of sales. His experience in driving sales and managing large businesses is expected to guide Grasim’s paints arm through a critical phase of market expansion and intensifying competition.

This leadership change underscores Grasim’s commitment to strengthening Birla Opus and consolidating its position in India’s paint industry.