Sula Vineyards Ltd has appointed its former Chief Operating Officer, Chaitanya Rathi, as an additional non-executive non-independent director on its Board, marking his return to the country’s largest wine producer as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
The appointment, effective August 6, brings back a senior executive who has been closely associated with Sula’s growth journey for over a decade across two leadership stints. Most recently, Rathi served as COO between 2019 and 2023, overseeing multiple business functions, leading a team of over 400 employees and playing a key leadership role in the company’s successful initial public offering (IPO) in 2022.
Rathi first joined Sula in 2006 and was instrumental in building and scaling the company’s wine tourism and hospitality business during his first tenure until 2013. The business has since evolved into one of Sula’s key growth drivers, attracting more than 4 lakh visitors annually.
Strengthening the Board
Sula Vineyards CEO Rajeev Samant said Rathi’s deep understanding of the business and its culture, coupled with his entrepreneurial mindset and diverse experience, would add significant value to the Board.
“Chaitanya has played an important role in Sula’s journey. He helped shape our wine tourism business and played a key role in Sula’s IPO journey. We are very pleased to welcome him back to Sula, this time on the Board,” Samant said.
Rathi said he was delighted to return to the company in a new capacity and looked forward to supporting its long-term growth.
He said his experience across consumer businesses, investments and entrepreneurship would help the company explore new opportunities while creating value for stakeholders.
Brings diverse experience
Rathi has held senior operating and investment roles across high-growth consumer businesses and served as a board member and strategic advisor to several companies. He is currently the Founder of Searchlight ETA, an Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) and Search Fund platform in India.
With more than two decades of experience spanning consumer businesses, alcoholic beverages, hospitality, investments and entrepreneurship, Rathi is expected to contribute to Sula’s strategy as the company strengthens its core wine business, expands its wine tourism and hospitality footprint, and pursues new growth opportunities.