Gulf Oil names Aarthy Sridhar as CMO

Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd., a key player in the lubricants industry, has announced the appointment of Aarthy Sridhar as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). With over 13 years of experience at Hindustan Unilever, Sridhar has a strong background in brand building, category leadership, and strategic marketing. In her new role, she will lead Gulf Oil’s marketing and brand strategy, reinforcing the company’s vision of evolving into a marketing-driven organization.

Throughout her tenure at Hindustan Unilever, Sridhar played a pivotal role in driving strategic growth across high-value categories such as beauty, home care, and ice creams. She has successfully launched brands, pioneered category expansion, and led premiumization initiatives for renowned names like Lakmé, Surf Excel, Comfort, and Magnum. Her expertise in portfolio transformation and P&L management positions her as a key asset in Gulf Oil’s journey toward enhanced market presence and consumer engagement.

Commenting on the appointment, Ravi Chawla, Managing Director & CEO of Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd., said, “We are excited to welcome Aarthy Sridhar to the Gulf family. Her deep FMCG expertise and proven success in brand building align perfectly with our marketing excellence agenda. In today’s rapidly changing industry landscape, where customer expectations are continuously evolving, she brings a fresh perspective that will accelerate our transition from traditional industrial marketing to a more dynamic, consumer-centric approach. Aarthy’s proven track record in brand architecture, product innovation, and strategic portfolio management will be instrumental in strengthening Gulf Oil’s market position and brand equity.”

Speaking about her new role, Aarthy Sridhar said, “I am delighted to begin my journey with Gulf Oil at this transformative time. Gulf Oil’s storied heritage combined with its progressive outlook presents immense potential for growth. I look forward to applying my consumer-centric experience to strengthen Gulf Oil’s market presence, foster innovation, and build sustainable growth through a comprehensive marketing approach.”

Aarthy Sridhar holds an MBA from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) and a B.Tech in Information Technology from V.J.T.I. Mumbai. With a proven track record of driving business transformation and expertise in modern marketing strategies, she is well-positioned to enhance Gulf Oil’s brand presence and expand its market share in an increasingly competitive and evolving industry landscape.

Her appointment reflects Gulf Oil’s strategic focus on strengthening its marketing capabilities to stay ahead of shifting market dynamics while continuing to deliver superior value to stakeholders. With a deep-rooted legacy of trust and excellence in the lubricants sector, Gulf Oil aims to reinforce its brand leadership under Sridhar’s marketing stewardship. In her new capacity, she will report to Abhijit Kulkarni, who was recently appointed as the company’s Chief Commercial Officer.