Ajay Gandhi
Group CFO of Dechra Pharmaceuticals | International, transformational CFO - Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Private Equity
View LinkedIn ProfileExecutive Overview
• Accomplished CFO with market, divisional, group, and board engagement experiences over 25yrs+ in FMCG. • Track record of high-impact value creation in four CFO roles, including as CFO of a standalone business. • As CFO, led the origination, turnaround, establishment and carve out, and sale of Elida Beauty, a $800m personal care unit to private equity. • Board engagement/investor experience: Enabled transformative M&A leading the complex ‘unification’ of Unilever NV and PLC. ‘Listed’ firm experience across Unilever PLC, Hindustan Unilever, Unilever Indonesia. • Strategic and operating experience in Developed and Emerging Markets (India, UK, Indonesia, Philippines), including exposure to North America in the most recent CFO role. • Developed diverse, high performing teams, and developed at least two current CFOs.
Career Timeline
- DechraCurrent2025–Present· 1 yr 8 mos
- Group Chief Financial OfficerCurrent2025–Present
- 1997–2024· 27 yrs
- CFO, Elida Beauty2020–2024
- VP Corporate Finance and Group Structure2019–2020
- CFO & Vice President Finance, Global Home Care Division2016–2019
- CFO and Vice President Finance, Unilever Philippines2012–2016
- CFO, Home and Personal Care Division, Unilever Indonesia2009–2012
- Global Performance Management Director2007–2009
- Treasury Director, Hindustan Unilever Limited2005–2007
- Various Commercial and Finance Roles1997–2005
- 1995–1997· 2 yrs
- Audit and Business Consulting Senior1995–1997
- 1992–1995· 3 yrs
- Audit Senior for Chartered Accountancy1992–1995
Education
Postgraduate: Company Secretary (equiv. to Chartered Secretary in UK)
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India
Postgraduate: Chartered Accountant (equiv. to CA from ICAEW/CPA in USA)
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
Postgraduate Degree
Cost and Management Accountant
The Institute Of Cost Accountants Of India
Bachelor of Commerce - BCom
Accountancy, Economics, Commerce
St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Kolkata