Turning Crisis Into Opportunity: The Maggi Saga

In a frank discussion about his decade-long leadership at Nestle India, Chairman and Managing Director Suresh Narayanan offered insights into the lessons learned from the Maggi crisis. He describes how the 2015 ban on Maggi noodles, due to safety concerns, was leveraged as a pivot to overhaul company strategy and operations.

Narayanan, due to retire soon, was pivotal in transforming Nestle India amid an existential threat. He emphasized the importance of recognizing environmental shifts and gauging their potential impact. His quick action in India following an abrupt move from the Philippines, relaunching Maggi just months post-ban, showed decisive leadership.

The crisis led to significant internal changes, including increased innovation and improved stakeholder engagement. As a result, Nestle regained its dominant position in the instant noodles market, witnessing impressive growth in market share, profitability, and innovation output. Narayanan's tenure leaves Nestle stronger and more connected than ever.

(With inputs from agencies.)