!["If Danone wants to be a global leader, it must be big in India" "If Danone wants to be a global leader, it must be big in India"](https://cdn.magzter.com/Business Today/1729935210/articles/Sb96d23QF1730107192818/IF-DANONE-WANTS-TO-BE-A-GLOBAL-LEADER-IT-MUST-BE-BIG-IN-INDIA.jpg)
Antoine de Saint-Affrique took charge as Danone’s CEO in September 2021. Globally, the €27.6-billion company has three businesses—essential dairy and plant-based products, specialised nutrition, and waters. It is present in the specialised nutrition space in India with brands such as Protinex, Aptamil, and Dexolac. Danone recently launched a three-year programme to equip more than 5,000 dairy farmers in Punjab with sustainable methods to help increase milk yields. de Saint-Affrique, 59, speaks to Business Today’s Krishna Gopalan on a host of issues including the company’s sustainable growth plan, Renew Danone, the debate on plant-based products, and why India matters. Edited excerpts:
Q: How does it feel to be back in Danone?
A: I first worked in Danone before it was acquired by Unilever, where I then spent 15 years. In fact, this is my third stint with Danone. The first was an internship as a student before going to the navy. This is a homecoming, and I believe this is a company that is unique in many different ways. We are large but care about not just the business but the world around us.
Q: In March 2022, you presented Renew Danone, a strategic plan around four pillars (win where we are, expand where we should be, seed the future and manage the portfolio). What was the rationale?
A: Danone was going through challenging times at that point (activist shareholders managed to oust the company’s then Chairman & CEO Emmanuel Faber). The name of the game was to bring calm and focus. The board was completely changed as was a large part of the executive committee. The focus was on brands and profitability, meaning we had to reinvent. Brands [were to be] at the centre of the company and [whatever we did, we had to] be obsessive about execution.
この記事は Business Today India の November 10, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Business Today India の November 10, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
!["Inaction is worse than mistakes" "Inaction is worse than mistakes"](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/161/1937193/Gj9rcb6cw1734950385218/INACTION-IS-WORSE-THAN-MISTAKES.jpg)
"Inaction is worse than mistakes"
What was the problem you were grappling with?
![TEEING OFF WITH TITANS TEEING OFF WITH TITANS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/161/1937193/QvLJKzbI51734950257387/TEEING-OFF-WITH-TITANS.jpg)
TEEING OFF WITH TITANS
BUSINESS TODAY GOLF RESUMES ITS STORIED JOURNEY WITH THE 2024-25 SEASON OPENER IN DELHI-NCR. THERE ARE SIX MORE CITIES TO COME
![AI FOOT FORWARD AI FOOT FORWARD](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/161/1937193/_-eKZZOuI1734949879725/AI-FOOT-FORWARD.jpg)
AI FOOT FORWARD
THE WHO'S WHO OF THE AI WORLD GATHERED AT THE TAJ MAHAL PALACE IN MUMBAI TO DELIBERATE THE TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT OF AI ON INNOVATION, INDUSTRIES, AND EVERYDAY LIFE.
![Decolonising the Walls Decolonising the Walls](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/161/1937193/F7AWHXtrJ1734949393603/DECOLONISING-THE-WALLS.jpg)
Decolonising the Walls
ART START-UP MAAZI MERCHANT IS ON A MISSION TO BRING INDIA'S FORGOTTEN ART BACK HOME
!["I'm bringing Kotak under one narrative, one strategy, one umbrella” "I'm bringing Kotak under one narrative, one strategy, one umbrella”](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/161/1937193/urD6FPj4x1734948949145/IM-BRINGING-KOTAK-UNDER-ONE-NARRATIVE-ONE-STRATEGY-ONE-UMBRELLA.jpg)
"I'm bringing Kotak under one narrative, one strategy, one umbrella”
Ashok Vaswani is a global banker who spent most of his career overseas at institutions like Citi Group and Barclays, among others.
![CHOOSING THE CHAMPIONS CHOOSING THE CHAMPIONS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/161/1937193/K_BxqvA2n1734948301011/CHOOSING-THE-CHAMPIONS.jpg)
CHOOSING THE CHAMPIONS
The insights and methodology behind the BT-KPMG India's Best Banks and NBFCs Survey 2023-24.
!['INDIA IS AT AN EXTREMELY SWEET SPOT' 'INDIA IS AT AN EXTREMELY SWEET SPOT'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/161/1937193/RKyBEUMdn1734947627328/INDIA-IS-AT-AN-EXTREMELY-SWEET-SPOT.jpg)
'INDIA IS AT AN EXTREMELY SWEET SPOT'
The jury members of the BT-KPMG Survey of India's Best Banks and NBFCs discuss developments in the banking sector and more
![FROM CRISIS TO TRIUMPH FROM CRISIS TO TRIUMPH](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/161/1937193/iauXSz_RH1734940659909/FROM-CRISIS-TO-TRIUMPH.jpg)
FROM CRISIS TO TRIUMPH
Dinesh Kumar Khara stewarded SBI through multiple challenges during his tenure, while ensuring that profits tripled, productivity soared, and the bank consolidated its global standing
![AT A CROSSROADS AT A CROSSROADS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/161/1937193/o-dkysRh_1734939946615/AT-A-CROSSROADS.jpg)
AT A CROSSROADS
BANKS ARE FACING CHALLENGES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALANCE SHEET-ASSETS AS WELL AS LIABILITIES-WHICH ARE PUTTING PRESSURE ON MARGINS.
![EXPANSIVE VISION EXPANSIVE VISION](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/161/1937193/Z-m0dR29U1734941295523/EXPANSIVE-VISION.jpg)
EXPANSIVE VISION
Bajaj Finance, an outlier in terms of digitisation, faces stiff competition. But it continues to expand its reach