Business

Sun Pharma Names Kirti Ganorkar as Managing Director; Dilip Shanghvi to Remain Executive Chairman

Ganorkar, a Sun Pharma veteran who currently heads the company’s India business, will assume full operational responsibility, with all business functions set to report directly to him. His appointment is subject to shareholder approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting.

• By Newsdesk
• New Delhi
• Jun 14, 2025

Business

In a significant leadership transition, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries announced the appointment of Kirti Ganorkar as Managing Director, effective September 1, 2025. The elevation marks a key milestone in the company's structured succession plan, with founder Dilip Shanghvi continuing in his role as Executive Chairman.

Ganorkar, a Sun Pharma veteran who currently heads the company’s India business, will assume full operational responsibility, with all business functions set to report directly to him. His appointment is subject to shareholder approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting.

“Kirti has consistently demonstrated strong leadership across various domains at Sun. I am confident in his ability to steer the company into its next phase of growth,” said Shanghvi, adding that the elevation reflects Sun Pharma’s deep in-house talent and commitment to preserving its core values. As Executive Chairman, Shanghvi will continue to chair the Board and focus on strengthening the company’s specialty business and long-term strategy.

Ganorkar brings nearly three decades of experience within Sun Pharma, having joined the company in 1996. A chemical engineer with an MBA, he has held critical roles across business development, marketing, mergers and acquisitions, product lifecycle management, intellectual property, and litigation. Since taking charge of the India business in 2019, he has overseen consistent growth and market share gains.

He has also been instrumental in Sun Pharma’s strategic shift toward specialty products, playing a pivotal role in acquiring rights for Ilumya and spearheading the company’s entry into international markets such as Japan and the early groundwork for Europe. Additionally, Ganorkar has supported Sun’s U.S. business by guiding key generic drug projects from inception to launch.

As part of the leadership reshuffle, Abhay Gandhi, President and CEO – North America, will exit the company to pursue other interests. He will be succeeded by Richard Ascroft, who joins as CEO – North America.

The announcement, according to Sun Pharma, reflects its ongoing commitment to leadership continuity and long-term strategic vision.