SLMG Beverages has announced the appointment of Lagan Shastri as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective August 10, 2026.
The appointment comes as the company prepares to expand its strategic focus and strengthen its position in the global Coca-Cola bottling sector.
SLMG Beverages, one of India’s leading Coca-Cola bottling partners, has built its business around customer partnerships, operational excellence and value creation. The company aims to become one of the world’s most admired Coca-Cola bottling businesses, with a focus on innovation, strong execution and sustainable performance.
Shastri brings nearly 30 years of experience across beverages, FMCG and consumer products. He started his career with Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) as a Management Trainee and spent more than 20 years in Sales, Marketing, Commercial Profit Centre Management and Strategy. He later became Executive Director – Market Operations, managing HCCB’s end-to-end market operations and co-leading its strategy with the CEO.
In 2020, he became Managing Director & CEO of DFM Foods Limited, where he led its transformation into a professionally managed, performance-driven company. He later joined Reliance Consumer Products Limited as Strategic Advisor, supporting commercial strategy and enterprise-level execution. More recently, he advised promoters, institutions and emerging businesses on governance and organisational scaling.
Known for an inclusive leadership style, Shastri has focused on building strong teams, developing leaders and connecting strategy with execution.
Statement from the Board of Directors, SLMG Beverages:
“The appointment of Mr. Lagan Shastri marks a monumental milestone as we prepare SLMG Beverages for its next phase of exponential growth. Lagan brings an unmatched executive pedigree across the consumer sector and deep institutional knowledge of the bottling ecosystem. The Board is fully committed to supporting him as we scale our people, manufacturing, digital, and supply chain capabilities to build one of the world’s most admired Coca-Cola bottling businesses.”
Statement from Mr. Lagan Shastri, CEO, SLMG Beverages:
“I am honoured and excited to lead SLMG Beverages at such an important stage in its growth journey. SLMG has built an exceptional foundation, anchored in deep market understanding, enduring customer and system partnerships, and a strong innovation led culture of execution. We have a tremendous opportunity ahead of us to build on these strengths, accelerate growth and create an even more agile, innovative and future-ready organisation. I look forward to working closely with the Operational Board, our leadership team and colleagues across SLMG as we pursue our bold ambition of building a US$10 billion enterprise value and being recognised among the Top 10 Global Coca-Cola Bottlers, while creating sustainable long-term value for all our stakeholders.”
As CEO, Shastri will focus on market leadership, digital capabilities, people, manufacturing, supply chain and customer partnerships. SLMG aims to build a US$10 billion enterprise and enter the Top 10 Global Coca-Cola Bottlers.
Shastri holds a PGDM from IIM Bangalore and a B.Com (Honors) from SRCC, Delhi. He will be based at the corporate office in Lucknow and report to the Operational Board.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream LinkedIn | The Mainstream Facebook | The Mainstream Youtube | The Mainstream Twitter
About us:
The Mainstream is a premier platform delivering the latest updates and informed perspectives across the technology business and cyber landscape. Built on research-driven, thought leadership and original intellectual property, The Mainstream also curates summits & conferences that convene decision makers to explore how technology reshapes industries and leadership. With a growing presence in India and globally across the Middle East, Africa, ASEAN, the USA, the UK and Australia, The Mainstream carries a vision to bring the latest happenings and insights to 8.2 billion people and to place technology at the centre of conversation for leaders navigating the future.