HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Jan 10: Nippon Paint India has unveiled an India-centric growth roadmap under the leadership of its new Managing Director, Sharad Malhotra, reaffirming its long-term commitment to the Indian market and signalling an accelerated push for pan-India expansion.
The strategy, the first detailed articulation of the company’s India plans following the leadership transition, focuses on strengthening an India-first operating model, expanding its national footprint through a unified approach and exploring inorganic growth opportunities to further strengthen its portfolio.
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Backed by seven manufacturing facilities across the country and technical expertise developed in Japan, Nippon Paint India said it would deepen investments to build a self-sustaining India platform rooted in manufacturing excellence, quality and local market relevance.
The company plans to move beyond its traditionally strong southern markets by sharpening market segmentation and increasing penetration in high-growth urban and semi-urban centres, while consolidating its leadership in core regions and expanding its distribution network nationwide.
Sharad Malhotra said India remains a priority market for Nippon Paint and that the company’s focus would be on building a differentiated growth model aligned with global standards while responding to local market needs.
He said the direct access to Japanese technology, governance practices and manufacturing discipline positions Nippon Paint India as a fully integrated global player in the country, with a clear mandate to drive India-specific growth.
Echoing this view, Mark Titus, President of the Decorative Business at Nippon Paint India, said the Indian decorative paints segment offers significant long-term potential, driven by premiumisation, brand-building and stronger engagement with channels and influencers.
He said the company aims to scale in a calibrated manner, bringing global best practices in product innovation and manufacturing while developing strong, market-relevant brands in India.
As part of the new strategy, Nippon Paint India will consolidate all its paints and coatings businesses under a single, unified operating model.
The company said this would enable greater flexibility in manufacturing, operational efficiencies and a cohesive pan-India distribution footprint, supporting scale and synergies across markets.
With more than six decades of leadership across the Asia-Pacific region, Nippon Paint said it will continue to leverage its experience in technology-led growth, disciplined expansion and manufacturing excellence in India.
The company will pursue balanced growth across decorative, industrial, automotive refinish, automotive OEM and wood coatings, with an emphasis on customer-centric innovation, brand-led differentiation and long-term value creation.
Sustainability, innovation and strong governance remain central to the group’s global philosophy. Nippon Paint said its “Asset Assembler” model would continue to guide growth through a combination of organic expansion and selective inorganic opportunities, including mergers and acquisitions, aimed at delivering sustained long-term performance.
