SLMG Beverages appoints Lagan Shastri as CEO

INDIA – SLMG Beverages Private Limited, a Coca-Cola bottling partner in India, has appointed Lagan Shastri as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective August 10, 2026, as the company prepares to expand its beverage and FMCG operations. 

Shastri brings nearly three decades of experience across the beverages, FMCG and consumer goods sectors. He began his career at Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) as a Management Trainee and spent nearly 20 years within the Coca-Cola system. 

During his tenure at HCCB, Shastri held leadership positions spanning sales, marketing, commercial operations and strategy. He later served as Executive Director for Market Operations, where he oversaw end-to-end market operations and contributed to the company’s strategic direction alongside the CEO. 

In 2020, Shastri became Managing Director and CEO of DFM Foods Limited, leading the listed company through a business transformation phase. He subsequently served as Strategic Advisor at Reliance Consumer Products Limited, supporting commercial strategy and business execution across its consumer portfolio. 

More recently, Shastri worked in advisory roles with promoters, institutions and emerging businesses, focusing on governance and organisational growth. 

The Board of Directors of SLMG Beverages said Shastri’s appointment marked a significant step for the company as it enters its next phase of expansion. 

“The appointment of Lagan Shastri marks a monumental milestone as we prepare SLMG Beverages for its next phase of exponential growth,” the Board said. 

“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.” 

As CEO, Shastri will lead efforts to strengthen SLMG Beverages’ market position, advance digital capabilities and foster a high-performance culture. 

The company said it will pursue an ambition of becoming an enterprise valued at US$10 billion while seeking recognition among the Top 10 Global Coca-Cola Bottlers. 

SLMG Beverages will also accelerate investments in its workforce, manufacturing infrastructure, supply chain capabilities and customer partnerships as it works to build a resilient, future-ready business. 

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