Ex-Amazon India head nominated to lead Nestle's India operations

Nestle SA, on Monday, nominated the recently retired head of Amazon India and former Unilever executive as its candidate to head the food giant's Indian operation in a year's time.

Nestle India said its Swiss parent had recommended that Manish Tiwary replace Suresh Narayanan when he retires as managing director next year.

Nestle India, Hindustan Unilever and other consumer products companies have been struggling to invigorate sales for a while now due to high inflation and competition from cheaper rivals in the world's most populous country.

Narayanan has been the Indian company's chairman and managing director -- executive positions that rank higher than a CEO in India -- since 2015 and will retire on July 30 next year.

If Nestle India approves the nomination, Tiwary, who resigned as Amazon.com's India head two months back, will become the company's managing director.

Narayanan, who has previously headed Nestle 's operations in the Philippines, Egypt and Singapore, is also retiring as chairman of Nestle India, but the company did not say who would take over that position. It did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.

Amazon India had said Tiwary would leave in October after an eight-year stint as its India head to pursue an opportunity outside of the company.

Tiwary has held various posts at Nestle 's rival Unilever's Indian and Gulf units, according to his LinkedIn profile. He did not immediately respond to requests for comment.