D. Shivakumar

Chairman @ MTPL, an Advent Company | Strategy, Directorship

D. Shivakumar, or Shiv as he is popularly known, is a Bangalore born leader and a management thinker.

Shiv currently serves as the Operating Partner at Advent International, located in Gurgaon. Prior to his role at Advent International, he held the position of Group Executive President, Corporate Strategy at Aditya Birla Group. Before joining Aditya Birla Group, Shiv served as the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer at PepsiCo Holdings Private Limited in India. Additionally, he has held the position of CEO for emerging markets at Nokia in his previous professional endeavour’s.

​Shiv started his career as a management trainee in the Consumer Products Division at Hindustan Ciba Geigy before shifting to Hindustan Unilever Limited where he spent 19 years in sales, marketing and general management positions. He moved to Philips, India as Chief Executive Officer of the consumer electronics division in 2003.

Shiv joined Nokia in 2006 as the Managing Director, India. Under his management, Nokia built its entire services portfolio, including Nokia Life Tools. He was also instrumental in pushing low-cost mobile devices across rural India; making Nokia a dominant brand in India. He is credited for driving Nokia’s brand from No. 71 to No. 1 in the country. He was instrumental in making Nokia one of the top most trusted brands. Shiv moved as Sr. Vice President, Emerging Markets (India, Middle East, Africa) in 2011. This market accounts for 40% of Nokia’s global business and comprises of around 90 countries. His contribution during this time have become case studies at Harvard University, ISB and other Ivy League Institutes.

​In 2013, Shivakumar was appointed as the Chairperson & CEO of PepsiCo Holdings Private Limited, India where he managed brand portfolios across beverages, snacks and nutrition. He has been the driving force in bringing PepsiCo’s nutrition portfolio to the forefront with new launches under the Quaker and Tropicana brands. He is known for being the key driver for portfolio transformation and deepen consumer engagement with flagship brands. Apart from overseeing India operations, he also managed PepsiCo’s franchise business across Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

​As of January 2018, Shivakumar has joined Aditya Birla Group as the Group Executive President, Corporate Strategy. Aditya Birla Group is one of the largest Indian conglomerates with businesses spread across telecommunications, cement, chemicals, mining, textiles, financial services, retail and e-commerce, among others, in 36 countries. 

​Shiv agreed in principle to join Advent International on 18th January 2023. Advent International is one of the best PE firms for Diversity and Inclusion in 2022. Advent has about 125 Operating partners globally.