September 2025: Cargill has recently announced key leadership appointments to strengthen its strategic operations and accelerate growth in India, reaffirming its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and people-first values. Ravinder Balain has been appointed Country President for Cargill in India, while Dheeraj Talreja has joined as Vice President and Managing Director for Food South Asia.
- HIGHLIGHTS
- Ravinder Balain named Country President; Dheeraj Talreja to lead Food Enterprise for South Asia
- Strategic appointments aim to strengthen partnerships, enhance operational excellence, deepen customer focus and deliver innovative solutions across South Asia’s food and agriculture sectors
Ravinder Balain, who joined Cargill in 2024, assumes the country leadership role in addition to serving as Senior Managing Director for Cargill’s Animal Nutrition & Health (ANH) business. In his expanded capacity, he will drive strategic collaboration across Cargill’s enterprises and functions in India, lead the company’s India operations and market growth, strengthen government and stakeholder engagement, ensure business continuity, and provide strategic counsel to the global executive team on India’s evolving business landscape.
He will also continue to oversee Cargill’s Animal Nutrition & Health (ANH) business in South Asia, ensuring the delivery of Cargill’s nutritional core into high-quality and innovative nutrition solutions through renowned brands like Purina, Provimi & Vetcare. Spanning a career of over 33 years, his prior experience includes serving as Managing Director for South Asia and Southeast Asia at Corteva Agrisciences (DuPont). He also spent over three decades in senior global and regional marketing roles at DuPont, where he focused on market development and talent capability building.
“India is a strategic growth market for Cargill, and I am honored to lead our efforts here,” said Ravinder Balain. “Our focus will be on deepening partnerships, driving innovation, and delivering sustainable solutions that support our customers and communities. Together, we will build on Cargill’s strong foundation and unlock new opportunities for growth.”
Dheeraj Talreja joins Cargill as Vice President and Managing Director, Food South Asia. He is a seasoned professional with a distinguished career spanning over two decades across diverse industries and geographies, including food ingredients, specialty chemicals, and manufacturing. Most recently, he was leading AAK India, South Asia & Sub-Saharan Africa, where he drove the company’s transformation from a joint venture to a wholly owned entity.
He has also held senior leadership roles at Huntsman Singapore, where he was instrumental in driving commercial strategy and operational turnaround across North East and South East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and other high-growth markets. At Cargill, he will be responsible for delivering on Food APAC strategic priorities, including driving innovation, operational excellence, and customer engagement across South Asia.
“I am excited to join Cargill at this pivotal moment. India’s food, health and nutrition landscape is evolving rapidly. I look forward to working with our teams, partners and stakeholders to deliver innovative, nutritious, customer-centric solutions and driving Cargill’s purpose of nourishing the world. Cargill’s legacy and values resonate deeply with me, and I am committed to driving the impact agenda in this key geography for Cargill.”
Marking a new chapter for of growth in India, the newly appointed leadership team will bring a bold strategic vision and deep industry expertise, harnessing Cargill’s 38 years of market experience to deliver long-term value for customers, partners, employees, and communities across India.
About Cargill
Cargill is committed to providing food, ingredients, agricultural solutions, and industrial products to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. Sitting at the heart of the supply chain, we partner with farmers and customers to source, make, and deliver products that are vital for living. Our 160,000 team members innovate with purpose, providing customers with life’s essentials so businesses can grow, communities prosper, and consumers live well. With 159 years of experience as a family company, we look ahead while remaining true to our values. We put people first. We reach higher. We do the right thing, today and for generations to come. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.
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