Sharad Malhotra is a seasoned business leader in the automotive coatings and paints industry, currently serving as Managing Director of Nippon Paint India. With over 15 years of leadership experience within the Nippon Paint ecosystem, he has played a pivotal role in building and scaling multiple high-growth business verticals across automotive refinish, wood coatings, and light industrial paints.
Malhotra’s journey is defined by entrepreneurial execution within a corporate framework. He is widely recognized for establishing Nippon Paint’s automotive refinish business across India and expanding its footprint into international markets including Southeast Asia and the Middle East. His leadership has consistently focused on innovation, market development, and strengthening the aftermarket ecosystem.
Prior to this, he held leadership roles in automotive coatings, including experience with AkzoNobel, which helped shape his deep understanding of the refinish and coatings segment. His approach combines strategic thinking with grassroots execution, enabling scalable growth across diverse markets.
As the first Indian to lead Nippon Paint India, Malhotra is driving the company’s next phase of expansion, focusing on technology, customer-centric solutions, and industry collaboration. His leadership reflects a commitment to innovation, capability building, and long-term value creation in India’s evolving automotive ecosystem.
