Cherry Peach Plum | Growth Partners

Vani Gupta Dandia

Former Marketing Head at Pepsi Foods India, Vani brings over 25 years of experience across leading global and Indian brands including Pepsico, Unilever, Reckitt, Henkel, Leo Burnett, and BBDO.

At PepsiCo, Vani played a pivotal role in transforming a ₹2000+ crore brand portfolio -migrating the legacy Lehar brand from negative margins to profitability under Kurkure, and leading two major relaunches that turned around the business from two years of double-digit decline to sustained, double-digit growth.

Since then, she has worked with over 100 entrepreneurs and several VC fund houses, delivering measurable outcomes—including a 40%+ revenue increase in her first post-Pepsi project with Cars24.

Vani currently serves as a Senior Marketing Advisor with KPMG, teaches two courses on branding and consumer behaviour at Ashoka University, and is a certified Independent Director registered with the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA).

Strengths:

Strategic

Relator

Activator

Futuristic

Maximizer

Close to three decades of top industry experience

Former Marketing Head for PepsiCo Foods India

2018-Present

CherryPeachPlum Growth Partners

Founded an independent marketing, brand & sales consulting firm to help young companies with growth strategies
Worked with over 100 entrepreneurs across various sectors including food, health, tech, and consumer goods
Delivered significant growth metrics for clients including 40%+ growth for Cars24 in her first project

2011-2018

PepsiCo India

Marketing Director for Indian Snacks
Drove the turnaround of Kurkure from double-digit decline to double-digit revenue growth and profitability
Successfully migrated the Lehar brand to high positive margins under Kurkure
Received the ‘India Region Above and Beyond Chairman’s Award’ from Indra Nooyi

2005-2010

Unilever (Asia Region)

Launched a range of hair care products for colored hair in South East Asia & South Asia (10 countries). Beat Revenue and NOPBT Plan.
Championed the category creation strategy for hair conditioners in India.
Several New initiatives on Taaza Tea in the Hindi belt, re-launch of Sehantmand Tea.

2003-2005