P&G's new India chief, Madhusudhan Gopalan, faces a sales challenge

The current head of P&G's Indonesia business has to improve sales growth, while watching profitability

Procter & Gamble, the world’s largest consumer goods company, announced a new India managing director-cum-chief executive officer last week. Madhusudhan Gopalan, 42, will take charge on April 1 from Al Rajwani. But this is not going to be an easy assignment for him.

The pace of the India business of P&G has been slowing for some time. Gopalan, alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management at Kolkata, has been with P&G all his working life. He will have to improve sales growth, while watching profitability.

For the year ended March 31, 2017, net sales of P&G Home Products, unlisted Indian