Laxman Narasimhan Bio
Laxman Narasimhan (born 15 May 1967) is an Indian-born American business executive known for leading major global consumer companies. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has held senior leadership roles at McKinsey and Company, PepsiCo, Reckitt, and Starbucks, building a reputation for commercial transformation and global operations management.
He served as chief executive officer of Reckitt from 2019 to 2022 and as chief executive officer of Starbucks from 2023 to 2024. He also serves as a director of Verizon and Pendulum Therapeutics and is a trustee of the Brookings Institution.
Early Life and Background
Laxman Narasimhan was born on 15 May 1967 in Pune, Maharashtra, India, into a Hindu family. Growing up in one of India’s most academically active cities, he developed an early interest in engineering and global affairs that would later shape his career path.
He earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in mechanical engineering from the College of Engineering, Pune. This technical foundation gave him a structured approach to problem-solving that he would later apply to consumer industries and corporate turnarounds.
Narasimhan later moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed a Master of Arts in international studies from the Lauder Institute and a Master of Business Administration in finance from the Wharton School, equipping him with the cross-cultural and financial toolkit required for global leadership.
Path to Chief Executive Officer
After completing his graduate education, Laxman Narasimhan joined McKinsey and Company, where he spent 19 years rising through the ranks. He worked across the firm’s Cleveland, Tokyo, Toronto, Silicon Valley, New Delhi, and London offices, eventually serving as a director and location manager for the New Delhi office while overseeing work for consumer-facing companies across Asia.
In 2012, he joined PepsiCo as a senior leader and rose to the role of chief commercial officer, where he was responsible for global commercial strategy across the company’s food and beverage portfolio. His seven years at PepsiCo established his reputation as a hands-on operator capable of managing large, complex consumer brands.
In September 2019, Narasimhan was named chief executive officer of Reckitt Benckiser, succeeding Rakesh Kapoor. He was widely viewed as a seasoned consumer-products executive prepared to lead a multinational company through its next phase of growth, which set the stage for his transition to one of the most visible CEO roles in global retail.
Laxman Narasimhan Career
Early Career at McKinsey (1993–2012)
Laxman Narasimhan began his professional career at McKinsey and Company, where he spent 19 years until 2012. During this period, he worked across the firm’s Cleveland, Tokyo, Toronto, Silicon Valley, New Delhi, and London offices, gaining broad exposure to consumer industries and international markets.
He eventually became a director and location manager for the firm’s New Delhi office, overseeing consulting work for consumer-facing companies across Asia. This long tenure at McKinsey gave him a strong foundation in strategy, operations, and consumer behavior that would shape his later executive roles.
PepsiCo Years (2012–2019)
In 2012, Laxman Narasimhan joined PepsiCo, where he rose to the position of chief commercial officer. In this role, he oversaw global commercial strategy for one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, working across multiple regions and product categories.
His seven years at PepsiCo were marked by sustained involvement in brand building, market expansion, and commercial transformation. By the time he departed in 2019, he had built a reputation as an experienced operator capable of leading large, complex consumer businesses.
Reckitt Leadership (2019–2022)
Laxman Narasimhan was appointed chief executive officer of Reckitt Benckiser in September 2019, succeeding Rakesh Kapoor. Upon taking office, he formulated a turnaround plan intended to rejuvenate the company following a period of missteps and lackluster growth during his predecessor’s final years.
During his tenure, Narasimhan prioritized growth and investment in Reckitt’s health, nutrition, and hygiene divisions while shedding noncore brands. In September 2022, the company unexpectedly announced his resignation, explaining that he had decided for personal and family reasons to relocate back to the United States and had been approached for an opportunity that would enable him to live there.
Starbucks Era (2022–2024)
In September 2022, Starbucks announced that Laxman Narasimhan would become the company’s next chief executive officer. He joined Starbucks as interim CEO in October 2022 and succeeded Howard Schultz as CEO in April 2023, after Kevin Johnson resigned in March 2022.
Prior to taking over as CEO, Narasimhan trained as a barista for six months to gain firsthand understanding of what changes the company needed. The New York Times has described him as less resistant to Starbucks unionization than his predecessor. In 2023, his total compensation from Starbucks was $14.6 million, or 1,028 times the median employee pay at the company for that year.
In August 2024, Starbucks announced that Narasimhan would leave the company effective immediately, and he was replaced by Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol. His departure concluded a brief but closely watched tenure at the head of one of the world’s most recognized consumer brands.
Notable Events and Milestones
A defining moment of Laxman Narasimhan’s career came when he trained as a Starbucks barista for six months before formally taking the CEO role, an unusual move that signaled his commitment to learning the business from the front line. His rapid ascent from consultant to leading two FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies marked him as one of the most prominent Indian-born American executives in global consumer industries.
Laxman Narasimhan Board Roles and Affiliations
Alongside his executive positions, Laxman Narasimhan serves as a director of Verizon and Pendulum Therapeutics, and as a trustee of the Brookings Institution. In October 2025, he joined the board of directors of Pendulum Therapeutics, a microbiome science company, continuing his involvement in governance across telecommunications, health science, and policy research.
Laxman Narasimhan Family
Family Background
Laxman Narasimhan was born into a Hindu family in Pune, India. He later relocated to the United States, where he built his professional life and raised his family.
Personal Life
Laxman Narasimhan is married with two children and lives in Greenwich, Connecticut. He speaks six languages, a skill that reflects his international career and cross-cultural leadership experience.