Pizza Hut India appoints Aanandita Datta as CMO

Aanandita Datta has been named as Chief Marketing Officer of Pizza Hut India. Aanandita will be collaborating closely with Merrill Pereyra, who is the managing director of Pizza Hut Indian Subcontinent. She will be overseeing all aspects of branding and marketing, with the primary goal of turning Pizza Hut into a ‘Younger and Everyday’ brand by making Pizza Hut pizzas accessible and available to a much younger and large audience. A marketing expert with nearly 17 years of experience, the earlier designation of Aanandita was Global Brand Director, Unilever, based in the Netherlands. She played an instrumental role in driving Global Brand Equity, Brand Positioning and Purpose, Innovation Road Map, Core Strategy and Communication Development across emerging and developed markets.
Neha, Pizza Hut’s current Chief Marketing Officer, has been promoted to Senior Director, Marketing at Pizza Hut Global and will relocate to Dallas.
Aanandita has earlier worked with a major consumer goods companies, in charge of brands which are renowned globally such as Kissan, Lipton and Taaza at Unilever, as well as Corporate brand Unilever, Horlicks and Sensodyne at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Health Care and Whirlpool Refrigerators.
“Indian consumers today are highly globalised in their outlook and preferences, yet rooted in Indian tastes and traditions,” said Merrill Pereyra, managing director, Pizza Hut Indian Subcontinent, about the appointment. Aanandita’s distinguished career path, combining precious international experience with an extensive domestic work profile, is thus a perfect fit for us. As we embark on a rapid expansion and transformation to become a ‘Younger and Everyday’ brand in India, Aanandita’s experience managing high-level marquee brands will be critical in steering Pizza Hut India in the right direction. We welcome her to the Pizza Hut family and are looking forward to her contribution in the further strengthening of our position as India’s most trusted and loved pizza brand.”
“India is one of the most fascinating markets in the world at this day and age, and brands are opened up to unlimited experimentation and possibilities by our young demographic,” said Aanandita Datta, chief marketing officer at Pizza Hut India. I’ve been following Pizza Hut’s trajectory in India, and what the brand has accomplished in the last three years, despite the pandemic, is admirable. With a focus on technology, expansion, distinctive communication, disruptive products, value pricing, I have faith that Pizza Hut is already on the right track. I am thrilled to be working with this especially talented team and to keep our promise of Dil Khol Ke Delivering.”