Aarti Drugs Ltd. (NSE: AARTIDRUGS, BSE: 524348) has announced a significant leadership transition as part of its long-term succession planning and governance strategy. The company’s Board of Directors has approved the appointment of Rashesh C. Gogri as Chairman, in addition to his current role as Managing Director, and Adhish P. Patil as Managing Director, effective October 1, 2026.
The appointments were approved at the Board meeting held on July 31, 2026, based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. The leadership reshuffle is aimed at strengthening corporate governance while supporting Aarti Drugs’ next phase of strategic growth across its API, formulations and specialty chemicals businesses.
Copy of Press Release
Prakash Patil to Step Down After Decades of Leadership
As part of the transition, Prakash M. Patil, who has served as Chairman since 2014 and has been associated with Aarti Drugs since its inception, will retire from his executive roles as Chairman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at the close of business on September 30, 2026.
The company said Patil will continue to remain associated with Aarti Drugs in an advisory capacity, providing strategic guidance and ensuring a smooth leadership transition.
Rashesh Gogri Elevated to Chairman
Rashesh C. Gogri has served as Managing Director of Aarti Drugs since September 2014 after previously serving as Whole-time Director. With more than 27 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, he has played a key role in expanding the company’s manufacturing capabilities, project execution and market presence.
Apart from Aarti Drugs, Gogri also serves as Vice-Chairman & Managing Director of Aarti Industries Ltd. and Chairman of Aarti Pharmalabs Ltd.
Commenting on his elevation, Gogri said the company will continue to build on its foundation of scientific excellence, quality and reliability while expanding its capabilities across APIs and formulations.
Adhish Patil Named Managing Director
The Board also appointed Adhish P. Patil, currently the Chief Financial Officer, as Managing Director with effect from October 1, 2026, subject to shareholders’ approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting.
Patil has been associated with Aarti Drugs since 2014 and has led the company’s finance, technical and commercial functions. He holds an engineering degree from Mumbai University and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business Administration.
Recognized among India’s leading finance professionals, Patil was featured in the Top 100 CFOs India 2014 and the Top 20 CFOs in India 2024 rankings.
Company Says Strategy Remains Unchanged
Aarti Drugs emphasized that the leadership transition does not alter its long-term business strategy. Instead, the restructuring is intended to strengthen the company’s governance framework while maintaining continuity in operations and accelerating execution across manufacturing, research & development and commercial functions.
According to the company, promoting leaders who have grown within the organization preserves institutional knowledge while enabling faster decision-making and sustainable long-term value creation.
About Aarti Drugs
Established in 1984, Aarti Drugs is part of the $6 billion Aarti Group and is among India’s leading pharmaceutical companies engaged in manufacturing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), pharmaceutical intermediates, specialty chemicals and formulations.
The company operates 14 manufacturing facilities across Maharashtra, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh through its subsidiary Pinnacle Life Science Private Limited and manufactures products including Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride, Metformin HCL, Ketoconazole, Ofloxacin and Metronidazole.
