Sheela Foam Reappoints Rahul Gautam As CMD, Namita Gautam As Whole-Time Director, And Tushaar Gautam As Vice Chairman & Joint MD
Rahul Gautam has been reappointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Sheela Foam Limited. His wife, Namita Gautam, has been reappointed as Whole-Time Director, while their son Tushaar Gautam has been reappointed as Vice Chairman and Joint MD. Rakesh Chahar has been reappointed as Deputy Managing Director (Dy MD) and Whole-Time Director. All four reappointments will be effective from April 1, 2027.
Additionally, Hiroo Mirchandani, Rajeev Srivastava, and Sudhir Shenoy have been appointed as Independent Directors (Additional Directors) of the company, with effect from June 6, 2026.
Rahul Gautam is the Executive Chairman of Sheela Foam and Chairman of its subsidiaries in Australia and Spain. He co-founded Sheela Foam in 1971 along with Sheela Gautam, a former Member of Parliament. He is also Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Indian Polyurethane Association. He has more than 50 years of experience in the polyurethane foam and home comfort products industry and led the expansion of the Sleepwell brand and the acquisition of Kurlon in 2023. Gautam holds a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, a master’s degree from New York University, and a doctorate in Global Leadership and Management from European International University.
Namita Gautam has served as Whole-Time Director at Sheela Foam since 1984. Professionally qualified in corporate law, she earlier handled roles across human resources, marketing, and projects within the company. Since 2001, she has been Managing Trustee of the Sleepwell Foundation, which works on emotional wellness and skill development initiatives. She has also led projects focused on women’s empowerment, including the adoption of Jijabai ITI for Women in Delhi, where she has chaired the Institute Management Committee since 2009. Gautam has earlier held leadership positions at the FICCI Ladies Organisation and the Confederation of Indian Industry. She is also a member of the Central Apprenticeship Council.
Tushaar Gautam is the MD of Sheela Foam and oversees the company’s operations, product development, and expansion initiatives. Under his leadership, Sheela Foam expanded its international presence through JOYCE and INTERPLASP and strengthened its business portfolio through associations with Kurlon and Furlenco. He has also worked on product development, manufacturing technology, and sustainability initiatives, including Variable Pressure Foaming and LEED-certified operations. Gautam has been involved in the company’s digital and e-commerce expansion strategies and consumer-focused brand campaigns. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from Purdue University.
Rakesh Chahar has more than three decades of experience in sales, marketing & operations and has been associated with Sheela Foam since 1990. He has served as Whole-Time Director since 2003. He has played a role in expanding the company’s mattress and polyurethane foam business, including the growth of the Sleepwell and Kurlon brands. His work has included building dealer networks, retail expansion, channel sales, and integration of manufacturing and procurement operations. He also oversees growth in institutional and industrial segments and has worked on operational integration following the Kurlon acquisition. Outside the company, Chahar serves as Chairman of the Indian Sleep Products Federation, where he has been involved in industry research, retail training programmes, and sustainability initiatives related to mattress manufacturing and recycling.
Hiroo Mirchandani has three decades of operational experience in customer-focused businesses and more than a decade of experience as an Independent Director across sectors, including consumer goods, healthcare, telecom, financial services, and hospitality. Before joining corporate boards, she previously held leadership roles in sales, marketing, and profit and loss management at Asian Paints, Dabur, World Gold Council, and Pfizer. She holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Shri Ram College of Commerce and an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi. She is also a Chevening Gurukul scholar from the London School of Economics and Political Science and holds certifications in ESG and sustainability.
Rajeev Srivastava is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CoreOps.AI, which develops AI-based platforms for enterprise system modernisation and operational management. Previously, he served as MD and Board Member of Redington Group and later as CEO & MD of Indian Energy Exchange, where he worked on the launch of India’s gas exchange platform. Earlier in his career, he led Asia Pacific and Japan operations at HP Inc. and also held senior roles at Microsoft. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from BITS Pilani and a diploma in international business from the Helsinki School of Management.
Sudhir Shenoy has more than 35 years of experience in the chemicals and materials science sector, including a long association with Dow. During his career, he earlier held leadership roles across India, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, including Country President and CEO of Dow India and Senior Vice President (SVP) at EQUATE Petrochemical Company, a joint venture involving Dow. Shenoy has also served as Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in India and Co-Chair of the Confederation of Indian Industry. Shenoy holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a master’s degree in marketing management.
