SM Datta, Architect of HUL’s 1990s Acquisitions, Passes Away

Susim Mukul (SM) Datta, the former chairman of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), passed away in Mumbai at the age of 89. A veteran of the Indian corporate world, Datta played a pivotal role in shaping HUL’s strategic direction in the 1990s through major mergers and acquisitions (M&A), significantly expanding the company's presence in the food and beverages sector.

Datta began his journey with HUL (then Hindustan Lever) in 1956 as a management trainee. A science graduate in chemistry from Presidency College, Kolkata, he pursued his post-graduation in science and technology from Calcutta University before joining HUL. Over the years, he rose steadily through the ranks and was appointed chairman of the company in 1990. His tenure lasted six years until 1996 and was marked by aggressive growth and strategic consolidation.

One of the defining features of Datta’s leadership was his visionary approach to diversification. Under his stewardship, HUL executed several major acquisitions that laid the groundwork for its presence in the food and beverages segment. Notable among them was the acquisition of the Kissan brand (known for jams and ketchup) from the UB Group, and Dollops ice cream from Cadbury’s, which marked the company’s entry into the food sector. In 1994, HUL’s competitor, Tata Oil Mills Company (TOMCO), was merged with HUL in a landmark deal that solidified HUL’s dominance in the FMCG space.

Datta also oversaw the strategic acquisition of the Kwality ice cream business by Brooke Bond, which later merged with Lipton India to form Brooke Bond Lipton India. Eventually, in 1996, he orchestrated the merger of Brooke Bond Lipton India with HUL, bringing all these diverse business segments under a single corporate umbrella. These moves helped position HUL as a diversified FMCG powerhouse in India.

Apart from his contributions to HUL, SM Datta was actively involved in various industry bodies and held prominent positions. He was a past president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) and the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), playing a key role in influencing industry policies and practices.

Even after his retirement from HUL, Datta continued to contribute to the corporate world in advisory and leadership roles. He served as the non-executive chairman of several major organizations including IL&FS Investment Managers, Philips India, and Castrol India. His boardroom experience also extended to several other companies like Peerless General Finance & Investment Co., Linde India, Rabo India Finance, and Wockhardt Hospitals, among others.

SM Datta is remembered as a visionary business leader whose decisions in the 1990s reshaped Hindustan Unilever’s trajectory and left a lasting impact on India’s FMCG sector. His legacy includes not just the corporate growth he steered but also his commitment to good governance and professional excellence across multiple industries.