Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Former Nestlé India Chief Shares Leadership Lessons From Crisis
Suresh Narayanan was a senior leader at Nestlé for 26 years.
He had to help the company during several very difficult events.
One major event was the 2015 ban on Maggi noodles in India.
He returned to lead Nestlé India and helped bring Maggi back to stores in five months.
He says good leaders are not always the loudest or most charismatic people.
Leadership can be learned through coaching, practice and support.
During a crisis, leaders should speak clearly and honestly.
They should also treat employees with respect when making painful decisions.
Narayanan believes that caring for people helps organisations become stronger.
Suresh Narayanan’s new book examines leadership during the Arab Spring, the Maggi crisis, Covid and other difficult periods.
Narayanan returned to lead Nestlé India during the 2015 Maggi ban and helped bring the product back to stores in five months.
He argues that leadership is cultivated through coaching, guidance and stepping up during difficult times, rather than relying on charisma.
Narayanan says crisis communication should be simple, clear, authentic and transparent, with leaders personally taking responsibility.
He advocates putting people at the centre of difficult decisions, including considering employees’ personal circumstances during retrenchments.
- Who
- Suresh Narayanan, former chairman and managing director of Nestlé India.
- What
- He discussed his book Courage Under Fire and his lessons on leadership, crisis management, communication and employee care.
- When
- Narayanan retired as Nestlé India’s chairman and managing director last year; the interview’s publication date is not specified.
- Where
- The discussion covers Nestlé operations in India, the Philippines and Egypt, among other settings.
- Why
- He wrote the book to share his perspective on managing difficult situations and how respect, empowerment and care for people can strengthen organisations.
- Author
- Suresh Narayanan
- Book
- Courage Under Fire: Leadership Lessons from the Arab Spring, Maggi Crisis, Covid & More
- Publisher and length
- Penguin Business; 232 pages
- Price
- ₹699
- Nestlé tenure
- 26 years across roles and geographies
- Maggi crisis
- Narayanan helped return Maggi to Indian stores five months after the 2015 ban
- Communication advice
- Leaders should communicate simply, clearly, authentically and transparently
- Employee decisions
- Before cutting jobs, leaders should consider whether other budgets can be reduced and account for individual circumstances