Cipla Names Achin Gupta as Next Global CEO from April 2026

The third-largest pharmaceutical business in India, Cipla, has finalized its long-discussed succession plan by confirming that Achin Gupta, its Global COO (GCOO), will be promoted to the position of Managing Director (MD) and Global CEO (GCEO) on April 1, 2026.

Gupta will take over as head of Cipla for a five-year period, replacing Umang Vohra, who has been in that position.

In an official statement, the company said, “This planned transition is in line with our succession process developed by the Board and ensures continuity, stability, and a clear vision for the future.”

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Gupta, a biochemical engineer by training, joined Cipla in 2021 as the CEO of the One India business and was elevated to Global COO in February 2025.

During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in driving Cipla Digital Health initiatives, expanding the company’s presence in chronic therapies, and transforming its retail operations.

Umang Vohra’s exit marks the conclusion of a distinguished ten-year leadership journey that earned recognition across Cipla and the wider pharmaceutical sector. Since taking charge in 2016, Vohra has been widely credited with repositioning Cipla from a potential acquisition target to a renewed market leader.A former Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories executive, Vohra was instrumental in strengthening Cipla’s dominance in the respiratory segment, spearheading its foray into next-generation therapies, and broadening its small-molecule generics portfolio.