CEO Analysis of Sanjiv Puri of ITC Limited: A Multi-Framework Evaluation of Technology-Led Leadership, Strategic Diversification, and Sustainable Transformation

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research case study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of Sanjiv Puri’s leadership and strategic transformation initiatives at ITC Limited. The study aims to evaluate his influence on organizational growth, sustainability integration, digital transformation, and stakeholder value creation through analytical frameworks such as SWOC, ABCD, CEOPA, KPI evaluation, and the CEO Performance Matrix. Ultimately, the research seeks to examine how technology-led leadership and strategic diversification contribute to long-term competitiveness and organizational resilience in a diversified Indian conglomerate.

Methodology: This exploratory qualitative case study utilizes data collected from credible secondary sources such as official company reports, scholarly journal articles indexed in Google Scholar, business databases, industry publications, and AI-driven GPT tools. The collected information is analyzed using structured analytical frameworks aligned with the objectives of the study, including SWOC analysis, ABCD analysis, PESTLE analysis, CEOPA framework, KPI evaluation, and the CEO Performance Matrix.

Result/Analysis: The research analysis reveals that Sanjiv Puri’s leadership at ITC Limited reflects a balanced integration of strategic diversification, sustainability-driven growth, technological modernization, and stakeholder-oriented management. The application of SWOC, ABCD, PESTLE, KPI evaluation, CEOPA, and the CEO Performance Matrix indicates that his leadership significantly strengthened ITC’s FMCG expansion, digital transformation initiatives, agri-business modernization, and ESG positioning while maintaining strong financial stability. Overall, the study demonstrates that Puri’s technology-led and sustainability-focused leadership substantially enhanced ITC’s competitiveness, organizational adaptability, and long-term value creation across multiple business verticals.

Originality/Value: The originality of this research case study lies in its multi-framework evaluation of Sanjiv Puri’s leadership using SWOC, ABCD, PESTLE, KPI evaluation, CEOPA, and the CEO Performance Matrix to systematically analyze the strategic transformation of ITC Limited. The study adds value by bridging leadership theory with real-time corporate transformation, offering a replicable analytical framework for evaluating CEOs managing diversified conglomerates in rapidly evolving digital and sustainability-driven business environments.

Type of Paper: Qualitative Exploratory Case Study.