Pawan Kumar Marella Joins Max Healthcare as Chief Experience & Brand Officer

Pawan Kumar Marella has joined Max Healthcare as Chief Experience and Brand Officer, moving into the healthcare sector after a 23-year career with Unilever. In his new role, Marella will lead the organisation’s brand, reputation and patient experience. Marella announced the appointment on LinkedIn, describing the move as a new area for him after more than two decades at Unilever. He said he was beginning the role by “listening and learning”, including revisiting high-school biology and chemistry. Extensive Commercial and Brand Leadership Experience The appointment brings a senior commercial and brand leader with experience across India, East Africa and Unilever’s global centre into a role that spans both brand building and patient experience within a healthcare organisation. During his tenure at Unilever, Marella held senior commercial leadership positions with P&L responsibility across multiple markets. His experience included managing portfolios ranging from $100 million to $350 million across India and East…

Marella announced the appointment on LinkedIn, describing the move as a new area for him after more than two decades at Unilever. He said he was beginning the role by “listening and learning”, including revisiting high-school biology and chemistry.

Extensive Commercial and Brand Leadership Experience

The appointment brings a senior commercial and brand leader with experience across India, East Africa and Unilever’s global centre into a role that spans both brand building and patient experience within a healthcare organisation.

During his tenure at Unilever, Marella held senior commercial leadership positions with P&L responsibility across multiple markets. His experience included managing portfolios ranging from $100 million to $350 million across India and East Africa, with a focus on revenue growth management, route-to-market architecture and portfolio strategy.

Marella also co-founded Unilever Ethiopia, where the business recorded more than 200% CAGR over three years. In East Africa, he grew the portfolio from $50 million to more than $100 million over four years. In India, he was involved in restoring market leadership for the Rs 1,000-crore Brooke Bond portfolio.

Digital and Commercial Transformation

Beyond market and portfolio leadership, Marella has also worked on commercial and digital transformation at Unilever’s global level.

He redesigned the company’s global digital and commercial marketing model, resulting in organisational savings of €45 million, and deployed a new marketing playbook across a marketing community of more than 5,000 people.

New Mandate at Max Healthcare

Marella’s move to Max Healthcare comes as brand and experience functions play an increasingly important role within large healthcare organisations, where patient interactions span clinical, digital and service touchpoints.

At Max Healthcare, his mandate combines these experience considerations with responsibility for the organisation’s brand and reputation, bringing together his background in commercial leadership, marketing and consumer experience.

Marella holds an MBA from IIM Calcutta and a B.Tech from IIT Kharagpur. He is also the author of Dear Rookie, Don’t Panic, published by Hay House India in 2025, and has previously served as Co-Chair of the World Federation of Advertisers’ Capability Forum.