When contacted, Lahiri, ex-Hindustan Lever, told The Financial Express: ``I'm headed to the Middle East and UK where I am slated to takeover as managing director of two consumer products and luxury product companies with effect from September 1, this year.''

Lahiri did not wish to disclose the names of the two companies, but indicated that India will soon be part of the companies' global expansion initiative.

Lahiri has been with JL Morison since December 1996 and has been instrumental in giving a marketing push to Nivea which was relaunched three years back. Products under Nivea include creams, moisturising lotions, skin toners and soap. The Nivea range also offers toiletry products for men.

The company's latest attempt is to modernise the Nivea brand which has stood for 120 years on a single focused platform - Nivea forever - and has been greatly associated as a brand for the mother and grandmother.

Another major milestone under Lahiri's watch has been the establishment of ajoint venture company called European Hair Cosmetics (India) with hair colour major Wella AG. The joint venture has introduced the Wella range in the Indian market and also has a three-year tie-up with the Taj Group of hotels for exclusively stocking Wella hair colours in its beauty parlours across the country.

Prior to JL Morison, Lahiri was with HLL as part of the multinational's international marketing team. Lahiri is thus revisiting an "old territory" in global marketing. Before joining Levers, Lahiri was with Jokai Tea, which is now Rossel Industries and part of the Unilever group.

He quit HLL to join JL Morison in 1995-96 which was then undergoing operational restructuring to bring about a renewed focus on flagship brand Nivea.

Lahiri, whose stint at Levers lasted for a decade, projected his sentiments for JL Morison as those that are the most deeply revered. JL Morison is yet to find a replacement for Lahiri. Growing at the rate of about 30 per cent per annum, JL Morison has a turnover of Rs 31 crore last year.

Certain distribution initiatives were also undertaken to push the brand penetration, JL Morison recently unleashed "Operation Bazaar" aimed at increasing its the reach from two lakh outlets to three lakh outlets in the metro and mini metro cities.