Rakesh Tahiliani Appointed as Director – Marketing (Smartphone Division) at Samsung India | Redefining Consumer Technology Through Brand Purpose, Product Innovation, and Strategic Storytelling
In India’s high-velocity consumer technology market–where innovation meets aspiration and brands compete on both emotion and experience–Rakesh Tahiliani has emerged as a marketing leader who blends strategic clarity with creative excellence.
Now appointed as Director – Marketing (Smartphone Division) at Samsung India, Rakesh represents a new wave of marketing leadership–leaders who understand that brand building today is not just about visibility, but meaningful connection and sustained relevance.
With a career spanning nearly two decades across FMCG, health, and personal care giants, Rakesh has consistently demonstrated the ability to turn insights into impact–driving category growth, building high-performing teams, and creating campaigns that win both consumer trust and industry recognition.
Based in Gurugram, Rakesh now leads product marketing for the Galaxy A Series, one of Samsung’s most dynamic and fast-evolving smartphone portfolios. His mandate: to strengthen brand equity, amplify consumer engagement, and reinforce Samsung’s position as the most trusted name in mobile innovation.
A New Era at Samsung India: Humanizing Technology, Scaling Brand Leadership
Rakesh’s appointment as Director – Marketing (Smartphone Division) marks a significant milestone in his leadership journey–one that aligns with Samsung India’s continued commitment to design-led innovation and user-centric marketing.
At Samsung, he will spearhead marketing strategy, product positioning, and consumer engagement for the Galaxy A Series–bridging cutting-edge technology with relatable storytelling. His deep understanding of consumer psychology and market trends will play a pivotal role in driving Samsung’s next phase of growth in India’s competitive smartphone landscape.
Known for his ability to translate insights into campaigns that resonate, Rakesh brings to Samsung a unique blend of data-backed precision and creative empathy, ensuring that every marketing decision enhances brand love and business performance in equal measure.
Dabur India: Crafting Iconic Brands, Leading Market Transformation
Before joining Samsung, Rakesh spent over 13 years at Dabur India, where he redefined category leadership across some of India’s most trusted health and personal care brands.
As Marketing Lead – Dabur Hair Oils, he helmed Dabur’s flagship personal care category, leading brands like Dabur Amla Hair Oil to consistent growth through innovative campaigns and strategic portfolio expansion. His leadership helped the brand maintain dominance in a fiercely competitive segment.
Previously, as AGM – Marketing (Health Supplements), Rakesh led powerhouse brands such as Dabur Chyawanprash, Dabur Glucose, and Dabur Vita, driving new consumer narratives around health and immunity. His award-winning campaign, “Dawai Ki Dukaan”, not only reimagined traditional health positioning but also won Silver at the Effies, along with multiple accolades at ET DigiPlus, The MADDIES, and MOBEXX Awards.
As Category Head (Senior Marketing Manager) for Dabur Hair Oils, Rakesh led a ₹1200+ crore portfolio, delivering a turnaround that saw category growth outpace the market for nine consecutive quarters, resulting in a 140 bps gain in market share.
Through 6 new product launches across hair oil sub-segments and innovative campaigns like “Dabur Amla, What Women Want”, he positioned Dabur as a modern, emotionally resonant brand while maintaining its heritage of trust and quality.
His tenure at Dabur exemplified marketing leadership rooted in consumer insight, brand purpose, and strategic execution–qualities that define his leadership even today.
Entrepreneurial Leadership: Founding VANSAAR (Riaan Wellness)
Rakesh’s entrepreneurial spirit came to life as Head of Marketing and Co-founder of VANSAAR, a digital-first Ayurvedic wellness brand under Riaan Wellness Pvt. Ltd.
In this role, he demonstrated startup agility combined with corporate discipline–launching VANSAAR across E-commerce, D2C, and Traditional Trade channels, and scaling the business to ₹30+ crore in 17 months.
He built the brand from the ground up, from conceptualization and product strategy to communication and market expansion. The venture not only strengthened his digital marketing acumen but also deepened his understanding of consumer behavior in emerging wellness categories.
His success with VANSAAR proved that authentic storytelling, when coupled with executional excellence, can build enduring brands even in crowded markets.
Leadership Philosophy: Data, Discipline, and Human Connection
Rakesh’s leadership approach is rooted in three guiding principles:
- Purpose-driven Marketing: Every campaign must have a human truth at its core.
- Data-backed Creativity: Insights should guide storytelling, not limit it.
- Empowered Teams: Great marketing happens when teams feel ownership, trust, and creative freedom.
Colleagues and peers describe Rakesh as a calm strategist and empathetic leader, someone who leads not from authority, but from authenticity. He’s known for transforming teams into brand custodians who think long-term and act with agility.
His vision of marketing goes beyond campaigns–it’s about building brands that inspire trust, evoke emotion, and deliver measurable growth.
A Vision for the Future: Bridging Technology with Emotion
As Director – Marketing (Smartphone Division) at Samsung India, Rakesh is at the intersection of technology and emotion–where innovation meets aspiration.
He envisions the Galaxy A Series as more than just a smartphone range; it’s a lifestyle statement that reflects India’s evolving digital identity. His focus is on humanizing technology–making every product experience intuitive, inclusive, and inspiring.
By combining his FMCG expertise with Samsung’s technology leadership, Rakesh aims to create marketing ecosystems that transcend traditional advertising–where every brand interaction builds advocacy, not just awareness.
CXO Gateway Reflection: Redefining Modern Marketing Leadership
At CXO Gateway, we celebrate leaders like Rakesh Tahiliani, whose careers embody evolution, innovation, and impact.
From managing billion-rupee FMCG portfolios to shaping next-gen consumer technology narratives, Rakesh’s story represents the convergence of strategy, creativity, and leadership in the modern marketing world.