McCain Foods India MD Piyush Patnaik resigns amid allegations of Improper Conduct

INDIA—Piyush Patnaik, who served as the managing director of McCain Foods India, has stepped down from his position, a position he has held since October last year.

McCain Foods (India) is a fully owned subsidiary of McCain Foods Limited, which is based in Canada.

McCain has been involved in agriculture R&D and the growth of the frozen food business in India and the subcontinent since 1998.

According to an insider with firsthand knowledge of the matter who provided insights to the Economic Times (ET) about this event, his departure was due to claims of “improper conduct.”

The customary tenure for leadership roles at McCain is typically four years.

This trend of resignation due to “improper conduct” has led to the departure of half a dozen senior-level executives from the Canadian food manufacturer’s India unit in the last six months.

Notably, senior executives in various departments, including human resources, finance, agriculture, supply chain, retail key accounts, legal, and exports, have all been affected.

In the wake of this revelation, an official from McCain Foods India confirmed Piyush Patnaik’s departure.

According to a source close to the matter, Patnaik’s departure was spurred by claims of “inappropriate conduct” within the organization.

In response to an email from the Economic Times, McCain India’s office and worldwide headquarters stated that they have no further comment on his departure due to internal confidentiality concerns.

When ET inquired about Patnaik’s resignation, he stated that he had done so for personal reasons and would prefer to pursue other interests.

A McCain spokesman provided more information, adding that the company has implemented multiple personnel changes in the last year as part of its worldwide effort to align and optimize leadership roles across the organization.

The spokesperson emphasized that this involved creating new leadership opportunities worldwide and making structural enhancements in various business areas in India.