Safex Group Names Richa Malhotra as Group Chief Financial Officer

Safex Chemicals, one of India’s established players in crop protection and specialty chemicals, has appointed Richa Malhotra as its Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO), bringing in a finance leader with deep global banking and capital markets experience as the company enters a critical phase of strategic expansion.

Malhotra, a Chartered Accountant and alumna of the prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce, carries over two decades of experience spanning business finance, corporate banking, financial markets and strategy. Most recently, she served as Executive Director, Financial Markets at Standard Chartered Bank, where she led teams across India and Sri Lanka, advising major corporates on capital structuring, treasury operations and risk management. Her international exposure and command over complex financial instruments make her a strong fit for a group that now operates across more than 20 countries.

In her new role, Malhotra will take charge of Safex Group’s financial strategy, capital planning and governance framework – responsibilities that carry significant weight as the company simultaneously scales its branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) businesses.

Piyush Jindal, Promoter Director and Joint Managing Director at Safex Group, underscored the strategic intent behind the hire. He described Safex as standing at an inflection point, building an integrated platform that demands stronger financial discipline and sharper strategic oversight. Jindal expressed confidence that Malhotra’s experience across global financial institutions would reinforce the group’s financial foundation and accelerate its growth plans.

Malhotra, for her part, spoke warmly of the opportunity. She noted Safex’s strong 35-year track record built on innovation and agricultural solutions, and expressed enthusiasm about contributing to its next chapter as the group expands its global footprint.

The appointment is well-timed. India’s specialty chemicals and agrochemicals sector is witnessing a surge of interest from global buyers seeking supply chain diversification, and domestic companies with strong manufacturing capabilities and financial discipline are well-placed to benefit. For Safex, having a seasoned CFO with global financial markets experience could prove decisive as it pursues further acquisitions, enters new geographies and deepens its CDMO relationships with international partners.

With Malhotra now at the helm of its financial strategy, Safex Group appears to be assembling the leadership firepower needed to match its growing ambitions on the world stage.