In a significant leadership move within the UAE’s fast-evolving beverage sector, Narasimha Rao has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of AirOWater Global LLC, part of a large conglomerate in the region. The appointment marks a new chapter for the sustainable water solutions company as it accelerates its expansion across premium still and sparkling water segments.
Rao brings over 26 years of diverse experience across Oman, the UAE, and India, with a proven track record of scaling, transforming, and turning around FMCG businesses. Having risen from frontline sales roles to organization-wide leadership, he has led multi-entity operations, manufacturing units, and cross-functional teams spanning production, supply chain, finance, marketing, HR, and IT.
Strategic Focus on Sustainable and Returnable Packaging
At AirOWater Global LLC, Rao will spearhead the company’s strategic scale-up plans by building a differentiated niche in sustainable hydration solutions. The company’s product roadmap reflects a strong ESG-driven agenda aligned with the UAE’s sustainability vision.
The sustainable product portfolio includes:
- Still water in Returnable Glass Bottles (RGB)
- Sparkling water in Returnable Glass Bottles (RGB) – to be launched soon in the UAE
- Still & Sparkling water in Non-Returnable Glass Bottles (NRGB) – upcoming launch
- Still & Sparkling Water in Aluminum Cans – upcoming launch
- Still water generated from the atmosphere
- Additional innovative variants currently under development
The emphasis on returnable glass bottles and aluminum packaging underscores AirOWater’s commitment to reducing plastic dependency while catering to environmentally conscious consumers and hospitality partners.
Track Record of Profit Acceleration and Business Transformation
Before taking on the CEO role, Rao served as General Manager at Al Shalal Pure Drinking Water LLC in Dubai, where he delivered 100% net profit growth in 2024 and 40% growth in 2023 through revenue expansion and cost optimization initiatives. He led strategic transformation initiatives covering business continuity planning, SOP redesign, digital upgrades, and cultural transformation.
Previously, as Country General Manager – Oman BU at Agthia Group, he drove significant profit growth across entities, including double-digit performance acceleration and commercial restructuring that substantially enhanced margins.
His earlier leadership stints with The Zubair Corporation, Oasis Water Company, Masafi, RC Cola International, and PepsiCo further strengthened his credentials in building brands from startup phase to market leadership across GCC markets.
Vision: Meaningful Business and Social Impact
Commenting on his new role, Rao expressed his intent to create “meaningful business and social impact” at what he describes as the pinnacle of his professional journey. Industry observers note that his appointment comes at a time when the UAE bottled water industry is witnessing increasing demand for premiumization, sustainability, and alternative water-generation technologies.
With ESG priorities, innovation in atmospheric water generation, and a diversified packaging strategy at the core, AirOWater Global LLC appears positioned to carve a strong presence in the UAE’s competitive hydration landscape.
