Case study of Godrej Agrovet limited: navigating gender diversity in corporate leadership

Research methodology This case was developed using secondary data sources. These included publicly accessible reports on corporate governance, annual reports, regulatory filings, media articles and industry analyses in regard to Godrej Agrovet Limited and board diversity practices in India. The development of this case did not involve any main interviews. All organizational and individual names, roles and events described in the case are drawn from publicly disclosed information and have not been disguised. Because the case is built solely on secondary data that can be accessed in the public domain, no ethics review board approval or organizational permissions were required. Case overview/synopsis In November 2023, Godrej Agrovet Limited (GAVL), a publicly listed agribusiness subsidiary of the Godrej Group, encountered a governance dilemma centered on gender diversity at the board level. The company already surpassed India’s legal mandate by maintaining six women on a thirteen-member board roughly 46% female representation, far exceeding the national average of about 20%. The Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC), chaired by Dr Ritu Anand (Independent Director), convened on November 3, 2023, in Mumbai to finalize nominations for the upcoming financial year. The committee faced a complex governance decision regarding the future direction of board-level gender diversity, shaped by regulatory expectations, evolving investor scrutiny, internal board dynamics and the company’s stated commitment to inclusive leadership. Any recommendation would require balancing compliance obligations with questions of board effectiveness, legitimacy and long-term strategic governance. The case invites students to step into Dr Anand’s position and develop a reasoned recommendation grounded in corporate law, governance principles and ethical judgment. Complexity academic level This case is designed for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses on Corporate Governance, Business Law, Business Ethics, Environmental, Social and Governance Management and Strategic Human Resource Management. It fits especially well with MBA, Executive MBA and Master of Law (LLM) degrees, as well as upper-level undergraduate business courses that have already been exposed to governance frameworks. The case can be offered as in-seat, hybrid or completely online. It implements facilitated discussion and group-based decision analysis in in-seat and hybrid format. Asynchronous discussion boards or synchronous breakout sessions can be made with adaptation in online settings. The case has been tested in graduate-level courses on management and governance and elicited enduring debate on regulatory compliance, the role of ethical leadership and board effectiveness.