Rakesh Kapoor, born August 4, 1958, in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, is a distinguished Indian business leader who transformed Reckitt Benckiser into a global consumer health powerhouse. Educated at Modern School, New Delhi, Kapoor holds a BE in Chemical Engineering from BITS Pilani and MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur. Joining Reckitt & Colman in 1987, he steadily climbed through various roles before the company's merger with Benckiser.

Assuming CEO role on September 1, 2011, Kapoor led Reckitt Benckiser through transformative expansion focused on health and hygiene products including Dettol, Nurofen, Durex, and Strepsils. Strategic acquisitions included Schiff Nutrition International ($1.4 billion, 2012) and his boldest move: Mead Johnson Nutrition ($16.6 billion, 2017), adding Enfamil to Reckitt's portfolio.

After retiring in September 2019, Kapoor established the 12 Flags India Consumer Fund in August 2023, committing $100 million to early-stage Indian consumer businesses. His philanthropic legacy includes a $1.2 million donation to BITS Pilani, funding the Rakesh Kapoor Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.