[6][7] Narasimhan worked for McKinsey for 19 years until 2012, rising to director and location manager for their New Delhi office.

[6] Narasimhan succeeded Rakesh Kapoor as CEO of Reckitt Benckiser in September 2019,[7][8] formulating a turnaround plan which was intended to rejuvenate the company "following a series of missteps and lacklustre growth that marked the final years of his predecessor".

[9] In September 2022 the company unexpectedly announced his resignation, explaining that he had "decided for personal and family reasons to relocate back to the United States and has been approached for an opportunity that enables him to live there.

[3][11] Prior to Narasimhan taking over as CEO, he trained as a barista for six months to learn what changes needed to be made.

[15] In August 2024, Starbucks announced that Narasimhan would leave the company effective immediately, and was replaced by Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol.