CXO Lanes

Vivek Manchanda has joined NBSL (NPCI BHIM Services Limited) as the Head – Alliances & Partnerships, bringing with him an extensive background in digital banking, channel management, and strategic partnerships. With a proven track record in leading national-level initiatives, Vivek is poised to enhance NBSL’s partner ecosystem, foster strategic alliances, and scale BHIM’s reach across the country’s rapidly evolving payments landscape. Prior to this, Vivek served as the National Head – Digital Banking Sales, Alliances & Partnerships at YES BANK, where he was instrumental in forging and managing key alliances that contributed to the bank's digital transformation. His leadership was crucial in driving adoption of digital banking solutions and deepening partner integrations to support scalable growth. Vivek’s professional journey spans several leading financial institutions. At IndusInd Bank, he held the role of Head – Alternate Channels, managing FPI/FVCI/FDI/Custody/ Con...

Sunil Achar has taken on a new leadership role as Associate Vice President & Delivery Head at TRUGlobal Inc., marking a significant step in his professional journey. With over 23 years of rich industry experience across diverse domains and technologies, Sunil brings with him a well-rounded perspective and a track record of delivering strategic outcomes. In his new position at TRUGlobal, Sunil will lead delivery teams across multiple strategic clients. His role will focus on scaling the business by driving delivery excellence, fostering strong customer engagement, and enhancing account growth through a technology-first approach. Additionally, he will spearhead the streamlining of PMO activities and act as the process champion for delivery frameworks, with a goal to embed industry-best practices across multi-technology projects. Prior to joining TRUGlobal Inc., Sunil served as Delivery Head at Sonata Software, where he played a pivotal role in ensuring high-impact client delivery ...

Ashish Pasari has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer at MIC Global . With a stellar career spanning over 15 years at renowned organizations like Acko General Insurance, Magma HDI General Insurance, IntraSoft Technologies, Bolloré Africa Logistics India, and PwC, Ashish brings unmatched expertise in strategic finance, fundraising, and scalable business growth. His appointment marks a key leadership addition as MIC Global sharpens its focus on financial transformation and global expansion. In his most recent role as Director of Finance at Acko General Insurance, Ashish played a pivotal role in redefining financial operations by integrating automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analytics. His forward-thinking approach not only drove explosive growth but also ensured sustainable, tech-led operational excellence. At Acko, he led critical initiatives in financial planning, product profitability, and mergers & acquisitions—earning him a reputation as a visionar...

Shahid Khan has joined Agentyne Inc. as the new Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), marking a significant leadership addition to the AI-driven enterprise solutions company. With a career spanning over 24 years, Shahid brings with him a wealth of expertise across sales, marketing, and alliance management, having led initiatives in both Indian and international markets. A technology enthusiast and strategic leader, Shahid has held key roles at global technology powerhouses such as Apple, Intel, Microsoft, and Dell-EMC. His diverse experience in building and scaling digital initiatives has positioned him as a transformative leader in the intersection of technology and business growth. At each of these organizations, he played instrumental roles in shaping go-to-market strategies and accelerating enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. At Agentyne, Shahid will lead the company’s revenue strategy, focusing on expanding the company’s footprint in the enterprise AI space. His deep understan...

Abhinav Johary has been promoted to Assistant Vice President – Operations at Tata 1mg, a significant step in his dynamic career within the supply chain and operations ecosystem. In his new role, Abhinav will lead the end-to-end Supply Chain Operations Charter, focusing on building cost-efficient, scalable, and customer-centric solutions across the Pharmacy and Diagnostics divisions. This strategic elevation reflects his exceptional contributions and the pivotal role he plays in advancing Tata 1mg’s mission of making quality healthcare accessible and affordable. Abhinav's expanded mandate includes oversight of both the Pharmacy Supply Chain and the Diagnostics Supply Chain, ensuring seamless and high-quality service delivery across verticals. He is now tasked with driving operational excellence, reducing turnaround times, and improving customer experience while maintaining cost efficiency. His focus areas also span across national fulfillment and logistics strategy, supply chain n...

Dushyant Tyagi has been elevated to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at TPCODL (TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited) — a significant milestone in his remarkable career in the power and utility sector. Over the last two decades, Dushyant has built an impressive leadership journey across the Tata Power group companies, serving in key roles across Tata Power-DDL, TP Northern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPNODL), and TPCODL. His domain expertise spans engineering, EHV and distribution projects, GIS, energy audit, commercial operations, network services, and CSR — combining operational depth with strategic vision. Starting from his foundational years at Tata Power-DDL, where he held roles such as Head of Projects and Distribution Operations Manager, Dushyant moved on to lead critical functions in TPNODL as Chief Commercial Services & CSR and Chief Operation Services. His ability to drive performance, transform systems, and lead teams effectively earned him his most r...

Maj. Neil Christopher Castelino is a distinguished veteran of the Indian Army, commissioned in September 2003 and serving until 2009 in technical operations. During his military career, he was posted across a diverse range of environments, across the country —gaining invaluable leadership experience in high-stakes, multicultural settings. After his service, he transitioned into senior leadership in the corporate sector, significantly driving operations, policy, compliance, and stakeholder engagement across prominent organizations such as Confederation of Indian Industry , Bharti Infratel Limited , and Flipkart In July 2024, Neil was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) , bringing over two decades of leadership excellence spanning defence, industry, and e commerce. His stewardship at FIFS emphasizes building robust partnerships, shaping transparent governance frameworks, and strengthening regulatory mechanisms within the sports tech ecosys...

Dhaval Lapasia has taken on a new leadership role as Chief Executive Officer at Meghna Infra-con Infrastructure Limited, marking a significant milestone in his distinguished career within the real estate sector. Known for his strategic foresight and proven expertise in high-end residential developments, Dhaval brings over a decade of rich experience in sales, marketing, and revenue growth across leading real estate organizations. Before joining Meghna Infra-con, Dhaval served as Head of Sales Marketing at Sheth Creators Pvt. Ltd, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the brand’s premium residential footprint. His prior experience includes leading positions such as Deputy General Manager of Sales at Indiabulls Real Estate Ltd, and Senior Manager at Runwal Enterprises, where he consistently delivered on growth targets and team performance in competitive market environments. Dhaval’s career journey also spans roles like Senior Property Consultant at Unesta Real Estate Broker LLC...

Rahul Das has joined Plasmagen Biosciences as the Senior General Manager – Plasma Sourcing, marking a significant addition to the company’s leadership team. In this pivotal role, Rahul will lead a dynamic field force across India to drive the procurement of plasma—a critical component in the development of life-saving therapies. His responsibilities encompass strategic team leadership, procurement strategy, market intelligence, operational excellence, and stakeholder management. With over 14 years of diverse experience in the Diagnostics and Medical Devices industry, Rahul brings a deep understanding of business development, go-to-market execution, and revenue acceleration. His specialized expertise in Molecular and Oncology Diagnostics, coupled with his ability to manage complex key accounts and navigate Healthcare SaaS and Medical Devices segments, positions him well to elevate Plasmagen’s plasma sourcing strategy. Prior to this, Rahul held impactful roles across a range of promine...

Sumanto Bhandari  has been appointed  as  President & Chief Procurement Officer  at Finolex Industries Limited,   effective  April 2025 . This marks an important milestone in Sumanto’s distinguished global career, reflecting his passion and commitment to procurement excellence and supply chain transformation. With  25+ years  of diverse experience spanning across multiple industries like FMCG, Consumer Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Petrochemicals, Paints & Coatings, Agro Chemicals and more, Sumanto brings an exceptional track record of transforming global procurement functions and step-change value delivery. He has held key leadership roles at global giants including LyondellBasell, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Bayer Crop Science, Glenmark Pharma, IFFCO Group Dubai and Kansai Paints—building high-performing teams, driving Procurement Excellence and Digital Transformation across S2P and end-to-end supply chain. Recognized for his techno-commercial acumen, market knowledge and his v...

Sourav Sen has been appointed CEO of Tega McNally Minerals Limited (TMML), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tega Industries, marking a pivotal leadership transition for the company. With a distinguished career across India and China, Sourav brings a wealth of multicultural experience and strategic business insight that aligns seamlessly with TMML’s growth aspirations. An ambitious business manager and strategist, Sourav has consistently demonstrated high energy and a results-driven approach throughout his professional journey. He brings hands-on experience in managing P&L, leading sales and marketing operations, and steering business transformation initiatives in international organisations across product and market verticals. His approach to leadership is grounded in driving sustainable growth while navigating complex global markets. Before taking the reins at Tega McNally Minerals, Sourav held key positions across a diverse set of organizations. He served at Eirich India and Sche...

Amit Srivastav, a seasoned senior executive leader and subject matter expert with over 22 years of engineering leadership experience, has taken on a dual role in his latest career move. He has joined TekTrailz , Hyderabad, as Chief Technical Advisor and simultaneously founded his own venture, ArshGyan LLP. Recognized for his visionary outlook on scalable software design, data science, and the principles of ethical and responsible AI, Amit continues to shape the future of technology with a pioneering mindset. With a career spanning two decades, Amit Srivastav has built a formidable reputation for delivering strategic innovation across industries. His prior stint at Honeywell showcased his ability to lead complex technical teams and engineer transformative solutions at scale. His deep understanding of engineering principles and technology trends has made him a go-to expert in emerging domains. He also served as an Adjunct Professor at the prestigious Birla Institute of Technology and S...

Manoj M.P has joined Greaves Electric Mobility Limited as the Chief Business Officer, marking a significant addition to the company's leadership team. With over 30 years of experience spanning strategy, marketing, and business development, Manoj is set to play a pivotal role in strengthening Greaves’ position in the electric mobility space. His focus will include optimizing customer service, scaling international business operations, and driving go-to-market excellence in collaboration with cross-functional teams. In his new role, Manoj M.P is tasked with building agile, high-performance teams and delivering sustainable growth across domestic and global markets. With electric mobility being a key area of transformation in India’s transportation sector, his strategic foresight and executional depth are expected to catalyze Greaves Electric Mobility’s next phase of expansion and innovation. Before joining Greaves, Manoj served as Senior Vice President at Havells India Ltd, where ...

Rajdeep Bhattacharya has joined Leap India Foods and Logistics Limited as the Chief Project Officer, bringing nearly three decades of experience in overseeing and executing large-scale infrastructure projects. In his new role, Rajdeep will be leading a diverse portfolio of infrastructure initiatives across the country, with a strong focus on strategic execution, innovation, and sustainable development. His appointment comes at a critical time for Leap India Foods and Logistics Limited, as the company continues to expand its footprint and streamline operations across its logistics and food sectors. Before joining Leap India Foods and Logistics Limited, Rajdeep held the position of Vice President – Projects at RRSM Infra, where he was responsible for key infrastructure rollouts and project strategy. His previous experience also includes senior leadership roles such as Chief Project Manager at Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., where he contributed to the development of major urb...

Pankaj Bajaj, CEO and Co- Founder of ReFinServ, is changing how auto-financing works in India. Through his bootstrapped fintech startup, he has built a high-impact and cost-efficient business that helps people across India access responsible vehicle loans. The Government of Haryana officially recognised ReFinServ’s work in improving the auto-finance sector. The Ministry of Commerce & Industry invited Pankaj to personally receive this honour from the Honourable Cabinet Minister. The government appreciated ReFinServ’s “Tech + Touch” model and its positive role in making vehicle ownership easier for people in small towns and rural areas. This milestone reflects Pankaj’s focus, discipline, and commitment. He chose to build ReFinServ without outside funding, despite investor interest. Instead of chasing fast growth, he focused on solving real problems, creating long-term value, and staying true to the mission of financial inclusion. His approach has helped people with limited credit acc...

Ashwin Rao has taken on a new leadership role as the Geo Head – South Market, India & SAARC at Lenovo India’s Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) . In this strategic position, he will lead a high-performing team focused on advancing IT infrastructure solutions across the region. His elevation marks a significant step by Lenovo India to deepen its regional engagement and elevate its market presence in the infrastructure domain. Ashwin is no stranger to Lenovo, having previously contributed to the growth of its Infrastructure Solutions Group. His continued journey with the organization underscores Lenovo’s commitment to leveraging proven leadership to drive regional success. With his in-depth understanding of the ISG vertical and the South India and SAARC markets, he is well-positioned to lead impactful transformations aligned with Lenovo’s broader growth strategies. Prior to this, Ashwin held senior positions at several leading tech companies, including Veeam Software, Hitachi ...

In this exclusive interview with CXO Lanes , Akash Yadav , Country Head at RacMet , shares insights from a journey that bridges technical expertise with business leadership. From building European companies in India to leading international sales, his path has been shaped by resilience, cultural adaptability, and strategic clarity. You’ve had an impressive journey across industries and regions. What experiences shaped your leadership style the most? Akash Yadav: Having built two European companies in India from scratch, I’ve learned that resilience, cultural adaptability, and leading by example are non-negotiable. Working in diverse environments taught me to blend discipline with empathy. I strongly believe in empowering people while maintaining a clear strategic direction, especially in high-growth or complex markets. You started as a technical advisor and now lead international sales. How has this shift helped you as a country head? Akash Yadav: Starting from a technical background...

Pratyush Srivastava has joined SKJ Clean Enviro Ventures LLP as the Chief Operating Officer, bringing with him over 30 years of comprehensive leadership and technical expertise in Business Operation, Plant Operation, Project & Engineering Management across renowned manufacturing and packaging brands. A Certified Chartered Engineer, Pratyush is set to lead the company’s new venture focused on establishing a PET bottle recycling business aimed at fulfilling food-grade rPET requirements for brand owners—an initiative aligned with the broader vision of fostering a cleaner, more sustainable environment. Over the course of his career, Pratyush has held significant leadership positions at top-tier organizations. Prior to this, he served as AVP at JPFL Films Private Limited (Jindal Poly Films Ltd.), where he played a crucial role in driving Over all Business Excellence along with responsibility of setting up Indias 1st BOPA Film Line & driving various sustainability Projects, Value ...

India’s consumer behavior has always followed a familiar arc—rapid adoption, mass excitement, and eventual course correction. Emotional appeal, aspirational value, and price sensitivity often shape this journey. Take a look at how this cycle has played out across decades: The FM Radio Boom In the early 2000s, the launch of Radio Mirchi, Red FM, Big FM, and others sparked a frenzy—radio sets, transistors, and Walkmans flew off shelves. Today, those same channels survive through influencer tie-ins, while music listening has moved to apps like Spotify and Amazon Music. The ₹501 Mobile Revolution Reliance’s ₹501 phone made mobile ownership a mass movement. Most consumers didn’t understand usage costs, but the price tag was irresistible. Now, smartphones dominate and buying decisions are guided by features, price, and necessity—not trend. The Pager Phase Pagers gained traction briefly—more as style symbols than utility tools. Pop culture loved them (remember Gangs of Wasseypur ?), but mobil...

In a landmark move to accelerate its evolution as a global cultural force, Color Pencil, a creativity-led global organization rooted in Los Angeles, has signed a strategic brand transformation partnership with Hypotenuse , a leading strategic brand transformation company headquartered in India. The deal marks the beginning of an extensive strategic rebuilding of the Color Pencil brand. It will include a complete redesign of its brand architecture, a strategy-driven communication overhaul of all its existing product lines, and the foundational launch narrative for its soon-to-be-unveiled entertainment division. This collaboration also marks Hypotenuse’s official entry into the global market, setting the stage for its capabilities in brand strategy, transformation, and storytelling to scale across borders. Dharini Padmanabhan, Founder of Color Pencil, shared her vision for the partnership: “Color Pencil was born out of a belief that creativity can change culture. As we prepare to enter ...

Jay Chaudhary has taken over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UrbanRupee, marking a significant leadership addition to the fast-growing fintech firm. With more than a decade of experience in the payments and technology space, Jay began his career at Tech Mahindra and went on to hold impactful roles at leading firms such as Payomatix, Pine Labs, and Paytm —organizations that have played a pivotal role in shaping India’s digital payments ecosystem. Throughout his journey, Jay has specialized in areas such as Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), cross-border payments, embedded finance, and lending. He has successfully managed multi-million-dollar portfolios and played a key role in enterprise sales and strategic growth initiatives. His deep industry knowledge and strong network have made him a trusted leader in scaling fintech solutions. UrbanRupee, founded in 2023, is a leading technology provider for global banks and payment aggregators. The company has swiftly emerged as a profitable a...

Mr. Nakul Kushwaha steps into a defining leadership role as the Founder & Co-Founder of UrbanRupee, marking a significant stride in his journey through the evolving fintech landscape. His new role underscores his dedication to building cutting-edge financial infrastructure and furthering innovation across global banking systems. A seasoned professional in the fintech domain, Nakul brings with him a passion for transforming how businesses approach payments and financial solutions. His extensive experience in payment processing and white-label services positions him uniquely to drive UrbanRupee’s vision of seamless, technology-driven enablement for financial institutions. Founded in 2023, UrbanRupee has quickly established itself as a fast-growing and profitable financial technology firm. It provides next-generation solutions to global banks and payment aggregators, redefining the foundations of banking infrastructure. With a focus on scale, speed, and impact, the company continues ...

With over 30 years of experience across the Middle East and India, Muralidharan Panikedath is a name synonymous with excellence in construction, delivery, and project management. Currently serving as the Associate Project Director (Aviation Program Management) at Mace , he continues to lead with a vision that blends strategic foresight, operational precision, and unmatched execution. Throughout his career, Murali has played a pivotal role in the successful delivery of iconic infrastructure projects including the Muscat Airports, Oman Parliament, National Museum, UAE and Oman Palaces, and multiple Star Hotels — projects that stand as testaments to his deep expertise and unwavering commitment to quality. A transformational leader and seasoned mentor, Murali has developed a reputation for navigating complexity, integrating multicultural teams, and delivering high-impact outcomes across construction management, contract administration, and stakeholder coordination. He brings to every pro...

Harsimran Dalla has joined IndusInd Bank as the Senior Vice President & Head – Communication & Asset Marketing, marking a significant addition to the bank’s leadership in brand and business marketing. In his new role, Harsimran will lead comprehensive marketing and communication strategies across IndusInd’s retail and commercial credit card portfolio, retail asset business, corporate communications, public relations, and strategic alliances. His mandate includes driving brand visibility, managing media engagement, building narratives that resonate with diverse audiences, and spearheading go-to-market strategies in collaboration with global networks. With a proven track record in crafting impactful brand journeys, Harsimran brings deep expertise in both B2C and B2B marketing landscapes. Prior to joining IndusInd Bank, he served as Vice President – National Marketing Head, Prime Markets at Kotak Mahindra Bank, where he was instrumental in enhancing brand presence in key marke...

Sushant Roy has joined GLIB.ai as Head of Sales, bringing with him over 19 years of experience in driving high-impact sales strategies and a sharp focus on AI-powered solutions. Known for his Go-To-Market (GTM) expertise and leadership in artificial intelligence and generative AI, Sushant's appointment marks a key strategic move for GLIB as it continues to redefine how organizations process and act on unstructured data. Prior to this, Sushant served as Country Lead – India at AutomationEdge, where he led transformative GTM initiatives and played a critical role in scaling AI-led automation across enterprise environments. His work helped organizations adopt intelligent solutions at speed—particularly in areas like IT process automation and service desk optimization—cementing his position as a forward-thinking sales leader in the AI space. GLIB.ai empowers businesses to make faster, data-driven decisions through its Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) engine. By automating the e...

-By Dr. Madhuresh Kumar Sethi , Pharmaceutical R&D Leader, 70+ Patents, Independent Director As the Head of Matrix at Mylan Viatris, I’ve come to see obesity as more than a medical challenge—it’s a public health crisis that demands clinical recognition and systemic reform. It’s time we stop viewing obesity as a lifestyle issue and recognize it for what it is: a chronic, relapsing disease. At the American Peptide Symposium 2025 in San Diego, I highlighted this urgency. While the WHO, US, Canada, Germany, Japan, and the EU have formally classified obesity as a disease, countries like India and the UK still haven’t, despite rising rates of obesity-related disorders. “When we fail to define a disease, we delay the care people deserve.” Obesity is linked to over 200 conditions—Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, PCOS, NAFLD, and sleep apnea. This isn’t about appearance—it’s about systemic risk. “Obesity doesn’t sit on the surface—it roots itself deep within the body’s...

Y V Srinivas has been appointed as the General Manager – Marketing at Converge Biotech Pvt. Ltd., marking a significant milestone in the company’s leadership team. A seasoned marketing leader, Srinivas brings with him a wealth of experience in driving strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening brand presence, enhancing customer engagement, and accelerating market share across competitive pharmaceutical landscapes. Prior to joining Converge Biotech, Srinivas held several key roles across prominent pharmaceutical organizations. He served as Group Product Manager at NATCO Pharma, MSN Laboratories , and Unichem Laboratories Limited, where he played a pivotal role in developing and executing marketing strategies for a wide portfolio of therapeutic segments. His tenure as Marketing Manager at Celon Laboratories Limited further underscores his expertise in brand management and lifecycle planning. Srinivas also held the position of Assistant General Manager – Business Development at Gla...

Manisha Nair has been promoted to Senior Vice President & Head – Human Resource, Administration & Corporate Communications at BluPine Energy, marking a significant milestone in her remarkable HR journey. With over three years at BluPine Energy, Manisha has played a central role in shaping the company’s people strategy and operational excellence, establishing a robust foundation for the fast-growing renewable energy platform. Her extensive professional background spans renowned organizations in the energy and technology sectors. Prior to BluPine, she held strategic leadership roles at Alfanar Projects, Ostro Energy, and EACIIT , where she led initiatives in HR digitisation, cultural transformation, and talent development. Manisha began her career as a Training Coordinator at SDG Corporation, followed by her role as Senior Associate – Training at First Advantage, building a strong base in learning and development. An alumna of Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta and Maha...

Moahan Verma has joined PaladinAi as Vice President – Strategy & Sales, a move that underscores the company’s commitment to scaling its enterprise AI solutions across global markets. With over two decades of diverse leadership experience in AI, technology platforms, and enterprise transformation, Moahan is set to play a key role in driving PaladinAi’s next phase of strategic growth. In this leadership position, Moahan will spearhead end-to-end sales initiatives, craft long-term go-to-market strategies, and establish critical enterprise partnerships in high-sensitivity domains such as government, defense, and regulated industries. His deep-rooted understanding of digital ecosystems, combined with a track record of building scalable AI products and driving business outcomes, positions him to shape PaladinAi’s global footprint in both emerging and mature markets. PaladinAi is known for its suite of AI-powered platforms designed to operate in mission-critical environments. As the com...

Aditi has been appointed as the Director – Customer Excellence & Enablement at Iron Mountain, where she will be leading a global team of customer-centric experts dedicated to enhancing business value through service excellence. This strategic move marks an important milestone in her career, which spans over a decade in sales, business development, and service management across varied sectors including retail, CPG, BFSI, and technology. Aditi brings to Iron Mountain a strong foundation in enterprise service management and digital transformation, backed by more than 10 years of industry experience. Her past roles at leading organizations such as PepsiCo , Invesco Ltd, and Microsoft , as well as her early career as an Area Sales Manager at Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd, reflect a career built on cross-industry expertise and a deep understanding of evolving customer needs.  An alumna of ISB Hyderabad, where she earned her MBA with a specialization in marketing and operations, Ad...

Rahul Singh has taken on a new leadership role as Associate Partner – Executive Search | Business Development | Leadership Advisory at Sapphire Human Capital, marking a significant milestone in his two-decade-long career in human resources and talent strategy. With extensive experience in driving people-centric transformations, Rahul is known for aligning talent agendas with business outcomes and advising senior leadership on critical workforce decisions. Before joining Sapphire Human Capital, Rahul held senior leadership roles across a diverse range of organizations. He served as SVP & National Manager – TA & TM – Assets (HR) at AU Small Finance Bank, VP – Human Resources & Group Head – Talent Acquisition at Srei, Head – Talent Acquisition at Aditya Birla Finance Limited, AVP – Human Resources at HSBC InvestDirect (India) Limited, and General Manager – Recruitment & Training at en world | New Era India. Across these roles, he successfully led strategic talent acqui...

Rakesh Kawde has taken on a new leadership role as Vice President at Hindustan Pencils, marking a significant milestone in his accomplished career in the FMCG and consumer goods sector. With over 30 years of diverse industry experience, including the last five years managing business at a pan-India level, Rakesh brings with him a proven ability to craft strategic business models, build systems for long-term excellence, and lead large-scale, performance-driven teams. His professional journey includes impactful leadership roles at some of India’s most iconic and trusted brands such as Haldiram’s , Dabur , Weikfield , Emami, Parle, and Eveready. Across these organizations, he has played a pivotal role in driving growth, strengthening brand equity, and expanding market reach. Known for his deep understanding of sales and distribution, go-to-market strategy, and sustainable change management, Rakesh has consistently delivered transformative outcomes across functions like sales, marketing,...

Mansi Jain has joined Peoplefy as Group Head – RPO Deliveries, marking a strategic addition to the company’s senior leadership team. With a stellar background across Genpact , TritonExec , and now Peoplefy, Mansi brings a rare blend of enterprise-scale RPO delivery expertise and deep executive hiring acumen. In her new role, she will lead end-to-end recruitment operations across India’s Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and global enterprises, playing a pivotal role in building intelligent, scalable talent solutions for high-growth organizations. Prior to joining Peoplefy, Mansi served as Managing Director – Genpact RPO, Leadership / Executive Hiring, Asia Pacific at TritonExec, where she was instrumental in driving leadership hiring mandates across the region. She also held the role of Recruitment Lead – Executive Hiring (India, Philippines, China) at Genpact, further deepening her understanding of large-scale talent delivery across multiple geographies. Her earlier tenures at Elixir...

Pooja Aggarwal has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer at Fenesta (Unit of DCM Shriram Ltd. ), marking a significant addition to company’s leadership team. With a robust track record spanning over 18 years, Pooja brings a wealth of experience in steering both mature and early-stage businesses across a wide range of industries including financial services, textiles, and elevators. Prior to joining Fenesta, Pooja held several high-impact roles within the Schindler Group, serving most recently as Managing Director and Business Head at Schindler Lifts NZ Ltd. Her journey with Schindler reflects her ability to lead complex operations, drive growth strategies, and build high-performing teams in global environments. Before that, she was associated with the Aditya Birla Group in multiple strategic capacities—ranging from Category Director at Aditya Birla Group to Head of Young Talent Management at Aditya Birla Management Corporation Pvt. Ltd., and Head of Key Accounts at Aditya ...

Harish Pillai has been appointed as the Managing Director of James Douglas Global , marking a significant leadership move in the Talent Solutions space. With over two decades of industry experience, Harish brings unparalleled expertise in Staffing, Recruitment, RPO, MSP, and large-scale talent delivery. In his new role, he will spearhead JD Global’s mission to offer hyper-customized recruitment solutions to clients across BFSI, Technology, Lifesciences, and Manufacturing sectors. Before joining JD Global, Harish served as the Managing Director of Randstad Enterprise in India, where he led strategic initiatives for enterprise-level recruitment transformation. His earlier 17-year tenure at Allegis Group saw him build out both the RPO business and Technology Staffing verticals, laying a strong foundation for scalable hiring solutions. As one of the earliest RPO leaders in India, he has played a pivotal role in setting up marquee talent acquisition programs for clients such as American E...

Vikram G has taken on the role of Head of Business Development, Marketing, Applications, and Product Management – Ophthalmology at ZEISS India Medical Technology . In addition to this leadership role, Vikram will also be responsible for Learning & Development (L&D), Market Access, Quality & Regulatory (Q&R), and Zeiss Academy initiatives for the Medical Technology division (MED), reinforcing ZEISS’s commitment to driving excellence and innovation in the healthcare landscape. Vikram brings with him over 20 years of deep-rooted expertise in healthcare, medical devices, and diagnostics, with a proven track record of spearheading business transformation and market expansion across India and South Asia. His multifaceted leadership spans P&L ownership, strategic planning, and execution, making him a valuable addition to ZEISS’s growing leadership team. Prior to joining ZEISS, Vikram held key positions across globally recognized healthcare organizations. He served as Busi...

Ali Lightwalla has joined Fyno as Vice President – Sales & Partnerships. This marks a pivotal moment in the company's mission to transform how BFSI enterprises take control of their customer communication—across every channel—with greater visibility and control. In this leadership role, Ali will lead Fyno’s go-to-market strategy, expand its presence across the BFSI sector, and build long-term strategic alliances. His appointment underscores Fyno’s vision to drive enterprise expansion through intelligent and scalable communication solutions. Ali brings with him over 22 years of robust experience in sales leadership, strategic partnerships, and business development across the financial services and enterprise technology space. Most recently, he was associated with Gupshup, where he played a key role in boosting customer engagement and driving platform adoption. Previously, as AGM – Digital Sales at IDEMIA , Ali led several successful digital transformation initiatives. His tim...