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Quick commerce unicorn Zepto has appointed Akhil Gupta, vice chairman of Bharti Enterprises—the parent company of Bharti Airtel—as an independent director, ahead of its anticipated initial public offering (IPO) later this year.

Gupta, a telecom veteran who has played a key role in Bharti’s partnerships and public listings—including those of Bharti Airtel (2002), Bharti Infratel (2012), and Airtel Africa (2019)—is expected to bring strategic depth and IPO expertise to Zepto’s board.

The current board includes Zepto co-founders Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Anu Hariharan (founder of Avra), and Suvir Sujan (co-founder of Nexus Venture Partners).

This high-profile appointment is part of a broader push by Zepto to fortify leadership ahead of its market debut. In addition to onboarding experienced advisors, the company has been actively reshaping its senior management—promoting insiders like Devendra Meel to Chief Business Officer and elevating others into CTO and CGO roles.

However, Zepto has also witnessed several top-level exits, including CMO Amritansu Nanda, CBO Viral Jhaveri, and VP of Growth Manik Oberoi, among others, signaling ongoing churn amid its rapid scale-up.

Financially, Zepto is in a strong position. After shifting its base back to India from Singapore, it raised $1.35 billion across three funding rounds in just five months. Investors include Glade Brook Capital, StepStone, General Catalyst, Motilal Oswal, and Ranjan Pai’s Claypond Capital. The company is also in talks to raise an additional $300 million in a secondary round, aiming to attract more domestic mutual funds to bolster its IPO-readiness.

Zepto’s gross merchandise value (GMV) has touched $4 billion, representing a 300% year-on-year growth, placing it firmly in competition with Blinkit (Zomato), Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart Minutes, and Tata BigBasket in India’s $6 billion quick commerce market—expected to hit $25–30 billion in the coming years.

As the battle for dominance in this red-hot sector intensifies, Zepto’s latest board addition signals its readiness to play the long game.

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IPO-Bound Zepto strengthens board with Bharti’s Akhil Gupta as Independent Director

Raghu Krishnananda, Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO) at Myntra, has resigned from the fashion e-commerce platform owned by Walmart. According to an internal memo reviewed by Moneycontrol, Krishnananda will be transitioning out of the company over the coming weeks.

Krishnananda’s exit marks the second high-profile departure from the Flipkart Group in recent months. In February, Moneycontrol had reported that Jeyandran Venugopal, CPTO at Flipkart, was also stepping down after an eight-year tenure.

“After a stint of over five years, Raghu has decided to explore the next chapter of life outside of Myntra,” wrote Myntra CEO Nandita Sinha in the internal communication.

She added that until a suitable replacement is found, Krishnananda’s direct reports will temporarily report to her. “I thank him for his contributions and wish him success in the journey ahead,” she said.

Both Myntra and Flipkart are owned by US retail giant Walmart. Combined, the two platforms command over 57 percent of India’s fashion e-commerce market, according to analysts at BofA in a recent client note.

Other key players in India’s online lifestyle space include Reliance’s Ajio and Nykaa Fashion. The market, currently valued at around $16–17 billion, is expected to grow to $40–45 billion by 2028, as per a report published jointly by Bain & Company and Myntra last year.

In recent months, Flipkart has seen a string of senior-level exits, while Myntra itself has undergone an organisational restructuring. CEO Nandita Sinha was recently handed additional responsibility of leading Flipkart’s fashion vertical alongside her current role at Myntra.

Myntra has confirmed Krishnananda’s departure.

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Myntra’s Chief Product and Technology Officer Raghu Krishnananda steps down

Hitachi India has announced the elevation of Bharat Kaushal to the role of Executive Chairman, effective April 1, 2025. In addition to this appointment, Kaushal has been named Corporate Officer in charge of regional strategies (India) for the parent company, Hitachi Ltd.

Kaushal, who previously served as Corporate Officer at Hitachi Ltd. and Managing Director of Hitachi India, will also continue to serve as the Acting Managing Director for Hitachi India alongside his new role.

“This appointment re-emphasises Hitachi India's continued commitment to strengthening its over nine decades of unwavering partnership with India,” the company said in an official statement.

Kaushal became Hitachi India’s first Indian Managing Director in FY2017, a move that marked a significant milestone for the company’s local leadership. Since then, he has played a key role in broadening Hitachi’s presence across multiple strategic sectors in India.

“I am truly honoured and overwhelmed by the trust and confidence placed upon me in steering the future growth for Hitachi in India,” Kaushal said. “The new role will place a lot of responsibility in further architecting and driving a forward-looking roadmap for Hitachi’s colossal growth in India.”

Hitachi credited Kaushal’s “strategic vision” with driving the company’s expansion in India across diverse domains, including energy, infrastructure, healthcare, e-education, financial inclusion, and urban mobility. The company also highlighted his role in fostering strong relationships with stakeholders and contributing to India’s long-term development goals.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/vivek-singh-appointed-as-ceo-of-home-credit-india-61995.htm">Read More: Vivek Singh appointed as CEO of Home Credit India</a>

Bharat Kaushal named Executive Chairman of Hitachi India, to lead growth strategy

At its meeting held on April 7, 2025, the Board of Home Credit appointed Vivek Singh as the Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Singh brings over 20 years of extensive experience in the financial services sector, with a strong focus on building and scaling businesses, driving digital transformation, and managing large-scale operations. He is poised to spearhead Home Credit India into its next phase of growth under the TVS Holdings umbrella.
 
K Gopala Desikan, Director, TVS Holdings, said on this appointment: "Home Credit India has played a pivotal role in advancing financial inclusion across the country. We are confident that Vivek’s deep understanding of the Indian financial landscape, particularly in the consumer & retail finance space, coupled with his proven ability to drive growth and innovation, will be invaluable as we move forward and strengthen the business of Home Credit India and build upon its strong foundation."
 
Sharing his vision, Vivek Singh, CEO, Home Credit India, said: "It’s an honour to lead Home Credit India at a time when technology is revolutionising how we serve customers.  I am committed to fostering innovation, enhancing customer experience, and expanding access to responsible credit. Home Credit India’s strong market presence provides a tremendous opportunity to further enhance our offerings, broaden our reach, and drive greater financial inclusion across the country. Together with the team, I look forward to shaping a more inclusive, responsible and tech-forward financial ecosystem in India."
 
Vivek holds an MBA and has received multiple industry accolades for his contributions to the financial services space.  He brings a proven track record of success in retail lending and customer-centric financial services. Prior to this, he held senior roles at multiple renowned financial institutions.
 
Under his leadership, Home Credit India enters a new era of innovation and inclusive growth.  The company remains committed to transparent, responsible lending and deepening credit penetration across India. 

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Vivek Singh appointed as CEO of Home Credit India

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has reportedly stepped down from his position after years of stint.

According to a report, ONDC CEO Thampy Koshi's final day at the company is June 30, 2025. The report mentioned that the board has no immediate plans to find Koshy's replacement.

On Koshy's exit, ONDC said that the CEO expressed a desire to step down while helping with the change.

His responsibilities have been transitioned to an executive committee. However, Koshy will be available to the board for advice over the next three months.

This latest development has come after ONDC's chief business officer (CBO) Shireesh Joshi resigned in March this year citing personal reasons. Notably, RS Sharma, the non-executive chairperson of ONDC, resigned in December 2024 after after serving for four months.


ONDC, the government-backed initiative has crossed 200 million transactions on its network since its launch in September 2022. However, its retail segment, which includes food delivery and e-commerce, witnessed a drop in orders following the cut in financial incentives to sellers and customers.

The retail transaction reduced to 4.6 million in February 2025 from 6.5 million in October 2024.

Initially, ONDC provided financial incentives to onboard sellers, drive transactions, and fund customer discounts. Later, the network slashed the monthly cap on these incentives from Rs 3 crore in July 2024 to Rs 30 lakh at present.


ONDC has been formed to create an open and inclusive digital commerce ecosystem in the country. The network hosts several buyer and seller apps across segments, such as  Paytm, Ola, Delhivery, etc.

Thampy Koshy quits as ONDC CEO; Third senior leader to depart in less than 6 months

Kotak Mahindra Bank today announced the appointment of Bhavnish Lathia as the new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the Bank.

Announcing the appointment, Ashok Vaswani, MD & CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank, said, "Bhavnish has been instrumental in driving our technology initiatives for the last three years, building a world-class team of engineers to help drive our technology agenda. The rapid deployment of technology, with business leaders working closely with their respective technology teams, will be key to transforming our businesses for scale. This approach will drive customer satisfaction and organizational efficiency. And with Bhavnish's leadership, we will achieve our ambitious agenda and set the bar for technology leadership in the banking industry."

Bhavnish Lathia, CTO, Kotak Mahindra Bank said, "I am honoured to take on this new role at Kotak Mahindra Bank. Technology is a key driver of our strategy to transform for scale, and I am excited to lead our efforts in this area. Together with our talented team, we will continue to push the boundaries of innovation to deliver exceptional value to our customers and stakeholders."

Bhavnish's appointment is part of Kotak's strategic efforts to strengthen its leadership team and drive growth through innovation. His leadership will be crucial in ensuring that Kotak remains at the forefront of technological advancements in the banking sector.

Read More: <a href="https://cms.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/cxo-moves-exec-movements-across-bajaj-auto-mccann-worldgroup-raymond-limited-google-flipkart-and-more-59935.html">CXO Moves: Exec movements across Bajaj Auto, McCann Worldgroup, Raymond Limited, Google, Flipkart and more</a>

Bhavnish Lathia appointed as Chief Technology Officer at Kotak Mahindra Bank

Westlife Foodworld has elevated Akshay Jatia to the Chief Executive Officer position.

According to the exchange filing, Jatia, who is the Executive Director (Whole Time Director) of the company has been elevated to Key Managerial Personnel, that is CEO. Akshay Jatia has been associated with Westlife Foodworld for more than 10 years. 

Westlife Foodworld, the master franchisee of McDonald's restaurants in West & South India, said that the incumbent CEO Amit Jatia will cease to play the CEO role with effect from 18 March.

However, both Amit Jatia and Akshay Jatia will continue as Directors on the Board of Directors of the Company, and that there is no change in the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company i.e. Westlife Foodworld Limited, the stock filing mentioned.

Westlife Foodworld Limited, formerly known as Westlife Development Ltd (WDL), focuses on setting up and operating Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) in India through its subsidiary Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. (HRPL). The Company operates a chain of McDonald’s restaurants in the country, having a master franchisee relationship with McDonald’s Corporation US, through the latter’s subsidiary. 



Westlife Foodworld elevates Akshay Jatia to CEO position

Tuhin Kanta Pandey formally assumed office as the 11th chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Saturday, 1st March. He takes the helm of the capital markets regulator at a time of significant market volatility, with foreign institutional investors (FIIs) withdrawing over ₹1 lakh crore from the Indian stock market since January 2025, according to market data.

A 1987-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from Odisha, Pandey succeeds Madhabi Puri Buch, who made history as SEBI’s first female chairperson and completed her tenure on 28th February 2025.

The government appointed Pandey as SEBI’s new chairman on 27th February 2025, as per a notification from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. His term will last for three years.

In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Pandey emphasised SEBI’s strong institutional foundation, stating: “SEBI is a robust market institution, built over the years with successive leadership. We hold the trust of the people of India, Parliament, the Government, investors, and industry. Trust will be crucial.”

Outlining his priorities, Pandey identified four key objectives: “Trust, Transparency, Teamwork, and Technology.” He also expressed confidence in SEBI’s future, saying, “We will create one of the best market institutions,” while choosing not to comment on individual leadership styles.

Extensive Experience in Finance and Governance
Before his appointment to SEBI, Pandey served as Finance and Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, assuming charge of the revenue department on 9th January 2025. He replaced Sanjay Malhotra, who moved to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as governor in December 2024.

During his tenure, Pandey managed a ₹1 lakh crore tax relief package for the middle class in Budget 2025 and played a key role in drafting a new Income Tax Bill to replace the 1961 law, according to finance ministry reports.

From 24th October 2019 to 8th January 2025, he led the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), overseeing government stakes in public sector enterprises. Under his leadership, the Tata Group acquired Air India for ₹18,000 crore, with ownership transferred on 27th January 2022. He also spearheaded IDBI Bank’s privatisation, which is currently in the due diligence stage.

Additionally, Pandey was in charge of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) from 1st August 2024 and the Department of Personnel and Training from 4th November 2024, both under the Ministry of Finance.

<strong>Academic and Professional Background</strong>
Pandey holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Panjab University, Chandigarh, and an MBA from the University of Birmingham, UK.

His career spans various roles in the Odisha government, where he led departments such as Health, General Administration, Commercial Taxes, Transport, and Finance. He also served as Executive Director of the Odisha State Finance Corporation and Managing Director of the Odisha Small Industries Corporation.

At the central government level, Pandey has held positions including Joint Secretary in the Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog), Joint Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, and Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce. He also had a stint at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation’s Regional Office.

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Tuhin Kanta Pandey takes charge as SEBI’s 11th Chairperson

Indian-origin global advertising leader Nirvik Singh has been appointed as an Independent Director on the Board of Gulf Oil for a five-year term, effective from 6 February 2025 to 5 February 2030. His appointment, previously announced on 6 February 2025, is subject to shareholder approval.

The Board of Directors state that Singh’s extensive experience in marketing, corporate governance, risk management, and compliance makes him a valuable addition. With over 35 years in the advertising and marketing industry, he has played a key role in shaping global brands and driving business transformation.

Singh previously served as Global Chief Operating Officer and President of International Markets at Grey Group, overseeing operations across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. He has also led multiple acquisitions in China, India, South Korea, the UAE, the UK, and South Africa, covering sectors such as e-commerce, data analytics, and marketing technology.

Beginning his career at Lipton India, a Unilever company, Singh transitioned into advertising, becoming CEO of Grey Group India at 33 and later leading its expansion into South Asia. His leadership journey took him to Singapore, where he was appointed Chairman and CEO of Grey Asia-Pacific in 2010 before assuming his global role in 2019.

Gulf Oil’s Board expects Singh’s strategic insights and independent perspective to support the company’s growth and adaptability in an evolving market.

Nirvik Singh appointed as Independent Director at Gulf Oil

Firebolt, the Data Warehouse for AI applications, today announced the appointment of Sandeep Mathur as the Managing Director, APAC. In this role, Mathur will drive Firebolt’s growth strategy in APAC, lead regional go-to-market (GTM) efforts, and collaborate with Firebolt’s leadership to build global teams—including support, sales development, and engineering—based in India.

With over 25 years of leadership experience in the technology industry, Sandeep brings a deep understanding of enterprise data and analytics. Prior to joining Firebolt, he held leadership roles at Lentra, Oracle, among others, where he was instrumental in driving business expansion, strategic sales and fostering innovation in technology and data analytics solutions. With his appointment, Firebolt will focus on expanding its footprint in key verticals like financial services, e-commerce, and technology, where real-time analytics and lightning-fast performance are critical. 

Eldad Farkash, co-founder & CEO of Firebolt, commented on the appointment: “Sandeep Mathur's appointment marks a pivotal moment for Firebolt. His deep understanding of the APAC market, combined with his strategic expertise, will be instrumental as we empower APAC enterprises with a new generation of high-performance analytics, expand partner ecosystems and enhance customer education initiatives that redefine speed, scale, and efficiency.”

Hemanth Vedagarbha, president, Firebolt, said, "We are thrilled to have Sandeep Mathur at Firebolt. His deep expertise in scaling high-growth technology businesses and driving customer success in the region makes him an invaluable addition to our leadership team. As Firebolt continues to redefine cloud data analytics with unmatched speed and efficiency, Sandeep’s leadership will play a crucial role in expanding our presence and delivering exceptional value to enterprises across APAC."

Expressing enthusiasm for his new role, Sandeep Mathur, Managing Director, APAC, Firebolt, stated “Innovation and technology are transforming how businesses in APAC operate. Joining Firebolt at such a pivotal time in the data and analytics landscape, I look forward to helping businesses achieve unmatched performance and efficiency. Firebolt’s innovative approach to cloud data warehousing is setting new benchmarks in performance and cost efficiency. My focus will be on collaborating with enterprises and fast-growing startups across APAC to optimize their cloud data infrastructures and maximize their performance-to-cost ratio. I look forward to partnering with our talented team and stakeholders to help organizations in the region unlock the full potential of their data.”

The APAC region is witnessing a massive shift toward data democratization, AI-powered analytics, and cost-optimized cloud solutions. Firebolt is well-positioned to help businesses achieve unmatched performance and efficiency in data analytics. Sandeep’s appointment underscores Firebolt’s commitment to expanding its global footprint and delivering best-in-class analytics solutions to enterprises worldwide.


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