Meha Parekh has been appointed as Head of Marketing and Communications at Samsonite India, marking a significant elevation in her role within the organisation. In this expanded mandate, she will now oversee marketing and communication strategies across the company’s key brands, including Samsonite, American Tourister, and Kamiliant.   Parekh’s appointment reflects Samsonite India’s continued focus on strengthening brand positioning and driving cohesive communication across its portfolio. She has been associated with the organisation for over seven years, during which she has played a pivotal role in shaping brand narratives and consumer engagement strategies. Most recently, she served as Brand Head for Samsonite and Kamiliant, where she led integrated campaigns and contributed to building strong market visibility.   Prior to joining Samsonite, Parekh had a brief stint at Kraft Heinz as Brand Manager, where she worked on the Complan portfolio. She also brings extensive experience from Unilever, where she spent over four years as Assistant Brand Manager in the laundry category, gaining deep insights into consumer marketing and category management.   Her earlier professional journey includes roles at Eureka Forbes and Lifestyle International (Max Retail Division), further strengthening her cross-industry expertise in brand building and retail strategy.   With this leadership transition, Samsonite India is expected to further consolidate its brand presence and enhance its engagement with evolving consumer segments, leveraging Parekh’s experience across FMCG and retail to drive impactful marketing initiatives.

Raymond Lifestyle has announced the appointment of Kalpana Singh as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Singh will be based in Mumbai and will spearhead the company’s marketing strategy, brand development, and consumer engagement initiatives.   Singh joins Raymond after over a decade at Unilever, where she held several leadership roles across India and international markets. Most recently, she served as Marketing Director for the Pears brand at Hindustan Unilever, leading marketing strategy, portfolio management, media allocation, and digital engagement initiatives.   Earlier, Singh served as Personal Care Business Group Director for the Middle East, Turkey, and North Africa, based in Dubai, where she oversaw category strategy, innovation, and advertising for brands including Lux, Lifebuoy, Dove, Signal, Close-Up, Rexona, and Axe across the region.   She has also been part of Unilever’s global marketing team as Senior Global Brand Manager for Lifebuoy, working on the launch of the Naturals platform across multiple international markets. Singh’s experience further includes leading consumer and market insights for Unilever’s Beauty & Personal Care business in South Asia and global insights roles for Lux and Pond’s.   Outside Unilever, Singh has worked with Young & Rubicam Group as a Strategic Account Planner, with Nielsen as Senior Research Manager, and began her career in market research with Indica Research.   With her extensive experience in brand management, strategic marketing, and consumer insights, Kalpana Singh is expected to strengthen Raymond Lifestyle’s marketing initiatives and drive brand growth across its diverse portfolio.

Swiss Beauty has announced the appointment of Shalini Kochan as Assistant Vice President – Marketing, strengthening the brand’s leadership as it continues to scale its presence in India’s fast-growing beauty and cosmetics market. In her new role, Kochan will spearhead Swiss Beauty’s overall marketing mandate. The development was shared by Kochan via a post on her LinkedIn profile.   Prior to joining Swiss Beauty, Kochan was associated with Flipkart, where she served as Marketing Lead for Flipkart Fashion and Flipkart SPOYL from March 2022 to March 2025. Based in Bengaluru, she led brand marketing, social media, and performance marketing initiatives across the platforms.   Before Flipkart, Kochan spent over three years at Fabindia, holding roles including Senior Brand Manager and Manager – Brand and Marketing. During her tenure, she was responsible for brand strategy, marketing communications, digital initiatives, consumer research, media planning, and strategic partnerships across ATL and BTL campaigns.   Earlier in her career, Kochan was associated with ELLE and ELLE Decor India, where she worked with the brand solutions and advertising teams across the North and East markets. She has also held roles with Marie Claire India and India Today, handling advertising sales, brand solutions, and client partnerships.   With this appointment, Swiss Beauty aims to further strengthen its marketing strategy and brand positioning under Kochan’s leadership.

Raymond Lifestyle Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Satyaki Ghosh as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. This strategic leadership appointment strengthens Raymond Lifestyle’s vision of driving growth, innovation, and excellence across India’s fashion and textile sector.   Satyaki Ghosh is a seasoned business leader with a proven track record of delivering results across textiles, fashion, and consumer sectors.   Prior to joining Raymond, he served as CEO of Cellulosic Fashion Yarn at Grasim Industries, where he successfully led domestic textiles operations including renowned brands such as Grasim, Graviera, and Linen Club. He also oversaw the additional charge of Thai Acrylic Fibre Co., Ltd and played a key role in the acquisition and integration of Soktas India into the Aditya Birla Group’s domestic textiles portfolio.   With over nine years of top management experience at the Aditya Birla Group, Satyaki has demonstrated expertise in business transformation, operational excellence, and strategic growth initiatives. His career also spans senior leadership roles at L'Oréal, where he served as Global Sales Director – Emerging Markets, Spencer's Retail Ltd., and PepsiCo India, showcasing a diverse understanding of both FMCG and retail sectors.   An alumnus of IISWBM, University of Calcutta, Satyaki Ghosh combines strong academic credentials with hands-on leadership experience in scaling businesses, integrating acquisitions, and steering large teams towards performance excellence.   In his role as CEO of Raymond Lifestyle Limited, Satyaki will spearhead the company’s next phase of growth, focusing on strategic expansion, operational efficiency, innovation in fashion offerings, and strengthening Raymond’s legacy as a premier lifestyle and textile brand.

Forest Essentials has appointed Nupur Sarda as its new Head of Retail Marketing, marking a significant addition to the brand’s leadership team. Sarda steps into the role after an impactful eight-year career at VAHDAM India, where she played a pivotal part in shaping the brand’s global identity.   At VAHDAM India, Sarda led Global PR, Influencer Marketing, and Social Media, helping position the company as one of India’s most celebrated homegrown global brands. Her contributions extended beyond marketing leadership — she was also the first angel investor in VAHDAM, supporting the brand during its formative years. Reflecting on her journey, she described the company as “disruptive, global, and formative,” and thanked Founder Bala Sarda for his mentorship and trust.   In her announcement on LinkedIn, Sarda expressed deep excitement about joining Forest Essentials, a brand she noted she has “long admired and been a loyal consumer of.” She extended special appreciation to Karishma Manga Bedi and Ira Kukrety for entrusting her with the retail marketing charter.   Sarda brings over a decade of experience across marketing and communications, with a portfolio spanning public relations, social media, influencer campaigns, and content strategy, having previously worked with brands including nearbuy and ICICI Bank.   Her appointment signals a promising new chapter at Forest Essentials as she aims to strengthen the brand’s retail experience, storytelling, and customer engagement across India.

Myntra’s former Chief Business Officer (CBO), Sharon Pais, has been appointed as the Business Unit Head for Flipkart Fashion, effective immediately. She succeeds Kunal Gupta, who now heads Flipkart’s quick-commerce arm, Minutes.   Pais has extensive experience in e-commerce, having spent nearly eight years at Flipkart across sales, category marketing, and loyalty divisions before joining Myntra as CBO in 2021. In her new role, she will lead Flipkart’s fashion business unit, driving growth and innovation while reporting to Nandita Sinha, CEO of Myntra and Head of Flipkart Fashion.   This leadership change reflects Flipkart’s continued focus on strengthening its fashion vertical and leveraging industry expertise to deliver enhanced customer experiences.

Arvind Ltd., one of India’s leading conglomerates with a strong presence across textiles, apparel, advanced materials, and engineering, has announced the appointment of Sunitha Lal as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).   With over 25 years of experience in building purpose-driven and people-centric workplaces, Sunitha will collaborate closely with business leaders across Arvind Ltd. to enhance organisational effectiveness, strengthen talent development and retention, and further embed employee experience at the heart of the company’s people practices.   Welcoming her to the leadership team, Punit Lalbhai, Vice Chairman, Arvind Ltd., said, “We are delighted to welcome Sunitha to Arvind Ltd. Her deep understanding of culture, leadership development, and organisational transformation will be invaluable as we continue to evolve and grow. Her people-first approach aligns perfectly with our values and aspirations.”   Prior to joining Arvind Ltd., Sunitha served as the CHRO at Ather Energy for eight years, where she played a key role in culture building, leadership development, and organisational growth. Her previous experience also includes leadership roles at Matrimony.com, AIG Systems, and Mphasis.   Sunitha’s appointment marks an important step in Arvind’s ongoing journey to nurture a high-performing, inclusive, and future-ready workplace where both people and ideas thrive.

Benetton Group has announced the appointment of Nikhil Upadhye as its new Managing Director for India, effective 16th October 2025. He succeeds Ramprasad Sridharan, who is leaving Benetton India to pursue a new professional opportunity.   Nikhil Upadhye returns to Benetton India after previously serving as the Commercial Director until February 2025. He first joined the company in 2017 and brings over 20 years of experience across the sports, footwear, and fashion industries, having worked with leading brands including Idea Cellular, Reebok, Tata Wolverine, Welspun UK, and Jio. A Sloan Fellow from London Business School and an alumnus of IMT Ghaziabad, Nikhil is expected to lead Benetton India into its next phase of growth.   Benetton India expressed its gratitude to outgoing MD Ramprasad Sridharan for his leadership post-COVID-19, which helped consolidate the brand’s position in the market through a multi-channel strategy, effective product offerings, and enhanced communication initiatives.   “India remains a key market for Benetton, where we have been present since 1992. We look forward to ushering in a new era of growth under Nikhil’s leadership,” the company stated.

Pepe Jeans London, one of India’s leading denim and lifestyle brands, has announced the appointment of Rakesh Jallipally as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective July 24, 2025.   Bringing over 18 years of leadership experience across fashion, retail, and consumer tech sectors, Rakesh steps into the role with a proven track record of driving high-growth businesses, executing transformative brand strategies, and navigating the evolving Indian consumer landscape.   Prior to joining Pepe Jeans, Rakesh served as Vice President at Flipkart, where he led the launch and expansion of Spoyl, a youth-focused fashion platform, and managed the men’s fashion portfolio. His tenure at Reliance Retail included the launch of AZORTE, further establishing his influence in India’s fashion retail ecosystem.   He also spent nearly a decade at Arvind Fashions Ltd., where he held senior leadership positions including CEO and COO, playing a key role in scaling brands like USPA and Flying Machine. His retail journey began at Raymond Ltd., overseeing operations in South India.   Rakesh holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from IIM Lucknow, with specializations in Marketing and Strategy.   Commenting on his new role, Rakesh said: “I’m really thrilled to be joining Pepe Jeans, a brand that has continually redefined denim and casual wear for millions of Indian consumers. I can’t wait to collaborate with the talented team here to enhance the brand’s presence, broaden our market reach, and connect more deeply with our diverse customer base. Together, we’re looking to build on Pepe Jeans’ iconic legacy and unlock the next phase of growth for our business in India.”   With Rakesh Jallipally at the helm, Pepe Jeans London is poised to strengthen its presence in India by deepening consumer engagement, expanding its retail footprint, and accelerating digital innovation.