Hires & Promotions: Genpact, Pocket FM, Inshorts, Allcargo Group, Agilitas Sports

Genpact appoints Piyush Mehta as India country manager

Genpact has expanded role of its CHRO, Piyush Mehta, to country manager, India, effective immediately.

This move reflects Genpact's unwavering commitment to India and its pivot to an AI-first company. In 2023, Genpact opened and scaled three new operating centres in tier 3 cities in India, including Madurai, Jodhpur and Warangal – expanding its talent base and footprint and contributing to the region’s economic development. 

“India remains a strategic talent market for Genpact, and we believe people are the greatest assets for us and our clients,” says BK Kalra, president and CEO, Genpact. “Piyush has a successful track record of building and growing our talent ecosystem over the last 25 years. His experience will be invaluable as we strengthen Genpact’s foundation in India.”  

As Genpact’s CHRO, Mehta has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s human resources strategy. In his expanded role, he will leverage his expertise to drive Genpact’s AI-first strategy in India, driving value for key India stakeholders while continuing to lead the company’s HR function globally.

“India’s talent has always been a prime differentiator for economic growth in the country,” comments Piyush Mehta, CHRO, and country manager, India, Genpact. “I am excited to take on this expanded role as we continue to grow our business, empower India’s talented workforce, and contribute to the country’s economic landscape.”  

Vineet Singh joins Pocket FM as VP-Branding & Communications

Pocket FM has roped in Vineet Singh as vice president - branding and communications. In this role, Singh will spearhead the brand marketing, communications and creative charter and will work closely with Rohan Nayak.

Singh joins Pocket FM with diverse experience, having previously served at Byju’S where he was heading the brand, marketing and creative strategy and was working closely with the founder’s office. He played a pivotal role in building Byju’S brand imagery in India and globally showcasing the expertise to build a brand reputation to create relevance among the audience. 

Excited about his stint at Pocket FM, Singh states, "Pocket FM’s commitment to innovation and delivering top-quality audio series is inspiring. This marks an exciting moment for us as audio series emerge as a disruptive force in the entertainment landscape. I am eager to contribute to their culture of creativity and be part of this exciting journey.

At Pocket FM, his responsibilities include overseeing brand marketing and communications initiatives across key global markets to further strengthen Pocket FM's brand image in the entertainment space. He will also play a crucial role in driving influencer partnerships and brand collaboration, with a focus on elevating Pocket FM as a leading entertainment brand, globally.

Nayak also shares, "We are delighted to welcome Vineet to our leadership. His proven track record in brand marketing and communications, coupled with his strategic vision, will be invaluable as we continue to grow and expand our reach globally. With Pocket FM expanding its global footprints, we are confident that Vineet's leadership will play a pivotal role in solidifying our position as a leading entertainment platform on a global scale"

Inshorts' Azhar Iqubal to transition to chairman role; Co-founder Deepit Purkayastha joins as CEO

Inshorts has transitioned Azhar Iqubal, co-founder and CEO of the company, to the role of the chairman. Concurrently, co-founder, Deepit Purkayastha will assume the position of the CEO.

In light of the transition, Iqubal remarks, "After leading the company for 11 years as CEO, I have decided to step into the role of Chairman of the company. My Co-founder, Deepit, who has been an instrumental part of our journey from the beginning, will take charge as the CEO of the company and I am excited to see him lead our company to even greater heights. I remain committed to our vision and mission of building a large and profitable internet company in India.”

Deepit Purkayastha, co-founder & CEO, Inshorts says, “Azhar has led from the front through ups and downs. I thank Azhar on behalf of the company and I feel honored to take on the role of CEO to lead the company through the next phase of growth.”

Allcargo Group appoints Ketan Kulkarni as chief growth officer 

Allcargo Group has appointed logistics and supply chain industry veteran Ketan Kulkarni as its chief growth officer. In this crucial role, Kulkarni will be closely working with the chairman’s office to strengthen the overall growth and operational efficiency at Allcargo Group. He will lead the process of stakeholder value creation across multiple businesses through periodic engagement with the respective leadership teams of Allcargo ECU Ltd (as per the proposed scheme of arrangement, the international supply chain business will be demerged into Allcargo ECU, subject to approvals), Allcargo Gati, Allcargo Supply Chain and Allcargo Terminals.

Kulkarni will also be responsible for managing investor relations on behalf of Allcargo Group's key management professionals such as MDs, CFOs and group CFO with a focus on shareholder value creation. In addition, he will drive group-wide global and domestic partnerships in addition to the existing engagements, nurturing existing customer relationships and cultivating new ones. He will lead the marketing and enterprise account strategy of the group. He will report to Shashi Kiran Shetty, founder and chairman, Allcargo Group. 

Kulkarni comes to Allcargo Group with over three decades of diversified experiences and an impressive track record spanning multiple sectors such as logistics, consumer durables, FMCG and beverages. Before joining Allcargo Group, he worked with Blue Dart Express (DHL Group) as chief commercial officer.

Welcoming him, Shetty says, "I am delighted to have Ketan in the leadership team. His proven track record, remarkable achievements and deeper understanding of the logistics industry will help us navigate our company towards the next phase of growth. As we are empowering our flagship businesses with strategic independence and operational synergies, his experience and expertise complement our goal to drive synergistic growth to gain higher market share organically by leveraging our existing network and resources in India and overseas. 

I welcome Ketan to the Allcargo family and we wish him success in his new role. Under his leadership, our growth strategies will deliver superior value to our customers."

Commenting on his appointment, Kulkarni adds, "I am excited to be a part of Allcargo Group known for its integrated logistics capabilities and unmatched global scale. The Group has firmly established its leadership position in the international supply chain segment and is poised for accelerated growth with unparalleled digital and operational competencies. It's a privilege for me to be part of the growth journey of the Group and I look forward to collaborating with the leadership teams to further propel Allcargo Group's growth keeping the customer interest and sustainability in sharp focus.’’

Agilitas Sports strengthens leadership with the appointment of Richard Zartman as vice president - footwear design

Agilitas Sports has named Richard Zartman as the vice president of footwear design for its portfolio of athletic sportswear brands. 

On the appointment, Abhishek Ganguly, founder of Agilitas Sports says, “As we continue our journey to redefine the sportswear industry, we are thrilled to welcome Richard Zartman to the Agilitas Sports family as the VP of footwear design. Richard's extensive experience and unparalleled expertise in footwear design product creation and strategy perfectly align with our vision of innovation and excellence. His appointment marks a significant milestone for us, as we strengthen our commitment to revolutionise the sports landscape in India and beyond. With Richard on board, we are confident that his leadership will further enhance our ability to deliver cutting-edge footwear solutions and elevate Agilitas Sports to new heights of success."

With over two decades of footwear design experience, Zartman has specialised in performance running footwear. In his previous role with Adidas, he held the position of senior design director for the global running business unit at the Adidas headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Additionally, he was the design director for brooks sports where he was responsible for the overall footwear direction and was recognised for establishing the industry-leading Adrenaline GTS franchise, winning several Runner’s World Editor’s Choice Awards along the way.

Speaking about the appointment, Zartman shares, “I am incredibly honoured to join Abhishek and the dynamic team assembled here at Agilitas Sports. What drew me to Agilitas was that it was founded on the principle of blazing a new path, not following what has already been done. We see so many opportunities to redefine what athletic and lifestyle footwear and sportswear can be for the modern athlete. I not only look forward to crafting solutions that resonate deeply with the next generation of athletes, but it is my personal mission to use my position to elevate and showcase Indian footwear design and designers to the world. Together, we are poised to push boundaries, and celebrate an active and healthy lifestyle, while setting new standards for sustainability that will elevate Agilitas Sports to unprecedented heights for years to come.”