Hires & Promotions: Harley’s Corner, Eastman Exports, Hero Vired

Harley’s Corner welcomes Mirza L. Baig as the new CEO and Co-founder

Harley’s Corner has appointed Mirza L. Baig as the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder. With 27 years of extensive experience in marketing and business leadership, Baig has built leading brands, incubated new businesses and unlocked significant growth for brands across various markets worldwide.

Baig's entrepreneurial spirit was exemplified through his co-founding Jimmy's Cocktails.

With robust exposure to the emerging markets of India, UAE, Southeast Asia, and South America, as well as mature markets in Europe, Australia, and the USA, Baig has launched and established brands, led award-winning marketing campaigns for global markets, created engagement platforms, managed over 5,000 large-scale B2B events and exhibitions, and developed sponsorship and revenue models using live IPR and digital content formats.

At Harley's Corner, Baig will be responsible for strategic planning and vision, operational oversight, and growth across core product offerings in the pet food sector. He will focus on expanding the company's footprint in the direct-to-consumer (D2C), retail, and export channels worldwide. His expertise will be instrumental in building strong relationships, developing compelling product assortments, and driving online sales through innovative e-commerce strategies.

"I am thrilled to welcome Mirza L. Baig as our CEO and Co-Founder at Harley's Corner. His unparalleled expertise in brand building and market expansion, coupled with his proven leadership in driving exponential growth, make him the perfect fit for our team. Mirza's vision and strategic acumen will undoubtedly propel Harley's Corner to new heights as we strive to innovate and lead in the pet food industry. I am confident that, under his stewardship, our company will not only expand its market presence but also redefine the standards of excellence in our sector," says Ishmeet Singh Chandiok, Dog Chef, Canine Nutritionist and Founder of Harley's Corner.

Eastman Exports appoints industry veteran Ritesh Kumar as CEO 

Tiruppur-based Eastman Exports, India’s fourth largest knitwear manufacturer and exporter, has named Ritesh Kumar as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Kumar brings with him 25 years of extensive experience in the garment industry, having previously served as the Senior Vice President at Shahi Exports.

Kumar’s appointment reflects Eastman Exports' commitment to driving innovation and expanding its footprint in India while simultaneously strengthening its global business. Eastman Exports supplies garments to luxury clothing brands across the world, with the U.S. being its primary market.

Kumar holds a PG in GMT from NIFT. Apart from Shahi Exports, he was associated with Dubai-based Arise IIP as the Chief Operating Officer of its garments division setting up industry in West Africa.

“We are glad to welcome Mr. Kumar. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge in technological innovation and strategy. We are confident that his expertise will help Eastman Exports reach greater heights,” mentions Eastman Exports’ Chairman N Chandran.

“I am honoured to join Eastman Exports and look forward to leveraging my experience to drive innovation and propel the company to new heights in both global and domestic markets," Kumar says.
 

Hero Vired appoints Prakhar Kasar as CEO

Hero Vired has roped in Prakhar Kasar as its Chief Executive Officer. Kasar comes with more than 16 years of robust experience in driving business growth across the sales, marketing, and revenue streams. 

With extensive experience in the FMCG and ecommerce sectors, Kasar has a proven track record of driving business success at Pepsico and MakeMyTrip. His appointment comes at a crucial time as Hero Vired seeks to expand its reach and impact in the rapidly evolving online education universe.

Commenting on Prakhar’s appointment, Akshay Munjal, Founder – Hero Vired, states, “In today’s rapidly evolving job market, innovative and effective upskilling solutions are the need of the hour. Prakhar’s vision aligns perfectly with our mission to bridge the gap between traditional degrees and real-world employability. His proven ability to scale businesses and build high-performing teams makes him the ideal leader to take Hero Vired to new heights.”

Outlining his strategy, Kasar emphasises a two-pronged approach: “In the immediate future, we’ll focus on enhancing B2C offerings, particularly our live learning experiences that cater to a premium audience. This builds on Hero Vired’s existing strengths while setting the stage for broader expansion. Looking ahead, we see significant opportunities in the B2B and B2I markets, as well as potential to reach new consumer segments.”

Highlighting the core mission, Kasar adds, “At its heart, Hero Vired is about democratising education. We remain committed to providing quality learning opportunities that are accessible and relevant to the Indian context. In a world increasingly shaped by AI and facing a challenging job market, our role in upskilling and reskilling professionals is more crucial now than ever.” 

Kasar plans to leverage Hero Vired’s strengths in pedagogy and teaching methodologies, combined with the latest tech advancements, to drive the Company’s growth. His experience in scaling businesses from early stages to maturity is expected to be a key asset in this journey.