Hires & Promotions: Rakuten India, Cashfree Payments, MAIA

Rakuten India strengthens leadership with key appointments for SixthSense, its SaaS business

Rakuten India has appointed two senior executives: Jay Swamidass as vice president and global head of sales and Subhash Chandra as head of global partnerships & alliances. These leadership appointments represent a significant step in Rakuten India's ongoing efforts to expand its global footprint and enhance its enterprise software offerings.

Jay Swamidass brings over two decades of experience in enterprise software sales, having held key positions and leadership roles at Hewlett Packard, Commvault Systems, Veeam Software, and most recently, Apica. At Rakuten India, he will lead the sales strategy for Rakuten SixthSense, focusing on delivering innovative solutions to enterprise customers. His expertise in analytics, cloud, AI, and enterprise infrastructure will support the company’s goal of further expanding its footprint in this critical market.                                                                                           

“I am thrilled to join Rakuten India at such an exciting time,” says Swamidass. “The company’s focus on cutting-edge observability solutions and its commitment to solving complex enterprise challenges align perfectly with my passion for leveraging technology to drive operational excellence and business resilience. I’m excited to work alongside this talented team to strengthen our market presence and deliver real value to our clients through unparalleled visibility and performance insights.”

Subhash Chandra brings 23 years of experience in building strategic partnerships across the technology sector, with prior leadership roles at AWS, Google Cloud, SAP, and IBM. Subhash will focus on expanding Rakuten India's global partner network to enhance its technological capabilities and market reach, which will further fuel the company’s rapid growth.

“Rakuten India’s vision of innovation through collaboration is truly inspiring,” shares Chandra. “I am eager to lead the global partnerships efforts and work closely with our partners to create synergies that empower our clients and elevate Rakuten India’s solutions on a global scale.”

Commenting on the appointments, Sunil Gopinath, CEO of Rakuten India mentions, “We are delighted to welcome Jay and Subhash to the Rakuten India leadership team. Their expertise and leadership will be pivotal as we continue to innovate and expand our global presence in enterprise software and observability. With their strategic insights and operational excellence, I am confident we will achieve new milestones and continue our significant growth trajectory for our Rakuten SixthSense business.”
 

Cashfree Payments appoints Nitin Pulyani as head of product & senior VP

Cashfree Payments has named Nitin Pulyani as the head of product & senior VP. In this new role, Pulyani will spearhead product innovation and develop strategic growth initiatives for Cashfree Payments. He will oversee product development, drive innovation and ensure delivery of world-class products and solutions that cater to the evolving needs of businesses both in India and globally.

Commenting on the appointment, Akash Sinha, co-founder & CEO of Cashfree Payments says, “As a seasoned product leader, Nitin’s extensive experience and innovative mindset will enhance our ability to deliver industry-best products and solutions. With him on the team, I am confident we will continue to set new benchmarks in the sector. Welcome aboard, Nitin!”

Pulyani also comments, “Since its inception, Cashfree Payments has been dedicated to addressing the payment needs of Indian businesses. As the Indian digital economy continues to expand, I see tremendous potential to leverage Cashfree’s years of research and innovation in the fintech space to drive growth and scalability for businesses. I am excited to contribute to Cashfree Payments’ next chapter of growth.”

Pulyani has extensive fintech experience leading product vision and strategy at brands like PhonePe and Jupiter. With over two decades of building and launching products that delight millions of customers, he has developed innovative product strategies, driven revenue growth and built high-performing teams in companies like Ola, NeoGrowth, and TaxiForSure, showcasing his ability to navigate and excel in fast-paced environments. He is an alumnus of the Indian School of Business. He also holds a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) from the Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi. 

This appointment follows the recent hiring of Harsh Gupta as the chief revenue officer. 

MAIA Estates appoints Sanaa Ruia as creative director

MAIA Estates has named Sanaa Ruia as its new creative director. With a career spanning nearly two decades in luxury branding, design, and entrepreneurship, Ruia brings a fresh, globally-inspired perspective to the company. Her appointment marks a pivotal moment in MAIA Estates’ journey, signalling the brand’s mission of bringing modern creativity, innovation, and excellence into real estate. 

A decade ago, Sanaa founded Nomada, an accessories brand that rapidly gained international recognition, with a presence in over 35 luxury stores worldwide, including markets in Miami, Athens, Lisbon, Bodrum, and Muscat.

Ruia’s entrepreneurial journey with Nomada also extended into corporate solutions and strategic gifting, where she catered to prestigious clients such as Estée Lauder, Nykaa, Vistara Airlines, and the Manipal Group. Her commitment to ethical craftsmanship and social responsibility is best reflected in her efforts to employ 125 workers in Dharavi, emphasising fair wages and local craftsmanship. 

Sanaa’s connection with MAIA Estates runs deep. Her collaboration with the brand began through Nomada, where she worked on key design projects that have shaped her understanding of MAIA’s ethos and brand identity. This familiarity, coupled with her multifaceted expertise, will enable her to spearhead creative initiatives that span marketing strategy, project branding, interior design, and landscaping. 

“I have always believed that creativity is not just a skill set but a mindset,” says Ruia, speaking about her new role. “Being a design-centric person means having a keen eye for aesthetics, functionality, and innovation in everything I do. This approach to creativity is inherently versatile, allowing me to adapt and shape it to different contexts, including real estate. I look forward to translating this ethos into my work at MAIA Estates. Real estate is an incredibly dynamic industry, and it’s exhilarating to be at the intersection of design and development. I am excited to work closely with the team at MAIA to bring a fresh perspective to our projects and create spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.”

Mayank Ruia, founder and CEO of MAIA Estates, comments, “Sanaa’s unique design sensibilities, coupled with her strong business acumen, make her an invaluable addition to the MAIA team. Her ability to blend aesthetics with strategic thinking is exactly what we need to further distinguish ourselves. With her at the creative helm, we are poised to push the boundaries of high-quality living while staying true to our core values of innovation and excellence.”