Shailina Parti
Chief Operating Officer, Westside
Shailina has sat on a number of boards for Retail brands. Her roles have been to lead in Brand transformation in the Global Retail space. Shailina has had a long career in Fashion and Retail working in the UK and Internationally building fashion brands with a new and relevant proposition within the consumer market.
Post her graduation in Business, Shailina worked in Manufacturing in the UK, Global sourcing and then moved into Buying and Merchandising for a luxury brand Jaeger. After 20 years at Jaeger moved on to Monsoon Accessorize as Brand Director with 1000 stores in 100 countries and then Jigsaw that had global presence in UK, USA & Australia.
Born and brought up in the UK, the excitement of transforming a brand like Westside that after 25 years, needed a refresh, therefore was an exciting opportunity. In 2022 Shailina started the journey of change and last year Westside topped the list of the fastest growing brand in India. (Brand Finance India report 2024)
Currently, responsible for Westside and next year will have grown from 200 to 350 stores next year and we have updated the portfolio with iconic stores and changed the product to appeal to younger, more modern customers. Also have re- launched online to create and omni channel business that has shown 100% growth over the last 2 years. Shailina is married with 25 year old twins and the challenges of raising a family while running a big team and building a career has always been a balancing act but more than achievable.
In her current role supporting and mentoring teams to understand the role of how you bring product to market and ensuring the next generation of young people in India can step become leaders.
B Thiagarajan
Managing Director, Blue Star
B Thiagarajan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical
and Electronics Engineering from Madurai University.
He has also completed the Senior Executive
Programme from London Business School. He has
more than four decades of experience, having
worked for reputed companies such as Larsen &
Toubro Ltd, BPL Systems Ltd and Voltas Ltd, prior to
joining Blue Star in 1998.
Mr Thiagarajan has handled various assignments in
Service Business, Corporate Communications &
Marketing and Corporate Affairs & Planning before he was promoted to President of
AC&R Products Group in 2009. He was elevated to the Board in 2013 and was appointed
as Joint Managing Director in 2016 before taking charge as Managing Director with
effect from April 2019. He currently oversees the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
business operations in India, including Sales & Marketing, Manufacturing, R&D, Supply
Chain and Customer Service. He also oversees Corporate Communications and Public
Relations functions.
Mr Thiagarajan plays an active role in various industry forums and is the Past President
of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Manufacturers Association (RAMA) and the Past
Chairman of CII Western Region as well as CII Maharashtra State.
He is currently a member of the CII National Council, and chairs the CII National
Committee on CSR and the CII Trade Fairs Council. He is also the National Chairman of
the Indian Green Building Council and Chairman of the CII Green Cooling Council.
Harkaran Singh Sahni
Chief Operating Officer, Apollo Hospital
Harkaran Singh Sahni is a results-driven healthcare leader with a Master's in
Hospital Administration and an Executive Master's degree in progress from
the Indian School of Business. With a proven ability to inspire collaboration
and enhance performance, he currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer
at Apollo Hospital Jubilee Hills Hyderabad.
With nearly 2 decades of experience in Healthcare and Telecom, Harkaran
has demonstrated expertise in Customer Service, Patient Experience,
Operations, Sales, Marketing, . He has made significant contributions to
renowned brands such as Medanta - The Medicity, Fortis Healthcare,
Vodafone India, and Bharti Airtel.
Specializing in Problem solving, Process optimization, Cost management,
P&L, Digitization, CRM, and Voice of Customer initiatives, Harkaran is
recognized for his dedication to excellence and innovative service delivery.
Nirupam Sahay
Chief Executive Officer, Hindware
Nirupam is the CEO of Hindware, leading the Bathware, Tiles and Consumer
Appliances businesses. Nirupam has a career spanning over 31 years in Sales,
Marketing, Operations and General Management/P&L Management, with earlier
stints in Dixon Technologies, Philips Lighting, GE Capital, Whirlpool and Asian
Paints.
Nirupam brings with him a deep understanding of diverse Indian, Asian and
Global markets and consumers. He has been on the Board of Directors of GE
Money India, two Joint Ventures of Philips Lighting in China, Rexxam Dixon
Electronics and Hintastica Private Limited (a JV between Hindware and General
Atlantic).
Nirupam graduated in Economics Honours from St. Stephen's College, Delhi,
completed his MBA from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
(NMIMS), Mumbai, and completed an Advanced Management Program at The
Wharton School.
His interests include quizzing, music and reading.
Jamal Shahid Shaikh
Chief Operating Officer-Lifestyle Media Businesses, RP- Sanjiv Goenka Group
Jamal Shaikh is a senior media person who is credited with launching the Indian editions of Men’s Health, Robb Report and Discovery Channel Magazine India. He was editor of the HT Sunday magazine, Brunch for seven years, and also played the role of National Editor – New Media Initiatives. For the last few years, he has been setting up RPSG Lifestyle Media, a new-age publishing house, which has launched The Hollywood Reporter, Esquire, Robb Report (relaunched in India) and homegrown wedding magazine, Manifest in the last year. In times when print is facing challenges, Jamal Shaikh is recognised as the game changer in the lifestyle media business. He is one of the strongest voices in the media and entertainment space in the country today.
Jasvinder Singh Kataria
CEO – Domestic Textiles, Grasim Industries(Aditya Birla Group)
Jasvinder Singh Kataria has over 25 years of experience in Textile
Business. He joined Aditya Birla Group in May’2005. In his present role of
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Domestic Textiles, he is responsible for the
Textile Business of Aditya Birla Group spanning across Jaya Shree Textiles
(under the brand “Linen Club”), Vikram Woolens, and Grasim Premium
Fabric (Brand-Soktas).
In this long career span with ABG, he has always accepted the various
challenging responsibilities of Sales and Marketing, Brands and Retails and
Manufacturing processes of Linen, Cotton, and Wool. He steered the Linen
division towards spectacular success in the Indian market that helped the
brand Linen Club as No.1 Linen selling brand of the country. His expertise
and knowledge of the Manufacturing and Sales & Marketing field has made
him an acknowledged thought leader in the entire industry.
Priya Rustogi
Managing Director | Leader: India and Subcon, LIXIL (Grohe and American Standard Brands)
Priya Rustogi is a seasoned business leader with over two decades of
experience in sales, distribution, and market expansion across various
industries. She currently serves as the Leader(Managing Director) of India
and the Subcontinent for LIXIL Water Technology at LIXIL IMEA, overseeing
the GROHE and American Standard brands in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,
and Nepal. In her role, Priya drives strategic direction, business growth,
and market penetration for both brands, ensuring they meet the evolving
needs of consumers and industry professionals in the region.
Prior to this, Priya led LIXIL India’s Consumer Business for six years, where she played a key role in expanding
GROHE’s retail footprint across the country. Before joining LIXIL, she held key leadership roles in consumer
electronics and healthcare industries, successfully launching and scaling brand operations in India.
Priya Rustogi is recognized for her expertise in market expansion, retail strategy, and building strong customer
relationships. With a track record of delivering transformational results in highly competitive markets, Priya
combines a deep understanding of business dynamics with a hands-on leadership approach. She has
successfully scaled businesses and expanded market share in both mature and emerging markets, building
strong customer relationships, and driving innovative solutions.
Priya Rustogi holds a PGDBM degree in Marketing/Marketing Management from Symbiosis, Pune and a
bachelor’s in hospitality management, Business Administration and Management from the Institute of Hotel
Management (IHM) Delhi. She also holds a Management Development Program certification from the
University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business (2017) and a Brand Management Workshop
certification from the Indian School of Business (2012).
Rajesh Jain
Managing Director & CEO, Lacoste India
Rajesh Jain is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lacoste India, a position he has
held since October 2009. Under his leadership, Lacoste has transformed into a renowned lifestyle
brand across India, offering a diverse range of products including clothing for men, women, and
children, footwear, leather goods, watches, and more. With a keen vision and unwavering
commitment, Rajesh has successfully propagated Lacoste's unique brand identity, establishing its
presence in major cities and metros throughout the country. He is guided by his own philosophy:
“Top Line, Bottom Line, Growth, Customer Delight, and Human Resource Development – Everything
else is merely incidental.” This approach has shaped the brand into a dynamic and customer-centric
brand in India.
Rajesh's journey from a strong financial background to the retail industry exemplifies his adaptability
and forward-thinking mindset. With a sharp analytical approach, he has thrived in an industry
defined by ever-changing consumer preferences and evolving market trends. Known for his ethical
leadership and process-oriented approach, Rajesh is a risk-taker who embraces innovation while
ensuring that decisions are always well-calculated. His broad expertise and deep understanding of
the retail sector have been honed through years of experience in leading organizations across
different domains.
Before becoming the CEO, Rajesh served as the CFO of Lacoste India for three years. In this role, he
played a pivotal part in the company’s financial management, overseeing risk assessment, and
implementing robust systems and processes across functions such as Supply Chain, IT, Sourcing, and
Legal. His leadership was instrumental in the company’s growth and strategic direction. Rajesh has
embedded the core values of authenticity, performance, and elegance - attributes that are
synonymous with the brand, into every aspect of the business. A dynamic leader and a highly
respected figure, Rajesh has led the brand to impressive sales growth and spearheaded successful
marketing campaigns, alongside pioneering media and financial strategies.
Rajesh holds a Master of Commerce degree from the University of Delhi and is a Chartered
Accountant (CA) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He is also a qualified Company
Secretary, having obtained his degree from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. Born and
raised in Delhi, Rajesh embodies an ethical and aesthetically driven approach to both his personal
and professional life.
RANJEET OAK
Managing Director – South Asia, KOHLER CO.
Ranjeet Oak was appointed as the Managing Director – South Asiain February 2024. In this role, he leads Kohler’s business strategy and operations across the South Asia region, drawing on nearly three decades of leadership experience across multiple sectors, geographies, and product categories. His expertise in building and scaling organizations is reflected in his holistic approach to market growth, sales excellence, and operational transformation.
Ranjeet brings a breadth of cross-functional leadership in Sales, Marketing, and General Management, having held key roles both in India and abroad. Prior to joining Kohler Co., he served as a Member of the Board and Chief Commercial Officer at Pernod Ricard India, where he led national Sales and Marketing functions. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at Unilodgers Inc., MakeMyTrip, and Procter & Gamble, where he was instrumental in building scalable operations and driving strategic growth.He is known for his ability to identify critical business drivers, establish robust processes, and inspire high-performing teams toward sustained top- and bottom-line success.
Ranjeet holds a mechanical engineering degree from Pune University and a postgraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow.
Outside the boardroom, Ranjeet resides in Gurugram with his wife, Navneet. Their daughter, Malika, is working with Uber in San Francisco after graduating from the Princeton University class of 2020 and, their son, Prithvi, is looking forward to working with NextDoor in San Francisco after graduating this year from Brown University.A sports and music enthusiast, Ranjeet enjoys exploring both in his leisure time.
Vineet Jain
Chief Operating Officer, VMart Retail Ltd
Vineet is a well-educated and did Chartered Accountant from ICAI, Company Secretary Inter from ICSI & Cost Work Accountant from ICWAI. Also an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad and did Advanced Management Program from Insead,
France.
Vineet is a seasoned & versatile management professional with 25+ years of diversified rich experience mainly in
heading Hypermarket, Supermarket and Fashion Business.
During his work tenure he has worked in manufacturing, capital & Finance market as well. He has conceptualised and
co-creator of many brands like Big Bazaar, Vishal Mega Mart, etc.
He is responsible for driving company’s mission and strategy. under his current role he is in multi-disciplinary roles and
bringing V-Mart to scale through strategy & actions. He is Involved in the entire spectrum of Retail including adding new Footprints/ Geography , Acquisition, operations, sales, Marketing, Building FMCG Business & Partner Brand Business .
He is with Retail industry since inception of Modern Retail trade in India. Empowering a team to be able to do the
above is his idea of gratification. Vineet has both depth and breadth of leadership and operational experience in the
value retailing format, and a customer-centric approach.
Vineet speak English, Hindi & many regional languages.
Vineet has been widely recognized for his contributions to the retail industry. He has recently been honored with The
Times Business Leader – 2025 by The Economic Times. Earlier, he received the Retail Leader of the Year 2024 award
at the Great India Retail Awards and was named the Top COO, Retail Icon of the Year 2023 by CX Leader, a prestigious accolade from the retail fraternities. He was also included in the list of the 100 CX Leaders in India 2023 at the Trescon
World CX Summit and recognized as the Retail Icon of the Year 2023 by the UBS Forum. In 2022, Vineet was awarded
the Most Admired Retailer of the Year at the Images Retail Awards. His forward-thinking approach was further acknowledged at the Future of Retail & E-commerce Summit & Awards 2023. Additionally, he holds the Jain Ratan:
Community Service Award 2023, a rare honor conferred on only 500 Jains across India for exceptional service.