Brands
Big Boy Toyz sells VIP number plate for Rs 2.08 crore in one of India’s costliest deals
NEW DELHI: Big Boy Toyz has fired an opening salvo in India’s luxury collectibles market with a headline-grabbing sale. The VIP number plate DDC 0001 was auctioned for Rs 2.08 crore on the newly launched Auction House by Big Boy Toyz, marking one of the most expensive number plate transactions in the country and signalling growing confidence in the platform.
The auction coincided with the launch of Auction House by Big Boy Toyz, the company’s foray into building what it describes as India’s first premium destination for high-value collectors. The platform brings together luxury cars, celebrity-owned vehicles, elite number plates, premium watches and exclusive mobile numbers under a single, verified ecosystem.
Built around transparency, verification and ease of transaction, the auction house aims to introduce global auction-house standards to India’s fast-growing luxury market. The winning bidder for DDC 0001, Kiran Kolipakula from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, underscored another shift: high-value luxury buying is no longer confined to metro cities.
The transaction highlighted both the pan-India reach of the platform and rising demand for collectible assets that combine rarity, status and long-term value.
“For nearly two decades, Big Boy Toyz has been built on one simple promise: trust. People have trusted us with the most valuable cars in the country,” said Jatin Ahuja, founder and managing director of Big Boy Toyz. “Over the years, we’ve built deep relationships with India’s most elite collectors and industry leaders, consistently operating within the inner circle of luxury. That credibility is what naturally led to the Auction House. When you’re dealing with assets of this value, transparency and verification matter more than anything else. The Rs 2.08 crore auction of DDC 0001 reinforced that collectors are ready for a platform they can believe in, no matter where they come from. Auction House by Big Boy Toyz is our way of extending that trust into a broader world of luxury collectibles, with global standards but a very Indian understanding of how people buy and sell.”
The platform is designed to serve both sides of the market. Sellers gain access to a curated, affluent buyer base, while buyers are offered end-to-end transaction support and the chance to own assets positioned as legacy pieces.
Current listings span celebrity cars and rare collectibles, including Dinesh Karthik’s Range Rover Sport SVR, Shilpa Shetty’s Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, Rohit Shetty’s Mercedes-Benz CLA 200D, a Rolex Daytona with Tiffany dial, collectible Hublot King Gold Skeleton Chronograph, rare mobile numbers 999999999X and 888888888X, and elite number plates such as CHE78 and HR59 0001.
With a long-term ambition to build an Indian equivalent of Sotheby’s or Christie’s, Big Boy Toyz plans to expand the auction house into new categories, including luxury handbags, rare art, collectibles and premium real estate.
Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Gurgaon, Big Boy Toyz is one of India’s leading luxury and pre-owned automobile dealers, with operations across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The company serves over 10,000 UHNI and HNI clients and attracts nearly 30 million monthly digital visitors.
From supercars to symbols of status, Big Boy Toyz is betting that trust, not just flash, will power India’s next luxury boom.
Brands
KPMG names Gary Wingrove as global chairman and CEO from October
Record Gmada bids signal rising demand as Rs 1,000 crore bet reshapes Tricity skyline
MUMBAI: KPMG has chosen continuity with a forward tilt. The firm has announced that Gary Wingrove will take over as global chairman and CEO of KPMG International, beginning a four year term from 1 October 2026. Currently serving as global chief operating officer, Wingrove steps into the top role after being nominated by the global board and elected by the global council.
A KPMG veteran with over 25 years at the firm, Wingrove has been closely involved in shaping its recent trajectory. As global COO, he has helped drive the firm’s Collective Strategy, focusing on operational integration, global investments and the steady expansion of the KPMG Delivery Network. He has also been at the forefront of KPMG’s digital push, including the rollout of AI enabled solutions across its global operations.
Before his global role, Wingrove served as CEO of KPMG Australia for nearly a decade, where he led a period of strong growth, almost doubling revenue, profitability and headcount while steering a cultural reset.
He succeeds Bill Thomas, who has led KPMG since 2017 and will work alongside Wingrove over the next six months to ensure a smooth transition.
Thomas leaves behind a firm that looks markedly different from when he took charge. Under his leadership, KPMG’s global revenues have risen by 55 per cent, and its workforce has expanded to more than 276,000 people. He also unified the network of member firms under the Collective Strategy, aligning priorities and strengthening governance.
His tenure saw heavy investment in technology and partnerships, with alliances spanning Microsoft, Google Cloud, SAP, Oracle and ServiceNow. These collaborations, along with platforms like KPMG Clara, have helped the firm scale its AI-led offerings and sharpen its competitive edge.
Beyond growth, Thomas also pushed improvements in audit quality and sustainability. Initiatives such as a multiyear global sustainability strategy and the Our Impact Plan have aimed to embed long term thinking into the firm’s operations and client services.
For Wingrove, the brief is clear but evolving. He has signalled a focus on agility, deep expertise and technology driven solutions as clients navigate an increasingly complex business landscape. He also emphasised KPMG’s identity as a people first organisation, supported by technology and unified through its global network.
The timing of the leadership change comes as KPMG continues to grow, reporting a 5.1 per cent rise in global revenue in FY25, with gains across tax and legal, audit and advisory services. Growth was recorded across all regions, despite a challenging macro environment.
As Wingrove prepares to take charge, the firm appears set on a familiar path with a sharper digital edge. Same playbook, perhaps, but with a renewed focus on speed, scale and smarter solutions.
