Brands
Amitabh Suri named CEO of Flying Machine
Ahmedabad: Arvind Fashions is doubling down on execution. The Lalbhai Group company has appointed Amitabh Suri as chief executive officer of Flying Machine, adding the role to his current mandate as ceo of U.S. Polo Assn. in India, as it recalibrates its brand engine for a fast-shifting apparel market.
The move puts Flying Machine, India’s first homegrown denim label, under a leader known for scaling lifestyle brands at speed. The brand will continue to anchor itself around youth-led fashion, denim-first design and relevance for millennials and Gen Z, segments where competition is intensifying.
Suri brings over 25 years of experience across apparel and lifestyle retail, spanning brand building, retail operations, supply chain leadership and omni-channel strategy. At Arvind Fashions, he has grown the U.S. Polo Assn. into one of India’s largest casualwear brands, clocking revenues of over Rs 1,800 crore across menswear, womenswear, kidswear, footwear and innerwear.
Before joining Arvind, Suri spent 18 years at Indian Terrain Fashions, transforming it from a wholesale-led business into a listed retail brand with turnover reaching Rs 415 crore. His international exposure includes a stint as ceo of Iconic at Landmark Group, where he oversaw operations across the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, he served as president for exclusive brands and private labels at Shoppers Stop, managing a Rs 800 crore portfolio that included Jones New York, French Connection UK, Back to Earth and Glam X Disha Patani.
With Suri now steering two of Arvind’s key brands, the message is clear. In a market where denim is being rewritten for a younger, faster consumer, Flying Machine is betting on seasoned hands to move quicker, sharper and louder.
Brands
Devyani International Ltd plans three-subsidiary merger to streamline operations
QSR operator moves to streamline structure and unlock operational synergies
Devyani International is tightening its corporate kitchen. The quick-service restaurant operator has approved a scheme to merge three subsidiaries—Sky Gate Hospitality, Blackvelvet Hospitality and Say Chefs Eatery—into the parent company in a bid to simplify its structure and sharpen operational efficiency.
The decision was cleared at a board meeting on March 10 and disclosed in a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges. The merger will take effect from April 1, 2025, subject to statutory approvals.
All three transferor companies are direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, meaning no fresh shares will be issued and the shareholding pattern of Devyani International will remain unchanged once the scheme is completed.
The subsidiaries together operate more than 100 outlets—including dine-in restaurants and cloud kitchens, spread across over 40 cities such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru.
Devyani International, the largest franchisee of Yum Brands in India, said the consolidation is aimed at generating operational synergies, optimising resource utilisation and reducing layers within the corporate structure.
Financially, the move brings together businesses of varying scale. As of March 31, 2025, Devyani International reported a net worth of Rs 10,381.02 million and turnover of Rs 33,493.33 million. Sky Gate Hospitality posted a net worth of Rs 761.14 million with turnover of Rs 2,657.57 million, while Blackvelvet Hospitality and Say Chefs Eatery reported smaller operations and negative net worth.
The merger will consolidate these operations under a single corporate umbrella as the company sharpens its focus on scale and efficiency.
Devyani International currently runs more than 2,000 outlets across over 280 cities in India, Nigeria, Nepal and Thailand. Its portfolio includes franchise rights for brands such as Pizza Hut, KFC, Costa Coffee, Tea Live, New York Fries and Sanook Kitchen, alongside its own food brands.
With the paperwork underway and approvals pending, Devyani is essentially clearing the corporate clutter—turning three subsidiaries into one tighter, leaner operation. In the QSR world, even the back office needs a spring clean.
