MAM
Smart class, smart move Mankind Pharma powers up classrooms
MUMBAI: When chalk meets chips, classrooms get a quiet upgrade. In Ghaziabad, learning just went digital as Mankind Pharma Limited switched on a new set of digital smart classrooms under its flagship CSR platform, Kindcare, giving government school students a front-row seat to technology-led education.
The initiative was inaugurated in partnership with SEEDS Impact by Sunil Kumar Sharma, cabinet minister for information technology and electronics, government of Uttar Pradesh, in the presence of Mankind Pharma chief executive officer Sheetal Arora. The launch marks another milestone in the company’s effort to move learning beyond blackboards and into interactive, tech-enabled spaces.
The Digital Smart Classroom Initiative targets 400 government schools across Uttar Pradesh, with 460 classrooms already operational, reaching thousands of students. Equipped with tools such as the K-Yan digital learning device, the classrooms deliver curriculum-aligned audio-visual lessons, helping simplify complex concepts and improve engagement, particularly in schools where physical infrastructure is limited.
Crucially, the programme goes beyond hardware. More than 2,400 teachers have already undergone structured training to confidently integrate digital tools into daily teaching. The support system includes hands-on workshops, classroom simulations, helplines and digital peer communities, designed to ensure the technology does not gather dust once the launch banners come down.
Speaking at the inauguration, Sharma said the initiative addresses critical gaps in access and quality at a time when digital literacy is no longer optional. Arora added that the focus is not technology for its own sake, but dignity, opportunity and ensuring children in underserved regions are not left behind in an increasingly digital world.
SEEDS Impact CEO R Purushotham noted that the collaboration has the potential to scale further, creating pathways for technology to reach even more students across the state.
The Digital Smart Classroom Initiative is a core pillar of Kindcare, Mankind Pharma’s CSR framework spanning health and hygiene, education, environment and livelihood development. With district-level execution and measurable outcomes at its core, the programme reflects a simple idea with long-term impact: when classrooms get smarter, futures follow suit.
Brands
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail reshuffles top deck; Nikhil Modha to take over as CFO
Phased transition sees Marco Agnolin head OWND!, Nikhil Modha lined up as CFO as company readies next growth leg
MUMBAI: Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail is redrawing its leadership map, lining up a new generation of executives across key roles as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
The company has named Suraj Bahirwani as chief executive (designate) of Pantaloons, effective April 1, 2026, with a full transition to the top role slated for October 1, 2026. He will also be designated as senior managerial personnel.
A two-decade veteran of the Aditya Birla Group, Bahirwani joined as a group management trainee in 2002 and has since held a string of leadership roles across retail and manufacturing. His resume spans stints at Aditya Birla Retail, a tenure as chief operating officer of Pantaloons, and most recently, head of global sales at the group’s cellulosic fibres business, where he drove international expansion and strengthened value-added portfolios.
Academically, he holds a PhD from the University of Mumbai, a postgraduate management diploma from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, and is a chartered accountant. Over the years, he has picked up multiple chairman’s awards, including distinguished achiever, exceptional contributor and accomplished leader.
The transition at Pantaloons will be staged. Incumbent chief executive Sangeeta Tanwani will continue until September 30, 2026, steering the handover before moving into an advisory role to the managing director from October 1, 2026. She is set to retire on January 31, 2027, at which point she will step down as whole-time director and key managerial personnel.
Alongside, the company has brought in Marco Agnolin as chief executive of OWND! and senior managerial personnel, effective April 6, 2026. Agnolin arrives with over three decades of global experience, having held senior roles at Inditex, where he helped expand Zara in Italy, and later served as chief executive of Bershka and Diesel. His track record spans fast fashion, brand turnarounds and youth-focused retail.
On the finance side, Nikhil Modha has been appointed chief financial officer (designate) and senior managerial personnel from April 1, 2026. He will assume full charge as chief financial officer and key managerial personnel from January 1, 2027.
Current chief financial officer Jagdish Bajaj will oversee a phased transition until December 31, 2026, before retiring and stepping down from his roles.
The reshuffle signals a calibrated succession plan rather than a sudden overhaul, with the company staggering exits and appointments to ensure continuity even as it refreshes leadership across verticals.
As Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail juggles legacy brands and new-age formats, the message is clear: steady hands for the present, sharper ones for the future—and no pause in the push for scale.
