MAM
Shoppers Stop checks out a new CFO as Pankaj Chaturvedi steps in
Retailer names Saregama finance chief to take charge from April 2026.
MUMBAI: In a classic case of numbers meeting new narratives, Shoppers Stop has pressed refresh on its finance leadership, appointing Pankaj Chaturvedi as chief financial officer with effect from April 1, 2026.
Chaturvedi will take over from Karunakaran Mohanasundaram, who has held the CFO role since 2018 and is stepping down to explore opportunities outside the company, the retailer said in a statement.
Currently the CFO at Saregama India Ltd, Chaturvedi brings with him a blend of consumer, media and telecom experience. Over the years, he has held senior finance roles at Vodafone and Reliance Jio, giving him a ringside view of large-scale operations, digital transitions and fast-evolving consumer businesses.
At Shoppers Stop, the appointment comes at a time when organised retail is navigating cautious spending, rising costs and sharper competition, making financial stewardship a central part of the growth story. Chaturvedi is expected to oversee the company’s finance strategy as it balances expansion ambitions with tighter margins and changing shopper behaviour.
Mohanasundaram’s departure marks the end of a steady seven-year tenure during which he guided the department store chain through pre-pandemic growth, Covid-led disruption and the gradual recovery that followed.
With a new CFO lined up well ahead of the handover, Shoppers Stop appears keen to ensure continuity at the till, even as it prepares for the next phase of its retail journey.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
