Brands
Fintech powerhouse Angel One snaps up Walmart tech guru in C-suite shuffle
MUMBAI: Angel One Ltd has poached tech heavyweight Rohit Chatter as its new chief data officer, while bidding farewell to outgoing data chief Deepak Chandani.
Chatter, fresh from his gig as chief software architect at Walmart Global Tech, will take the reins with immediate effect, as Chandani prepares to clear his desk by April end.
The well-timed appointment sees Angel One doubling down on its AI ambitions, with chairman Dinesh Thakkar making no bones about the company’s lofty aspirations.
“We’re not just embracing the future of finTech—we’re building it,” he declared with characteristic swagger. “Data is the foundation of this revolution and Rohit’s unparalleled expertise in AI, cloud platforms and data science will be a game-changer in redefining digital investing. With his leadership, we will push the boundaries of innovation, deliver hyper-personalized experiences and empower millions with smarter financial solutions.”
Chatter brings nearly three decades of tech wizardry to the table, having cut his teeth at Silicon Valley giants and masterminded large-scale data operations. At Walmart, he was the brains behind their generative AI revolution, while his stint as CTO at InMobi saw him transform their remarketing platform into a cash cow across major markets.
The data boffin’s CV also boasts impressive turns at Yahoo India, where he spearheaded big data initiatives, and various leadership roles at Talisma, IPSoft, TiVo and Alcatel in the US. His tech toolkit includes everything from Oracle databases to Unix systems, alongside programming chops in Perl, Python and Java.
Chatter, who holds a BE in electronics & telecom and an MBA from NMIMS, seems positively gung-ho about his new role.
“Angel One is revolutionizing the financial services industry with its AI-first approach and I am excited to be part of this dynamic team. AI and data science are shaping the future of investing and my focus will be on enhancing Angel One’s platforms with automation, predictive analytics and intelligent insights that empower investors across India. The potential to innovate and scale AI-led financial solutions at Angel One is immense and I look forward to thisjourney,” he enthused, barely containing his excitement at the prospect of unleashing predictive analytics upon India’s investing masses.
For the uninitiated, Angel One stands tall as India’s largest listed retail stock broking house by active NSE clients. The tech-savvy outfit serves over 30 million investors through its digital platforms, including the Angel One Mobile App, the rather clever ‘ARQ Prime’ recommendation engine, and the ‘Smart Money’ educational platform designed to turn investing novices into market maestros.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
