Brands
Dalima Chhibber comes on board as Vector X Brand ambassador
MUMBAI: Vector X, one of India’s leading sports brands, announced the on-boarding of Indian women’s football star Dalima Chhibber, as their brand ambassador. Vector X who already have Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia as the face of the brand, will now also be represented by the most sought after Indian womanfootballer of the current time. The contract with the star Indian left-back shall continue till April 2020.
Commenting on the association, Nikhil Mahajan, Director at Soccer International Private Ltd said, “It is a moment of pride for us. Dalima is one of the most exciting and sought after women’s footballer in the country. When we saw her playing, we knew that her dynamism and youthful energy would be a perfect fit for our brand and we wanted to make sure we can help her in growing further in whatever manner possible. She embodies the very essence of Vector X i.e. ‘The Winning Spirit’.”
Dalima burst into the Indian National Women’s team at the age 19.She has grown from a young and promising football talent to someone who has been a mainstay in the team since 2016. Known for her ability to convert long distance set-piece opportunities, the now 21 year old played a key role in India’s 5th SAFF Women’s Championship title. Owing to her performances in the recent past Dalima was also signed on by Hero Indian Women’s League team – Gokulam Kerala FC. As the Captain of the team, she helped them reach the semi-finals of the tournament notching up some of the best performances of the season.
“I am over-whelmed by the fact that a brand like Vector X has shown faith in me and chose me as the evangelist for their brand. As a brand that has already been helping so many footballers, associations and clubs across the country. I strongly believetheir support is going to help me achieve new heights on the training pitch. I am really looking forward to my time with the Vector X family. More and more corporates should follow Vector X and come up to support Women’s football in the country, especially given we are the hosts of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup next year.” stressed Indian National Women’s team footballer, Dalima Chhibber.
Apart from sports likes basketball, swimming, racket sports and volleyball, Vector X is already a mainstay in the field of football sponsoring the kits for clubs like Hero I-League team-TRAU FC, Hero Indian Women’s League team – Bangalore United FC, football associations like the Punjab Football Association, Sikkim Football Association and Mumbai District Football Association.They also hold the kit sponsorship rights for Jammu and Kashmir State Championship and Bhaichung Bhutia Football School.
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.
