Brands
Indian ridesharing app Ola begins operations in Sydney
MUMBAI: Following a successful launch in Perth, Indian ridesharing platform Ola has announced the official launch of its operations in Sydney, and has hired a local team to build partnerships and support driver-partners.
Sydney riders can experience the new service at an introductory offer for free rides from today where customers can download the Ola app from the Android or Apple App store, register for an Ola account and begin booking rides. Rides can also be booked to and from Sydney Airport, for drop off and pick up in the designated ridesharing area.
Ola’s focus is on investing in driver-partners and supporting them with new technology, training, and ways to increase earnings. Since its launch in Perth, the service has received a strong response from driver-partners with over 7000 registrations. By enabling driver-partners to provide the best experience possible, customers, in turn, will have a high-quality ride at an affordable price.
Excited to officially start operating on the east coast with the launch in Sydney, Ola vice president, head of international Chandra Nath says the company is pleased with how the service has been received by customers, driver-partners and the community in Perth, and can’t wait to continue building on these experiences and learnings for their second city launch.
In the coming weeks, Ola will continue to roll out a number of new initiatives for both customers and driver-partners. For customers, the company will provide new promotions, clear ways to share feedback, and a higher-quality ride, while for driver-partners; Ola will introduce new earnings programs, community town-halls, fuel offers and other vehicle services.
Brands
Zepto names Saurabh Kabra vice president for non-trade advertising
Former blinkit and ITC executive to drive Zepto’s ad-led growth
BENGALURU: Zepto has elevated Saurabh Kabra to vice president—non-trade advertising, partnerships and catalogue, underscoring the quick-commerce firm’s push to deepen high-margin revenue streams beyond deliveries.
Based in Bengaluru, Kabra will lead the strategic expansion of Zepto’s advertising and partnerships ecosystem. He was previously senior director and head of the non-trade advertising business, where he played a central role in building the company’s ad-led monetisation playbook.
Since joining Zepto, Kabra has worked closely with the chief executive’s office on strategic initiatives, contributing to the company’s rapid scale-up in India’s intensely competitive quick-commerce market. His elevation comes as platforms increasingly court brand advertising to steady margins and diversify revenue.
Before Zepto, Kabra held senior growth roles at Blinkit, serving as associate director of growth and city CEO for Hyderabad, where he led regional expansion and operational scaling.
Earlier in his career, he spent several years at ITC Limited, managing brands such as Classmate and Paperkraft and overseeing sales operations in the personal care business. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta.
Industry executives view the appointment as a clear signal that Zepto is sharpening its focus on advertising, partnerships and catalogue-led monetisation: areas increasingly discussed by investors as critical to improving unit economics in quick commerce.
