Brands
Amazon AI chief Rohit Prasad exits as Andy Jassy redraws the company’s AI map
SEATTLE: Amazon is shaking up its artificial intelligence leadership just as the race for scale intensifies. Rohit Prasad, the company’s AI chief and a key architect of Alexa, will leave at the end of the year, triggering a sweeping reorganisation of Amazon’s generative AI ambitions.
In a blog post, chief executive Andy Jassy said Amazon is consolidating its biggest bets generative AI models, custom silicon and quantum computing into a single new organisation. The unit will be led by Peter DeSantis, a 27-year Amazon veteran who currently serves as a senior vice-president in the cloud business.
Prasad joined Amazon in 2013 during Alexa’s formative years and helped turn it from an ambitious experiment into a conversational AI service used by hundreds of millions of customers. Jassy credited him with building a strong team, differentiated technology and growing customer momentum, calling his leadership missionary, passionate and selfless.
The restructuring signals Amazon’s view that it has reached an inflection point. New technologies including proprietary AI models such as Nova, chips such as Graviton, Trainium and Nitro, and longer-term quantum bets are now central to the company’s future customer experience. Bringing them under one roof, Jassy argued, will help Amazon decide where these fast-growing businesses are best placed to maximise long-term value.
The move comes amid Amazon’s broader expansion push, including a $35bn investment plan in India aimed at accelerating digital transformation.
For Amazon, the message is unmistakable. The AI race is no longer about side projects and internal silos. It is about speed, scale and control. Prasad’s exit closes one chapter. The next will be louder, faster and far more consequential.
Brands
Devyani International names Sandeep Anand, Robinder Singh in key roles
Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee businesses see leadership refresh from April
MUMBAI: Devyani International has strengthened its senior leadership bench with a fresh set of appointments across its key brands, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee, signalling a sharper focus on growth and brand momentum.
The company has appointed Sandeep Anand as chief marketing officer and business head for Pizza Hut. His appointment, approved by the board via a circular resolution on April 3, follows a recommendation by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, as reported by CNBC-TV18. Anand will officially step into the role on April 6, 2026.
He takes over from Vijay Gogate, who currently serves as chief executive officer for Pizza Hut within the company’s operations. The move marks a strategic transition as the brand looks to sharpen its marketing and business playbook in a competitive quick service restaurant market.
Anand brings over two decades of experience across the food and FMCG sectors, with a strong track record in brand building and innovation. His career spans roles at major consumer-facing companies including Domino’s, Zydus Wellness, Zomato, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Reckitt and Ranbaxy, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both scale and agility.
Alongside this, Robinder Singh has been appointed business head for Costa Coffee and the company’s airport operations. He too will assume his new role on April 6, bringing more than 18 years of experience in operations, business expansion and customer experience transformation.
The twin appointments come at a time when Devyani International is doubling down on leadership depth to steer its portfolio through evolving consumer preferences and heightened competition. With fresh faces at the helm of two key verticals, the company appears set to brew up its next phase of growth with renewed energy.
