MAM
Ashutosh Gupta appointed Coursera MD for India and Asia Pacific region
MUMBAI: From scaling up social networks to leading the charge in online learning, Ashutosh Gupta is now scripting a new chapter at the intersection of tech and education. Veteran tech executive Ashutosh Gupta has been appointed managing director for India & Asia Pacific at Coursera, taking the reins in July 2025 as the edtech giant strengthens its footprint across the region.
Gupta’s move to Coursera comes after a prolific career spanning over two decades, including a 10-year stint at Linkedin, where he most recently served as country manager for India. Under his leadership, Linkedin’s India user base crossed 105 million, making it the platform’s fastest-growing region globally. He also championed vernacular accessibility, launching features in Hindi to widen the platform’s appeal.
Prior to Linkedin, Gupta held senior leadership roles at Google, Cognizant, Covansys, and Infosys, focusing on sales, operations, and strategic partnerships across North America and India. Most recently, he served as Operating Partner at Avataar Venture Partners, advising portfolio companies on scaling sustainably and navigating IPO-readiness.
Armed with degrees from IIT-BHU (Chemical Engineering) and IIM Lucknow (PGDM in Finance & Marketing), Gupta brings a rare blend of technical rigour and market acumen. At Coursera, he’s expected to drive growth, forge regional alliances, and champion lifelong learning across India and the Asia Pacific, a market witnessing a sharp surge in demand for upskilling and remote education.
Commenting on his new role, Gupta has emphasised the need for “technology that respects intelligence and drives real impact”, signalling a shift from platform-centric models to learner-first strategies in edtech.
With education becoming the next frontier of digital disruption, Coursera has made a strategic bet on a leader who knows how to scale with purpose. From connecting professionals on Linkedin to helping them upskill on Coursera, Gupta’s journey is now a full circle in empowerment.
Brands
Jubilant Foodworks to end Dunkin’ franchise in India
Pizza chain operator will not renew agreement when it expires at end of 2026.
MUMBAI: When the doughnuts stop turning and the coffee goes cold, even a global giant like Dunkin’ can find the Indian market a tough brew to crack. Jubilant Foodworks has decided not to renew its franchise agreement with Dunkin’ when the pact expires on 31 December 2026, according to a Reuters report. The operator, best known for running Domino’s outlets in India, said it would evaluate options for its existing Dunkin’ stores, including a potential sale or transfer of franchise rights, in consultation with the US-based brand.
The decision follows years of underperformance in a market where local tastes and intense competition have made it difficult for international coffee-and-doughnut formats to gain traction. Jubilant, which has increasingly focused on its core pizza business and newer bets like Popeyes, indicated that the exit would not materially affect its financial or operational position.
Dunkin’ accounted for just 0.61 per cent of Jubilant’s revenue in the fiscal year ending 2025 and recorded a loss of approximately Rs 191 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company operated 27 outlets as of December 2025, having shuttered seven stores over the preceding year.
The retreat comes even as Jubilant’s broader business shows signs of momentum. The company reported a 65 per cent rise in quarterly profit for the October to December period, reaching Rs 70.9 crore, up from Rs 42.91 crore a year earlier.
For Jubilant, the exit reflects a sharpening strategic focus. For Dunkin’, it marks another setback in a market that has proven resistant to imported café concepts without significant localisation.
In the cut-throat world of Indian quick-service restaurants, sometimes the sweetest deals are the ones you quietly walk away from leaving more room for the brands that truly rise to the occasion.
