Brands
boAt hands the helm to its chief operating officer
MUMBAI: When you’ve built India’s top audio wearables brand from scratch, knowing when to step aside takes nerve. Aman Gupta and Sameer Mehta, co-founders of boAt, are doing just that.
Imagine Marketing Ltd owner of the boAt brand, announced on Monday that Gaurav Nayyar will take over as chief executive, marking a shift from founder-led management to professional leadership. Nayyar, who has served as chief operating officer for three years, brings two decades of strategic nous, including an eight-year stint as partner at Bain & Co.
The reshuffle sees Mehta move to executive director, where he’ll focus on long-term strategy whilst supporting Nayyar’s transition. Gupta, who built boAt’s marketing firepower and brand swagger as chief marketing officer, will remain a non-executive director, keeping a hand on the tiller without running the ship.
“This transition reflects the natural evolution of boAt as we further professionalise and position ourselves for the opportunities ahead,” said Mehta, who led the company as chief executive through recent years of expansion into manufacturing and adjacent product categories.
Nayyar, inheriting a company that dominates India’s audio wearables market (number one by shipments, according to IDC data), struck a modest note: “I am honoured to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading boAt into its next chapter. Sameer has done an exceptional job strengthening our core, building product adjacencies and setting up our India manufacturing footprint.”
Gupta, whose marketing chops helped boAt disrupt India’s audio industry with boldly designed, affordably priced gear aimed at young consumers, said: “I’m proud of what we have accomplished together and equally excited to see Gaurav take the helm.”
boAt’s portfolio spans audio gear, smartwatches, grooming gadgets and mobile accessories. Backed by Warburg Pincus, Malabar Investments and Fireside Ventures, the company partners with Qualcomm and Dolby on product innovation and operates offices in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
The move signals boAt’s bet on professional management to capitalise on India’s booming consumer technology market—a multi-decade opportunity that requires institutional muscle, not just founder flair.
Brands
Balaji Krishnamurthy becomes chief financial officer at Uber
Internal finance veteran steps up as Uber enters next phase of growth
SAN FRANCISCO: Uber has handed the keys of its finance function to Balaji Krishnamurthy, who has taken charge as chief financial officer, marking a promotion from within the company’s strategic finance ranks.
Krishnamurthy steps into the role after more than six years at Uber, where he most recently served as VP, strategic finance and investor relations. Over that time, he worked across the company’s mobility and delivery businesses and led its investor relations efforts, building a reputation as a steady hand behind the numbers.
Announcing his first day in the new role, Krishnamurthy thanked outgoing CFO Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah and chief executive officer Dara Khosrowshahi for their support, calling the appointment both a privilege and a responsibility.
He said he was stepping into the role at a “moment of strength” for the company, pointing to accelerating growth across consumers, drivers, couriers and merchants, along with expanding cash flows that would be used to invest in long term growth while returning excess capital to shareholders.
Krishnamurthy also highlighted Uber’s focus on innovation, particularly in autonomous vehicles, and praised what he described as a “go get it” culture within the company.
Before joining Uber in 2019 as senior manager, investor relations, he spent more than eight years at Goldman Sachs as vice president in equity research, covering US hardware and communications technology companies. His earlier roles included stints at Irevna and iTrust Financial Advisors in India, where he worked in equity research and wealth management.
In addition to his responsibilities at Uber, he also serves as a board member at autonomous trucking startup Waabi.
With an internal finance veteran now at the helm, Uber appears to be betting on continuity as it shifts from growth-at-all-costs to a more measured, cash-generating ride.
