MAM
Dhruv Agarwala steps down as REA India CEO after 14-year realty ride
MUMBAI: Every real estate empire eventually needs a handover. After a 14-year rollercoaster ride that saw him go from startup founder to digital property mogul, Dhruv Agarwala is stepping down as CEO of REA India. But before you break out the farewell tissues, he isn’t ghosting the company just yet. Agarwala will stick around to smooth the leadership transition while REA Group hunts for a new captain.
The announcement came on 3 April 2025, marking the end of an era for REA India—the umbrella behind digital platforms Housing.com and PropTiger.com. Agarwala, who co-founded PropTiger back in 2011, led it through its acquisition by REA Group in 2020 after their initial investment in 2017. And then, like any good business thriller, came the merger with Housing.com, which he integrated and scaled into India’s top real estate app.
“It has been a privilege leading REA India and I’m incredibly proud of everything we have achieved together. From founding PropTiger in 2011 to growing Housing.com into India’s foremost digital real estate platform, it has been an amazing journey. Now feels like the right time for me to step away and create space for new leadership to take the company forward. REA India is in great shape – with a clear strategy, a strong team, and a powerful brand that’s changing the way people experience property in India. I look forward to watching the company continue to grow and thrive from the sidelines,” said Agarwala.
REA Group CEO Owen Wilson had only praise for the outgoing chief. “Dhruv is an exceptional entrepreneur and has harnessed the rapid expansion of digital real estate in India to build a high growth business. He has created a culture of innovation and developed a talented team who have delivered a market-leading audience and significant revenue growth in a highly competitive market. He leaves behind a considerable legacy that will have a lasting impact.”
Under Agarwala’s watch, Housing.com became the digital playground for millions of property seekers in India, with app-prime experiences that redefined how Indians click and pick their dream homes. His team pushed boundaries, attracted eyeballs, and racked up enviable growth metrics in a market cluttered with players and plagued by trust issues.
The CEO exit might be bittersweet, but REA India isn’t homeless. The group says a strong management team is already in place, and the succession plan is underway.
Agarwala, signing off with a nod to his team and mentors, added, “I want to thank the passionate and talented team at REA India for their passion and commitment and belief in the vision. We’ve accomplished great success together but there’s more to be done and I know they will continue to deliver on our exciting strategy. I also want to express my sincere gratitude to Owen Wilson, REA Group and News Corp for their support over the years and for sharing my vision and ambition for the real estate ecosystem in India.”
With this farewell, the curtain falls on one of India’s most impactful digital real estate stints—a legacy built on clicks, code, and the chaos of Indian property dreams.
Brands
Boeing appoints Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering function
Seasoned finance leader to steer budgets and strategy across global centres
BENGALURU: Boeing’s finance cockpit has a new pilot, and he is no stranger to turbulence or transformation. Boeing has appointed Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering, placing him at the centre of financial strategy for its worldwide engineering and technology operations.
Based in Bengaluru, Barun steps into a role that is as expansive as it is critical. He will serve as the primary finance lead for Boeing’s Engineering and Technology Centers globally, working closely with executive leadership to shape financial decisions, manage complex budgets, and design scalable finance processes that support the company’s growing engineering footprint.
In a note announcing his move Barun said, “I’m excited to share that I’ve joined Boeing Global Engineering. This opportunity is incredibly meaningful to me not just from a professional standpoint, but also for what Boeing represents globally.” He added that he looks forward to contributing to an organisation that continues to shape the future of aerospace and innovation.
Barun’s mandate spans strategic financial leadership, operational oversight, and stakeholder engagement. From directing large-scale budgets and schedules to influencing long-term organisational goals, the role blends financial discipline with business foresight. He will also lead cross-functional teams and partner with finance colleagues worldwide to support engineering programmes across geographies, including India.
The appointment caps a long stint at Juniper Networks, where Barun spent over a decade, most recently as finance senior manager. There, he led FP&A for global product business units and G&A functions, driving budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning. He also played a key role in enterprise-wide transformation, including spearheading an Oracle to SAP ERP migration and building advanced analytics capabilities using tools such as Tableau and SAP Analytics Cloud.
His earlier career includes finance leadership roles at Sony India Software Centre, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Mphasis, where he focused on financial planning, governance frameworks, and operational efficiency across global delivery centres.
A chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Barun brings nearly two decades of experience across financial planning, digital transformation, and analytics-led decision making.
His appointment comes at a time when global engineering operations are becoming increasingly complex and distributed, requiring sharper financial oversight and agile planning. With Barun at the helm of FP&A for engineering, Boeing appears to be tightening its financial playbook as it looks to scale innovation with discipline.
