Brands
DMart owner appoints Kalpana Unadkat as chairperson of Avenue Supermarts
Corporate lawyer to take the helm in April as Chandrashekhar Bhave steps down after completing his second term as independent director
MUMBAI: The boardroom baton at Avenue Supermarts, the company behind DMart, is set to change hands next month.
The retailer has appointed Kalpana Unadkat, an independent director on its board, as chairperson of the company with effect from 1 April 2026. The move was approved by the board at its meeting on 14 March.
She will succeed Chandrashekhar Bhave, who will step down as chairman at the close of business on 31 March. Bhave’s second term as an independent director is scheduled to end on 16 May 2026.
Unadkat brings more than 25 years of experience in corporate law, governance and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. A dual-qualified solicitor in India and the United Kingdom, she previously served as senior partner at Khaitan & Co and as co-head of the India practice at London-based international law firm Ashurst. In those roles, she advised global companies on cross-border deals and strategic joint ventures.
On the board, she is known for her focus on corporate governance, regulatory frameworks and board effectiveness. Her experience advising companies during key turning points in their growth has given her a vantage point on long-term strategy, risk oversight and governance discipline.
Unadkat is also widely regarded as a strong advocate for boardroom leadership and governance standards. Over the years, she has worked with boards and senior executives on improving governance practices, mentoring more than 200 directors and senior leaders along the way.
Her appointment signals a shift from regulatory stewardship to governance leadership at the top of Avenue Supermarts’ board, as the company continues to scale its retail footprint across India.
The company said Unadkat is not related to any of the directors on the board.
