Brands
DP World signs Abhishek Sharma as new face
DUBAI: Cricket has scored another global partnership as DP World steps up to the crease with rising Indian star Abhishek Sharma. The logistics major announced the young batting sensation as its newest brand ambassador, placing him alongside Sachin Tendulkar and golf ace Tommy Fleetwood in its growing sports line-up.
It caps a landmark year for Sharma, who lit up the 2025 DP World Asia Cup by smashing a record 314 runs in seven innings, the most ever scored in a single T20I edition of the tournament. His consistency carried him to the top of the ICC Men’s T20I Batter Rankings, where he achieved the highest rating recorded in the format.
Through this long-term partnership, Sharma will feature in brand campaigns, media engagements and digital stories that spotlight shared values of excellence, innovation and ambition.
DP World CEO and managing director for the Middle East, North Africa and India Subcontinent Rizwan Soomar, said the company is delighted to welcome a player who reflects its ambition to change what is possible. He praised Sharma’s fearless style and infectious joy at the crease, saying his performances continue to redefine boundaries ahead of an action-packed ICC season.
Sharma said he was thrilled to represent a company committed to growing cricket worldwide. He added that the sport had shaped his life and that he looked forward to helping DP World support more players and communities around the globe.
His first appearance for the brand took place during the Diwali with the stars celebration at the inaugural DP World India Championship. The announcement was accompanied by a special video featuring Sharma receiving a personalised shirt with help from Tendulkar and Fleetwood.
The signing strengthens DP World’s expanding cricket footprint, which includes partnerships with the International Cricket Council, the DP World Asia Cup, DP World ILT20, SA20 and the Delhi Capitals men’s and women’s teams.
Since 2023, the company has pushed to make cricket more accessible through its Beyond Boundaries Initiative and a kits-for-runs programme that donates ten cricket kits for every 100 runs scored in ICC tournaments. So far, twelve refurbished shipping containers have been delivered to grassroots clubs worldwide along with 3,000 kits, with more on the way.
Brands
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail reshuffles top deck; Nikhil Modha to take over as CFO
Phased transition sees Marco Agnolin head OWND!, Nikhil Modha lined up as CFO as company readies next growth leg
MUMBAI: Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail is redrawing its leadership map, lining up a new generation of executives across key roles as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
The company has named Suraj Bahirwani as chief executive (designate) of Pantaloons, effective April 1, 2026, with a full transition to the top role slated for October 1, 2026. He will also be designated as senior managerial personnel.
A two-decade veteran of the Aditya Birla Group, Bahirwani joined as a group management trainee in 2002 and has since held a string of leadership roles across retail and manufacturing. His resume spans stints at Aditya Birla Retail, a tenure as chief operating officer of Pantaloons, and most recently, head of global sales at the group’s cellulosic fibres business, where he drove international expansion and strengthened value-added portfolios.
Academically, he holds a PhD from the University of Mumbai, a postgraduate management diploma from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, and is a chartered accountant. Over the years, he has picked up multiple chairman’s awards, including distinguished achiever, exceptional contributor and accomplished leader.
The transition at Pantaloons will be staged. Incumbent chief executive Sangeeta Tanwani will continue until September 30, 2026, steering the handover before moving into an advisory role to the managing director from October 1, 2026. She is set to retire on January 31, 2027, at which point she will step down as whole-time director and key managerial personnel.
Alongside, the company has brought in Marco Agnolin as chief executive of OWND! and senior managerial personnel, effective April 6, 2026. Agnolin arrives with over three decades of global experience, having held senior roles at Inditex, where he helped expand Zara in Italy, and later served as chief executive of Bershka and Diesel. His track record spans fast fashion, brand turnarounds and youth-focused retail.
On the finance side, Nikhil Modha has been appointed chief financial officer (designate) and senior managerial personnel from April 1, 2026. He will assume full charge as chief financial officer and key managerial personnel from January 1, 2027.
Current chief financial officer Jagdish Bajaj will oversee a phased transition until December 31, 2026, before retiring and stepping down from his roles.
The reshuffle signals a calibrated succession plan rather than a sudden overhaul, with the company staggering exits and appointments to ensure continuity even as it refreshes leadership across verticals.
As Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail juggles legacy brands and new-age formats, the message is clear: steady hands for the present, sharper ones for the future—and no pause in the push for scale.
