Brands
FreeCharge raises $33 million Series B
MUMBAI: FreeCharge, an online platform for recharge, utility payments, promotions and couponing, has raised $33 million in Series B funding from Sequoia Capital, Sofina and RuNet.
The online portal, which is witnessing a rapid growth, is building an advertising platform that captures online and offline purchase behaviour and brand preferences of consumers, by offering incentives and coupons to users to transact on its platform.
Mobile transactions on the Freecharge app have grown 30x since the beginning of 2014, and the company has more than 10 million registered users. FreeCharge CEO Alok Goel said, “We have been able to assemble one of the best start-up teams in the country and are leading the mobile internet revolution in India. 70 per cent of our transactions come from mobile platforms and we are growing more than 400 per cent year on year.”
Sequoia Capital India Advisors MD Shailendra Singh said, “Freecharge is creating a unique new category, an advertising platform with the ‘consumption graph’ for the most valuable online consumers. We are very impressed with the team’s execution and the rapid growth and engagement of users on the platform.”
RuNet investment officer Galina Chifina added, “Freecharge is one of the most exciting companies in our Indian portfolio with a highly innovative business model that has global appeal and scalability. We are happy to participate in the new round to support the new initiatives the company has embarked upon. The team has done an awesome job to position Freecharge among the leaders of the mobile recharge/payment and data analysis market in India and we believe the new round will help the company to grow even faster.”
The company has added Gokul Rajaram, Koh Boon Hwee, Dhiraj Rajaram to its board of advisors. Apart from this, the online platform has also announced the appointment of Ninad Y Takpere as the chief business development officer. Takpere said, “I am inspired by the innovation that FreeCharge has brought to the Indian e-commerce space. I have great respect for the democratic leadership values and professionalism at FreeCharge. I am quite excited about my role and look forward to contribute and be part of the growth journey of FreeCharge.”
FreeCharge also recently acquired Preburn, in addition to Wishberg, its first acquisition.
Brands
Devyani International names Sandeep Anand, Robinder Singh in key roles
Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee businesses see leadership refresh from April
MUMBAI: Devyani International has strengthened its senior leadership bench with a fresh set of appointments across its key brands, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee, signalling a sharper focus on growth and brand momentum.
The company has appointed Sandeep Anand as chief marketing officer and business head for Pizza Hut. His appointment, approved by the board via a circular resolution on April 3, follows a recommendation by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, as reported by CNBC-TV18. Anand will officially step into the role on April 6, 2026.
He takes over from Vijay Gogate, who currently serves as chief executive officer for Pizza Hut within the company’s operations. The move marks a strategic transition as the brand looks to sharpen its marketing and business playbook in a competitive quick service restaurant market.
Anand brings over two decades of experience across the food and FMCG sectors, with a strong track record in brand building and innovation. His career spans roles at major consumer-facing companies including Domino’s, Zydus Wellness, Zomato, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Reckitt and Ranbaxy, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both scale and agility.
Alongside this, Robinder Singh has been appointed business head for Costa Coffee and the company’s airport operations. He too will assume his new role on April 6, bringing more than 18 years of experience in operations, business expansion and customer experience transformation.
The twin appointments come at a time when Devyani International is doubling down on leadership depth to steer its portfolio through evolving consumer preferences and heightened competition. With fresh faces at the helm of two key verticals, the company appears set to brew up its next phase of growth with renewed energy.
