MAM
Gulf Oil Lubricants India appoints Abhijit Kulkarni as chief commercial officer
Mumbai: Gulf Oil Lubricants India, a prominent player in the lubricants industry has appointed Abhijit Kulkarni as chief commercial officer (CCO). With over two decades of diverse experience across top-tier MNCs including Unilever, Castrol and Coca Cola, Kulkarni brings a wealth of expertise in strategic marketing, brand development, sales, and general management. In his new role, he will assume responsibility for overseeing Gulf Oil’s B2C and B2B business segments (excluding OEM), synergy, and marketing, and will report directly to Gulf Oil Lubricants India MD & CEO Ravi Chawla.
Kulkarni joins Gulf Oil from Unilever, where he held leadership roles over 16 years, including cluster general manager for Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam in the FMCG major’s ice cream division with P&L responsibilities. He led initiatives like revitalizing Unilever’s Thailand ice cream business and introducing brands like ‘Magnum’ in India. His experience in driving growth, portfolio management, and team building will support Gulf Oil’s channel business and align it with the company’s commercial goals.
Chawla said, “We are delighted to welcome Abhijit Kulkarni to Gulf. His extensive leadership experience and proven track record in delivering accelerated business growth by driving brand, sales & marketing initiatives & contributing to the strategic agenda make him a valuable addition to our team. With his deep expertise across markets and sectors, I am confident that Mr. Kulkarni will bring fresh energy in our B2C and B2B profitable growth trajectory as we continue to expand our market shares.”
Kulkarni said, “Gulf is an aspirational brand and its strong legacy and brand presence offer a unique opportunity to contribute to the company’s growth story. The company’s commitment to continuous innovation and excellence makes it an exciting time to join the organization. I look forward to working with the passionate team at Gulf Oil to deliver value to our customers, partners, and stakeholders.”
Kulkarni holds an MBA from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) and a Bachelor of Engineering from Government College of Engineering, Pune (COEP). His diverse leadership roles in both Indian and international markets have equipped him with a unique perspective on driving business success in dynamic environments.
Brands
Ekart expands IKEA partnership with EV deliveries in Chennai
3PL to handle 600 plus products with 48 hour delivery via EV fleet.
MUMBAI: Flatpacks are going electric and your sofa might now arrive with a smaller carbon footprint. Ekart has expanded its partnership with IKEA to power last-mile deliveries in Chennai, doubling down on speed, scale and sustainability in one of India’s key urban markets. Under the collaboration, Ekart will manage end-to-end large-format deliveries for IKEA across the city using a 100 per cent dedicated electric vehicle fleet. The move makes Chennai the second major market after NCR-Delhi where Ekart handles IKEA’s last-mile logistics, signalling a broader rollout of EV-led supply chains.
The mandate is no small load. Ekart will oversee deliveries for over 600 products from IKEA’s catalogue, ranging from furniture to home décor—categories that demand specialised handling and precision logistics.
Backed by its technology-driven fulfilment network, Ekart is targeting deliveries within a 48-hour window, offering real-time tracking and end-to-end visibility from warehouse to doorstep. The focus is clear: faster turnarounds without compromising on control or customer experience.
The EV-first model also aligns with both companies’ sustainability goals, as urban logistics increasingly shifts towards zero-emission solutions. For IKEA, which continues to expand its omnichannel presence in India, reliable and eco-conscious last-mile delivery is becoming central to scale.
For Ekart, the partnership reinforces its positioning as an enterprise-grade logistics player in large-format commerce. The company already supports over 1,800 retail, D2C and enterprise brands, spanning last-mile delivery, part-truckload services and warehousing.
As India’s logistics ecosystem evolves, this collaboration highlights a growing trend: delivery is no longer just about distance, it’s about efficiency, experience and increasingly, emissions.
