MAM
HIL appoints Pranav Desai as head of innovations
Mumbai: HIL Ltd, a part of CK Birla Group, announced the appointment of Pranav Desai as the head of innovations. Pranav brings over twenty-seven years of experience in innovation, R&D, technical services, new product development, marketing, and product management with renowned organisations such as Reliance, Pidilite, and EFGE Consultants. Prior to joining HIL, he held the position of vice president (new products – VAPs) and head of research & construction development at Nuvoco Vistas Corp Ltd.
This strategic appointment underscores the company’s commitment to foster growth and innovation to expand its global footprint.
Leveraging his extensive expertise in the domain, Pranav will lead the innovation centre of HIL Ltd, further advancing the company’s research initiatives.
HIL’s MD & CEO Akshat Seth said, “We warmly welcome Pranav to the HIL family and are confident that his vision and expertise will propel our company to new heights. Pranav’s appointment will strengthen our leadership team and help expand our capabilities to deliver truly differentiated products for our consumers. His extensive experience across markets and products aligns well with HIL’s diverse portfolio of offerings.”
Assuming the new role, Pranav Desai said, “HIL Ltd.’s commitment to innovation and excellence is inspiring. I am thrilled to join the team and looking forward to contributing towards advancing the company’s vision of diversifying its product portfolio and solidifying its market presence.”
HIL is a leading manufacturer of sustainable home and building materials, offering products in roofing, building, pipes & fittings, construction chemicals and putty, and flooring categories.
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.
