Brands
Judhajit Bal returns as growth leader to drive myHQ global push
DELHI: Judhajit Bal is back at myHQ by Anarock, India’s leading workspace marketplace, has announced the return of one of its early architects, signalling fresh momentum as the company sets its sights beyond Indian shores.
Bal rejoins the leadership team at a time when myHQ is preparing for its next big chapter. His mandate is clear and ambitious: take the platform global. Markets such as Dubai, London and Singapore are firmly on the radar, as myHQ looks to evolve into a globally recognised tech platform for workspace search and discovery. Alongside international expansion, Bal will also drive the business towards a profit and loss milestone of over Rs 100 crore within the next two years.
This is not unfamiliar ground for him. Bal was part of myHQ’s founding journey and later served as head of growth and marketing, where he helped shape the company’s brand, culture and scale. During his earlier stint, he played a central role in building myHQ’s tech-led brokerage model, expanding its footprint into Bengaluru, and launching key offerings such as myHQ Premier. These initiatives strengthened partnerships, including those with WeWork India, and contributed to the strategic investment by Anarock.
Before and between myHQ chapters, Bal has built a diverse track record. At The Coca-Cola Company, he worked on scaling new beverage categories, set up fresh distribution networks across 10 Indian states and reached over 100,000 retail outlets. A management graduate from MDI Gurgaon, he brings hands-on experience across growth strategy, P&L management, sales acceleration and team building. He is also the founder of Maidaan, an education-focused esports platform aimed at preparing children for the real world beyond classrooms.
Welcoming him back, myHQ co-founder and CEO Utkarsh Kawatra, said the company is hoping to replicate its domestic success on a global stage. The vision, he noted, is for the myHQ logo to become a familiar sight across international business hubs, reflecting India’s growing presence in the global prop-tech space.
For Bal, the return is deeply personal. He describes the role as a mission he has long believed in, driven by the changing nature of work worldwide. His focus, he says, will be on product innovation, global expansion and building strong teams, all aimed at giving people the freedom to work how and where they choose.
With this homecoming, myHQ underlines its intent to keep leading the conversation on flexible workspaces, not just in India, but well beyond its borders.
Brands
Malaika Arora launches accessories brand Maejoy
The Bollywood star’s lifestyle brand, built with Myntra and Exceed Entertainment, promises aspirational fashion without the high price tag
MUMBAI: Malaika Arora is not the first Bollywood star to put her name on a brand, and she will not be the last. But Maejoy, the accessories label she has launched in partnership with Myntra Jabong India Private Limited (MJIPL) and talent outfit Exceed Entertainment, at least has a sharper pitch than most. The brand drops with 250-plus styles spanning handbags and lab-grown diamond jewellery, two categories that sit squarely in the sweet spot between aspiration and affordability, and lands on Myntra’s platform from day one, putting it in front of millions of shoppers without breaking a sweat.
The handbag range covers the full gamut: crossbody bags, structured shoulder bags, bucket bags, totes, workwear classics, backpacks and clutches, rendered in synthetic leather, raffia, braids, satin, rhinestone and metallic finishes. The jewellery line runs to rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and tennis bracelets in silver, gold and rose-gold tones, set in 925 sterling silver with IGI and GCI certified lab-grown diamonds. The brand’s guiding philosophy, “The Joy of Being Me,” stakes its claim on individuality and self-expression; its three brand pillars, Authentic, Empowering, Accessible, are the usual suspects, though the lab-grown diamond bet is savvier than it sounds. Lab-grown stones now sell at a fraction of the price of mined ones, and the category is growing fast in India as younger buyers wise up to the arbitrage.
“Maejoy is a labour of love. Throughout my career, whether on screen, in business, or through my personal style, I’ve championed the idea that fashion should be empowering yet effortless. The brand aims to democratise global fashion trends while offering women something that extends the feeling of luxury every day, be it a lab-grown diamond or a perfectly crafted handbag,” said Malaika Arora, founder of Maejoy
MJIPL, the B2B wholesale arm of Myntra, is putting its design and brand-building muscle behind the venture. Suman Saha, chief experience officer and head of house of brands at MJIPL, was bullish on the tie-up.
“Maejoy brings together Malaika Arora’s distinctive style perspective with a strong proposition in the accessible yet elevated accessories space. We believe the brand’s fashion-forward designs and thoughtful positioning will connect strongly with discerning consumers.”
Suman Saha, chief experience officer, head of house of brands, MJIPL
Afsar Zaidi, chief executive of Exceed Entertainment, the talent management firm that helped broker the deal, has worked with MJIPL before and was characteristically direct about what makes Arora an unusually bankable partner.
“Building celebrity-led brands requires a delicate balance of authenticity and market viability. Malaika is a rare talent who commands equal respect as a fashion icon and a savvy businesswoman. We are proud to facilitate this partnership that brings together her creative clout and Myntra’s brand-building excellence,” said Zaidi
Celebrity fashion brands live or die on one question: does the star actually wear it, or is the cheque the only thing they signed? Arora, who has spent three decades as one of Bollywood’s most-watched style references, has at least built a plausible case. Maejoy is live now on www.myntra.com and the Myntra app. The real test, whether shoppers buy the handbag or just the hype, starts today.
