MAM
Lapp India appoints Sumit Mitra as MD
Mumbai: Lapp India has appointed Sumit Mitra as managing director, effective 1 November 2024. With over three decades of experience in the industrial sector, Sumit’s leadership will drive Lapp India’s growth and market expansion. Based in Bangalore, he will report to the CEO of Lapp Asia Pacific.
Sumit joins Lapp from SKF Group, where he contributed to operational excellence and market growth in both Indian and multinational companies. His strategic skills and focus on talent development make him a key addition to Lapp’s leadership team.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sumit to Lapp India,” said Lapp Asia Pacific CEO Richard Lee. “India is our largest market outside Germany, with immense growth potential across industries. Sumit’s strategic vision and expertise will be instrumental in accelerating our expansion and deepening our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of our Indian customers.”
In his new role, Sumit will focus on transforming Lapp India into a leading player in cable and connectivity solutions, with a commitment to tackling complex customer challenges across diverse industries. He aims to strengthen the company’s operational base, scale product offerings, and bring industry-first technologies to India’s growing market.
“Joining Lapp India is both an honour and a tremendous opportunity,” stated Mitra. “The strong growth in the Indian economy provides Lapp tremendous opportunities for our existing business as well as in many new segments. I look forward to harnessing these opportunities to drive profitable growth at Lapp India.”
A graduate in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from Pune University and an MBA from IIM-Calcutta, Sumit’s strong people-centric approach, combined with his technical and strategic background, underscores his vision for Lapp India’s future.
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.
