Brands
Libas appoints Saurav Shah as chief financial officer
Fashion retailer taps veteran finance hand to tighten discipline and fund expansion
NEW DELHI: Libas has appointed Saurav Shah as chief financial officer, bolstering its top deck as the ultrafast fashion brand pushes for sharper scale, tighter controls and sustainable growth in India’s crowded apparel market.
Shah will run financial operations, capital planning, performance management and governance frameworks, placing him at the centre of Libas’ expansion playbook as it grows its omnichannel and retail footprint.
A chartered accountant with nearly two decades of experience, Shah has worked across fashion, retail and consumer businesses, blending finance leadership with business strategy and commercial operations. His mandate at Libas is clear: build a financially agile, future-ready organisation that can fund innovation, absorb shocks and still grow fast.
He has served as chief financial officer at Jaypore Ecommerce, a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL), as well as at Reliance Brands and KAZO. In those roles, he drove financial discipline, profitability and expansion in high-growth, multi-channel environments. He also headed finance for ABFRL’s international brands division, overseeing labels such as Galeries Lafayette and The Collective. Most recently, he was associated with ABFRL and KAZO, leading finance operations.
Earlier stints at Landmark Group, KPMG and USPL (WROGN) gave him grounding in governance, audit, taxation, compliance and business advisory.
“We are thrilled to welcome Shah to our team,” said Sidhant Keshwani, founder and chief executive, Libas. “His deep understanding of the fashion and retail landscape, coupled with his strong financial acumen, makes him an invaluable addition. As Libas scales across channels, his strategic approach to finance will be instrumental in building a resilient and growth-oriented organisation.”
Shah called the timing pivotal. “I am excited to join Libas at this important stage of its growth journey,” he said. “My focus will be on creating robust financial systems that support responsible growth, faster decision-making and long-term value creation. I envision scaling Libas responsibly, investing wisely and building a business that is sustainable for the long run, while staying true to the brand’s customer-first ethos.”
The hire comes as Libas doubles down on expansion and operational efficiency, positioning finance as a growth engine rather than a back-office function.
In India’s ultrafast fashion race—where trends change by the week and margins by the season—Libas is signalling that style may win attention, but discipline wins endurance.
Brands
Radico Khaitan appoints Kunal Madan as chief marketing officer
Promotions signal focus on premium spirits, global expansion and homegrown leadership
UTTAR PRADESH: Radico Khaitan has elevated two long-serving insiders to its top leadership team, signalling a bold push into premium spirits and global markets. Kunal Madan steps in as chief marketing officer, while Sudhir Upadhyay takes charge as chief sales officer, both part of what managing director Abhishek Khaitan calls a consciously built next-generation leadership bench.
“At Radico Khaitan, our growth has always been powered by people,” Khaitan said. “True leadership is not imported, it is cultivated.” He added that empowering internal talent ensures continuity while keeping the company globally competitive and future-ready.
Madan, with over 20 years of experience across global sales and marketing, will drive brand architecture, marketing strategy, and the premiumisation agenda, including travel retail. Upadhyay, who has 25 years in the industry and was most recently national sales head, will oversee distribution expansion and execution across markets.
The leadership reshuffle comes amid Radico’s intensified focus on premium spirits, a segment driving higher margins and international growth. Last year, Ajay Kakkar was brought on to head the Premium On-Trade vertical, targeting modern and institutional channels to boost presence in high-growth segments.
Meanwhile, Amar Sinha stepped down as chief operating officer after contributing across multiple growth phases. Khaitan acknowledged Sinha’s role in supporting the company’s trajectory, while Sinha described his tenure as “an absolute privilege,” crediting Khaitan’s leadership for shaping the company’s strategic direction.
With a homegrown leadership bench and a clear premium agenda, Radico Khaitan is set to accelerate its global expansion while doubling down on brand elevation and market impact.
