Brands
Mahindra names Rohit Thakur group CHRO as Ruzbeh Irani retires
MUMBAI: Mahindra Group has named Rohit Thakur as group chief human resources officer, effective 2 April 2026, following the retirement of long-serving HR chief Ruzbeh Irani.
Irani, who has spent more than 19 years with the group and sits on Mahindra’s group executive board, will retire at the close of business on 1 April 2026 on reaching the age of superannuation.
Thakur, currently CHRO for Mahindra’s auto and farm sector, will join the group’s senior management with his new role. He brings extensive experience across technology, consulting and industrial companies, having previously served as CHRO at Accenture India, Microsoft India and GE across multiple business units. He has also led HR at startups including Paytm and Lead School.
He holds a commerce degree from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi, and an MBA in human resources from XLRI Jamshedpur.
Mahindra said Irani had played a pivotal role in shaping the group’s people strategy over nearly two decades, overseeing talent development and organisational culture across its diverse businesses.
The transition follows the group’s succession plan and is aimed at ensuring continuity as Mahindra navigates its next phase of growth.
Brands
Devyani International names Sandeep Anand, Robinder Singh in key roles
Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee businesses see leadership refresh from April
MUMBAI: Devyani International has strengthened its senior leadership bench with a fresh set of appointments across its key brands, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee, signalling a sharper focus on growth and brand momentum.
The company has appointed Sandeep Anand as chief marketing officer and business head for Pizza Hut. His appointment, approved by the board via a circular resolution on April 3, follows a recommendation by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, as reported by CNBC-TV18. Anand will officially step into the role on April 6, 2026.
He takes over from Vijay Gogate, who currently serves as chief executive officer for Pizza Hut within the company’s operations. The move marks a strategic transition as the brand looks to sharpen its marketing and business playbook in a competitive quick service restaurant market.
Anand brings over two decades of experience across the food and FMCG sectors, with a strong track record in brand building and innovation. His career spans roles at major consumer-facing companies including Domino’s, Zydus Wellness, Zomato, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Reckitt and Ranbaxy, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both scale and agility.
Alongside this, Robinder Singh has been appointed business head for Costa Coffee and the company’s airport operations. He too will assume his new role on April 6, bringing more than 18 years of experience in operations, business expansion and customer experience transformation.
The twin appointments come at a time when Devyani International is doubling down on leadership depth to steer its portfolio through evolving consumer preferences and heightened competition. With fresh faces at the helm of two key verticals, the company appears set to brew up its next phase of growth with renewed energy.
