MAM
Metro Brands Ltd appoints Nandadeep Jayakar as Foot Locker India’s business head
Mumbai: As India edges closer to the launch of the first Foot Locker stores, excitement among sneaker heads and sports enthusiast continues to increase. Taking a step further in ensuring unparalleled customer experience, Metro Brands Ltd (who will own and operate Foot Locker stores within India) has announced the appointment of Nandadeep Jayakar as ‘Business Head – Foot Locker India,’ [effective immediate]. Nandadeep has three decades of experience in operations, management, product development, merchandising, and supply chain and brings strategic acumen and a successful track record of brand building and operational execution to the innovative table at Metro Brands Ltd. He will report to Metro Brands Ltd president, sports division, e-commerce and CRM Alisha Malik.
Nandadeep’s arrival at Metro Brands comes at a time when the company, which is one of India’s largest footwear retailers, is set to further amplify its business operations in the fast-growing athletic footwear segment. His addition underscores Metro Brands’ commitment to pushing boundaries of progressive fashion.
Commenting on his appointment, Foot Locker India business head Nandadeep Jayakar said, “With our partnership with Foot Locker, Metro Brands Limited takes an exciting leap in the sneaker and athleisure categories. This expansion not only broadens our horizons but also reflects our unwavering commitment to catering to the evolving needs and preferences of our diverse customer base. It’s a testament to our agility, vision, and dedication to providing unparalleled quality and choice in footwear, empowering individuals to stride with confidence in every aspect of their active lifestyles. I look forward to Foot Locker India’s foray into this dynamic market as we gear up to set new standards in the industry and grow our leadership position in India.”
Metro Brands Ltd president Alisha Rafique Malik said, “As one of the leading footwear retailers in India, we take pride in resonating with the pulse of our customers. We are excited to elevate sneaker culture in the country with Nandadeep’s vast experience guiding us on this journey.”
Nandadeep’s dynamic career path includes his recent tenure at Adidas India, along with significant roles at prominent organizations such as Future Group, Sony Music, Bajaj Auto, and Voltas. His diverse background positions him uniquely to lead Foot Locker India’s business operations, as Metro Brands continues to expand its footprint in the retail sector.
MAM
Sleepwell unveils nationwide sleep study on World Sleep Day
79 per cent use screens before bed, 36 per cent of 18–25-year-olds sleep ≤5 hours.
MUMBAI: Sleepwell just dropped the pillow truth bomb because when India’s sleeping less and scrolling more, even the mattress wants to stage an intervention. On World Sleep Day 2026, Sleepwell released its nationwide Sleep Study, painting a stark picture of India’s escalating sleep crisis. The findings show that 79% of Indians use screens right before bed, fuelling restless nights and drowsy days. Alarmingly, 36% of young adults aged 18–25 sleep five hours or less making them the country’s most sleep-deprived group.
The study also busts the myth of “catch-up sleep”, 65% of respondents actually sleep even later on weekends, pointing to increasingly irregular patterns that spill fatigue into the working week. Mattress discomfort emerged as a frequently overlooked culprit behind late-night wake-ups and constant leak-anxiety checks.
To drive the message home, Sleepwell’s CMO Puneet Gulati appeared on Zee Business, stressing that quality sleep isn’t a luxury, it’s foundational health. He highlighted how the right mattress can transform restless nights into restorative ones.
The brand doubled down with clever late-night activations, partnering with a quick-commerce platform to serve contextual ads between 11 pm and 3 am, gently nudging bleary-eyed scrollers to consider mattress discomfort as the reason they’re still awake and pointing them to the nearest Sleepwell store. Digital influencers and creators also shared relatable stories of how poor sleep fuels impulsive late-night behaviour.
In a nation that celebrates hustle but quietly pays for it in lost rest, Sleepwell isn’t just selling mattresses, it’s selling the radical idea that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is close your eyes and actually sleep well.
