MAM
Nidhi Bhasin appointed as chief executive officer for Digital Green Trust
Mumbai – Bringing over 25 years of transformational leadership experience in social development and technology for good, Nidhi Bhasin is now leading Digital Green Trust in its mission to empower millions of Indian farmers.
For 17 years, Digital Green Trust (DGT) has been dedicated to empowering small and marginal farmers in India, reaching over 4.7 million farmers. Leveraging digital technology to promote sustainable agriculture, DGT helps these farmers navigate significant transformations in the agriculture sector, increasing their resilience and adaptability in the face of global challenges. The organization is pleased to announce the appointment of Nidhi Bhasin as its new chief executive officer for India, based in New Delhi.
With over 25 years of experience in social development, program management, and nonprofit leadership, Bhasin brings a wealth of expertise to Digital Green Trust. Prior to joining Digital Green Trust, she served as CEO of Nasscom Foundation, where she transformed the organization and took it to the next level by championing technology for social good and worked to bridge the digital divide in underserved communities across India. Before that, she spent two decades at Concern India Foundation, leading initiatives in education, health, and community development, particularly for women.
In her new role, Bhasin will lead a team of over 80 employees at Digital Green Trust, focused on training Indian farmers in sustainable agricultural practices through innovative tools like Farmer.Chat, an AI-powered assistant. She sees great potential in leveraging technology to improve the lives of tens of millions of farmers in the years to come.
“I am excited to continue building on the solid foundational work done by Digital Green Trust, as we work to scale our impact, in numbers and depth. Digital Green Trust is in a unique position to enable the agriculture ecosystem by bringing Government, philanthropies and corporates together at the intersection of technology, gender, climate and sustainability,” said Bhasin. “I look forward to driving thought leadership initiatives that can transform and create real impact on livelihoods in rural communities”, says Bhasin.
Digital Green Trust Board chairperson Tejash Shah noted, “In Nidhi Bhasin, we see a leader whose dedication to social good, paired with her deep expertise in technology, perfectly aligns with our mission. Her insights and energy will be instrumental in advancing Digital Green Trust’s efforts to revolutionize agricultural practices for the betterment of farmers and their communities. I look forward to seeing her vision unfold.”
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.
