Brands
Papa Johns slices into India with Bengaluru launch
MUMBAI: Bengaluru is getting a taste of international flavour as Papa Johns makes its Indian debut with four restaurants in Indiranagar, Hennur, Electronic City, and Sarjapur Road. Operated by PJP Foods India Private Limited, the launch brings the brand’s iconic promise of “Better ingredients. Better pizza.” to local diners, featuring a Bengaluru-exclusive ghee roast pizza.
Speaking on the launch, PJP Investments group – group CEO Tapan Vaidya said, “This is a proud moment as we deliver the Papa Johns experience to Indian customers. Our pizzas are crafted with fresh, never-frozen dough and premium toppings. Bengaluru is the perfect city to start this journey, and we look forward to expanding rapidly across the country.”
Papa Johns chief financial officer & executive vice president Ravi Thanawala added, “Opening our first restaurant and quality control center in Bengaluru sets a strong foundation for long-term growth and ensures the highest standards of quality and service that define our brand.”
The brand’s entry blends global favourites with local innovation. Each pizza is made with fresh dough, real mozzarella, and vine-ripened tomato sauce, staying true to its international recipes. The ghee roast pizza, available in chicken and paneer variants, infuses south Indian spices with indulgent ghee, creating a distinct local twist.
Pulsar Capital & Ambrosia QSR managing partner Vish Narain said, “Our goal is to provide excellent quality pizzas at affordable prices while appealing to India’s diverse palate.”
All Bengaluru outlets will be supported by a centralised Quality Control Center in Hennur to maintain consistent freshness. Customers can enjoy dine-in, takeaway, and digital ordering through the app and website, with delivery services coming soon.
With this launch, Papa Johns India signals the start of an ambitious expansion, bringing premium-quality pizzas to a growing market hungry for global flavours and local twists.
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.
