Brands
PeopleStrong names Aashay Manake as chief people officer
NEW DELHI: PeopleStrong has pressed refresh on its leadership bench, appointing Aashay Manake as chief people officer to steer its people and culture agenda through its next growth chapter.
Manake joins the Asia-focused human capital management SaaS player from Jubilant FoodWorks, where he served as vice president HR, overseeing people strategy across large, multi-brand and widely distributed teams. In his new role, he will focus on leadership development, workforce effectiveness and organisational readiness as PeopleStrong scales across markets.
With over 16 years of experience, Manake has built his career in fast-moving and complex environments, spanning FMCG, industrial conglomerates, hospitality, consumer tech, and food services. His résumé includes senior people leadership stints at ITC, GE and OYO, giving him a front-row view of transformation at scale.
An alumnus of SCMHRD, Manake has led enterprise-wide HR charters covering performance and rewards, talent and leadership development, employee relations and organisational design, often during periods of rapid change.
Welcoming him on board, PeopleStrong CEO Sandeep Chaudhary, said the appointment reflects the company’s belief that caring for people is central to business success. He noted that as organisations grapple with increasingly complex workforce realities, leaders who combine HR expertise with strong process thinking and human insight are essential.
Manake echoed the sentiment, saying PeopleStrong has long set benchmarks in progressive people practices. He added that he looks forward to strengthening capabilities, building scalable people systems and fostering a culture that brings energy, purpose and joy to work.
The appointment underlines PeopleStrong’s people-first philosophy as it sharpens its long-term growth ambitions. The company currently powers over 500 enterprises, serves more than 2 million users and processes upwards of 1.75 million paycheques every month. Its HR mobile app boasts a 4.8 rating across iOS and Android, and PeopleStrong has been recognised as a Customers’ Choice in Gartner’s Cloud HCM Suites category for enterprises with over 1,000 employees from 2022 to 2025.
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.
