Brands
Ralph Lauren appoints Tathagat Varma as VP & head of global capability centre
Former Walmart Global Tech leader to spearhead capability centre growth
BENGALURU: Ralph Lauren has stitched a new chapter into its India growth story. Ralph Lauren has appointed Tathagat Varma as vice president and head of its global capability centre (GCC) in India.
Based in Bengaluru, Varma assumed the role in June 2026 and will be responsible for building and scaling the company’s India GCC as part of its broader global operations strategy.
Announcing the move on LinkedIn, Varma said he was excited to join Ralph Lauren, describing the company as one of the world’s most recognised lifestyle brands with a rich legacy spanning apparel, accessories, fragrances, home furnishings and other premium product categories.
The appointment brings to Ralph Lauren a seasoned technology and business transformation leader with extensive experience across digital transformation, artificial intelligence, strategy, operations and organisational effectiveness.
Prior to joining Ralph Lauren, Varma served as global techops leader at Walmart Global Tech, where he led the Next Generation Tech Stack programme. In that role, he oversaw enterprise-wide digital transformation, cloud adoption and technology modernisation initiatives across Walmart stores, Sam’s Clubs and distribution centres, while also driving company-wide data quality programmes.
Before relocating to the United States, Varma spent nearly four years at Walmart Global Tech India as vice president, strategy and chief of staff. There, he led technology strategy, business operations, enterprise agile transformation, innovation programmes, technical learning initiatives and startup ecosystem engagement, while serving as chief of staff to the India leadership team.
His earlier leadership experience includes a stint as country manager at NerdWallet, where he was tasked with establishing the company’s India operations from the ground up.
Alongside his corporate responsibilities, Varma is also founder of Cognitive Chasm, an initiative born from his doctoral research exploring the adoption of generative artificial intelligence. His work on the Theory of Cognitive Chasms has gained attention within academic and business circles, with a forthcoming book on the subject scheduled for publication.
Academically, Varma completed an Executive Fellow Programme in Management and Doctorate in Business Administration specialising in artificial intelligence from the Indian School of Business in 2024. He has also undertaken executive learning programmes at Stanford University focused on the economic and societal implications of artificial intelligence.
The appointment comes as multinational companies continue to expand their India-based GCC operations, leveraging the country for technology innovation, digital capabilities and strategic business functions. For Ralph Lauren, the move signals a growing focus on strengthening its technology and operational footprint in one of its most important global talent markets.
With deep expertise in AI, transformation and capability-building, Varma is expected to play a key role in shaping Ralph Lauren’s next phase of growth from India while helping the company align innovation with its global business ambitions.
