Brands
Sarvesh Desai joins Instamart as director of planning
Former Flipkart and Unilever planner to drive demand and supply efficiency
BENGALURU: Instamart has brought in a seasoned hand to fine tune its fast-moving supply engine. Sarvesh Desai has been appointed director of planning, where he will oversee end-to-end planning for the quick-commerce business, focusing on demand forecasting, fulfilment readiness and supply chain efficiency.
Based in Bengaluru, Desai steps into the role with more than a decade of experience across consumer goods and e-commerce. His brief is straightforward but critical: make sure the right products reach the right neighbourhoods at the right time, without the supply chain breaking a sweat.
Before joining Instamart, Desai spent over six years at Flipkart, most recently as associate director, planning. There, he worked across demand planning and fulfilment centre operations, helping sharpen forecasting models and streamline large-scale logistics.
Earlier, he built his planning credentials at Unilever, where he held multiple roles in demand planning and S&OP analytics. During his stint, he worked across major categories and led projects around forecasting automation, process standardisation and analytics-driven planning. He was also recognised for improving forecast accuracy and contributing to supply chain analytics initiatives.
Desai began his career with roles and internships across insurance, apparel and manufacturing, gaining early exposure to operations, process improvement and demand planning.
At Instamart, he is expected to bring that cross-industry experience to a business where speed is the product and precision is the promise. With competition in quick commerce heating up, sharper planning could be the difference between a swift delivery and an empty cart.
Brands
PRCI appoints Baldev Raj as Delhi chapter chairman
Six-month leap signals push for bold, AI-led shift in communications strategy
NEW DELHI: Public Relations Council of India has appointed Baldev Raj as chairman of its Delhi chapter, marking a swift elevation just six months after he took on the role of vice chairman.
The move comes amid growing churn in the communications industry, with trust deficits and misinformation reshaping how brands engage with audiences. According to the latest Edelman Trust Barometer, public trust in institutions continues to decline, while concerns around misinformation remain high.
Industry insiders say Raj’s rapid rise reflects the momentum he has built at Prius Communications, which has picked up five major industry awards in the past four months. His appointment signals PRCI’s intent to bring sharper, more future-facing leadership to the fore.
Under his leadership, the Delhi chapter is set to roll out a series of initiatives aimed at repositioning public relations as a strategic business function. These include an AI ethics and integration framework, a C-suite advisory council, and a revamped young communicators programme focused on mentorship and leadership development.
Commenting on the appointment, Public Relations Council of India chairman emeritus and chief mentor M. B. Jayaram said, “This wasn’t a question of succession; it was a question of strategic necessity. Baldev’s track record of innovation made it clear that we needed his vision and velocity at the helm now.”
For his part, Baldev Raj framed the role as a turning point for the profession. “Our profession stands at a crossroads. We can either be consumed by the tidal wave of AI-generated noise, or become the strategists who restore trust and clarity,” he said. He added that the focus will be on a ‘human plus machine’ approach, blending artificial intelligence with human insight.
Raj, founder of Prius Communications, operates across reputation management and strategic advisory, with specialised verticals in healthcare and brand consulting.
With this leadership shift, PRCI appears to be betting on speed, strategy and a stronger voice for communicators at the decision-making table.
