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Tata Communications lines up Ganesh Lakshminarayanan as next CEO
MUMBAI: A changing of the guard is loading at Tata Communications but the baton will pass only after the final green light. Tata Communications has named Ganesh Lakshminarayanan as its managing director and chief executive officer–designate, with the formal appointment to take effect once regulatory approvals are in place.
The Board will notify stock exchanges after receiving the necessary clearances, following which Lakshminarayanan will take over from the current MD and CEO A. S. Lakshminarayanan, who is set to retire on April 13, 2026.
Lakshminarayanan brings more than three decades of global leadership experience across multinational corporations, B2B start-ups and Indian enterprises. Most recently, he served as managing director and group vice president for Servicenow India and SAARC, where he led market expansion and enterprise adoption of AI-led digital transformation.
Before Servicenow, he headed Airtel Business in India, steering the enterprise unit to 50 per cent growth over three years and lifting market share from 30 per cent to 33 per cent. The business earned the chairman’s Award for Best Business Unit in FY23 under his leadership.
His career also spans the start-up ecosystem, with advisory roles at Sequoia Capital and operational stints at companies such as Mu Sigma and Capillary Technologies. Earlier, he played a pivotal role in establishing and scaling Dell’s India operations, growing the workforce to 15,000 and laying the foundation for a billion-dollar domestic business.
Commenting on the appointment, Tata Communications chairman N. G. Subramaniam said Lakshminarayanan’s experience in global enterprise, automation, AI and large deals would strongly complement the company’s growth strategy.
Lakshminarayanan said he looked forward to building on Tata Communications’ legacy by strengthening its customer-centric culture, investing in talent and executing strategy with focus and discipline.
The appointment, while subject to regulatory approval, signals Tata Communications’ intent to double down on technology-led growth as it prepares for its next leadership chapter.
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Shoppers Stop elevates Biju Kassim as GSS Beauty CEO
Move comes as GSS Beauty scales global brand partnerships in India.
MUMBAI: From store shelves to global shelves, the beauty game is getting a sharper makeover. Shoppers Stop has elevated Biju Kassim as managing director and chief executive officer of Global SS Beauty Brands Limited (GSSBB), signalling a stronger push into the premium beauty segment. The move builds on Kassim’s role in setting up GSSBB, a wholly owned subsidiary that has quickly positioned itself as a fast-growing distribution platform for global beauty brands in India. The unit has been central to Shoppers Stop’s ambition of expanding its footprint in the high-margin beauty and luxury categories.
Chairman Nirvik Singh noted that Kassim’s experience across the beauty ecosystem and his understanding of premium and luxury consumers would help steer the next phase of growth. The focus, he indicated, will be on sharpening the company’s beauty portfolio and scaling partnerships with international brands.
Kassim, for his part, steps into the role at a time when India’s premium beauty market is undergoing rapid evolution, driven by rising consumer aspirations and increased access to global labels. He highlighted that GSSBB will remain a key strategic pillar, with an emphasis on expanding brand partnerships, enhancing consumer experiences and driving growth across markets.
As global beauty brands continue to eye India as a high-growth destination, Shoppers Stop’s bet is clear: owning not just the shelf, but the entire beauty ecosystem behind it.
