e-commerce
Musafir.com appoints Vijay Kesavan as CEO India Operations
MUMBAI: Last year, the Indian hospitality industry welcomed one more entrant – Musafir.com – and it is all ready to face the fast–growing Indian online travel agency (OTA) market by strengthening its team.
The online portal has appointed Vijay Kesavan as the new CEO for its Indian operations. In this new role, Kesavan will be responsible for driving Musafir.com’s business strategy which is aimed at capturing the brand’s position among the top five OTAs in India.
Oh his new role, Kesavan said, “With the ever increasing demand in Travel and Tourism Industry, India offers tremendous business opportunities for a new brand like Musafir.com. Having proved its credibility in the UAE, Musafir has already made an impact in the Indian segment. I look forward to the new challenges and great experiences that the brand has to offer.”
Prior to this, Kesavan ran operations for Thomas Cook as the senior vice-president and head of online sales and distribution. He comes with extensive experience in the travel industry having worked across the sector with akbartravelsonline.com and Indigo Airlines. He has in-depth knowledge of the e-commerce industry having started his career with the Interglobe Technology Quotient.
Commenting on the announcement, Musafir.com MD Sachin Gadoya said, “We are delighted to welcome Vijay to Musafir.com, he has a wealth of experience in the travel and tourism sector, which will greatly benefit the organisation. Being a young and innovative brand, we aspire to be among the top 5 OTAs in India by 2018. To achieve this ambitious goal, we continue to add talent and expertise to the organisation. Vijay’s appointment is an example of the high calibre team we continue to build. We are positive that his rich pool of knowledge would contribute towards strengthening our base and accelerating growth in India.”
e-commerce
Flipkart rolls out 105 per cent bonus for 20,000 employees
Strong FY25 performance drives payouts even as layoffs and shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: In a year where belts were tightened and rewards loosened, Flipkart seems to be playing both offence and defence trimming roles on one hand while handing out a generous 105 per cent bonus on the other. The Walmart owned e commerce major has rolled out a 105 per cent bonus payout for 2025, covering nearly 20,000 employees, signalling a year of steady operational momentum even as the company navigates restructuring pressures. The payout, communicated internally by chief human resources officer Seema Nair, is tied to performance across key metrics including growth, operational efficiency, financial outcomes and people indicators, a combination that suggests the company is inching closer to its long stated goal of sustainable profitability.
Employees at SD level and below are set to receive their bonuses in March, while payouts for senior leadership, including vice presidents and senior vice presidents, will follow after the close of the performance cycle. The elevated 105 per cent multiplier stands out in a sector where cautious payouts have increasingly become the norm, pointing to what appears to be a relatively strong internal scorecard for FY25.
Yet, the announcement arrives with a noticeable contrast. Earlier this year, Flipkart reduced its workforce by around 300 roles as part of its annual performance review process. While officially framed as performance driven, the juxtaposition of layoffs alongside above target bonuses reflects a more nuanced balancing act, one that prioritises cost discipline while continuing to reward and retain high performing talent.
This dual approach is becoming increasingly common across the technology and e commerce landscape, where companies are navigating an uneven hiring environment while under pressure to deliver profitability. Rewarding top contributors, even amid selective workforce reductions, allows firms to maintain morale and retain critical talent without losing sight of financial prudence.
At the same time, Flipkart is also undergoing leadership shifts that hint at a broader strategic recalibration. Nishant Verman has been appointed senior vice president for corporate development and partnerships, while group chief financial officer Sriram Venkataraman is set to step down. Ravi Iyer will take on expanded responsibilities within the finance function, marking a reshuffle at the top as the company gears up for its next phase.
These changes come amid reports that Flipkart is planning to shift its holding structure back to India, a move widely interpreted as groundwork for a potential public listing. While timelines remain fluid, the combination of stronger financial discipline, leadership restructuring and employee incentivisation suggests a company preparing itself for greater scrutiny and scale.
For employees, the 105 per cent payout offers a welcome boost in what has otherwise been a period of adjustment. For Flipkart, it is a signal that even as it cuts where necessary, it is willing to spend where it counts. In the high stakes game of growth versus profitability, the company appears to be hedging its bets carefully, rewarding performance while reshaping itself for what could be its most defining chapter yet.
