e-commerce
Walmart taps Shishir Mehrotra for board role as AI bets deepen
Bentonville: Walmart has added fresh Silicon Valley heft to its boardroom, appointing Shishir Mehrotra, chief executive officer of Superhuman, as a director with immediate effect, as the world’s largest retailer sharpens its focus on technology and e-commerce.
Mehrotra will serve on Walmart’s compensation and management development committee and its technology and e-commerce committee, placing him at the heart of decisions shaping talent, platforms and the company’s digital future.
“Shishir brings a rare combination of technical depth and product leadership,” said Greg Penner, chairman of Walmart’s board. “He has helped create and scale platforms that unlock creativity and productivity at global scale.”
For Mehrotra, the timing is deliberate. “This is the most significant technological shift I’ve seen in my career,” he said, pointing to Walmart’s push towards an agentic AI future and its ability to innovate while staying anchored to core values.
A technology veteran with more than 25 years of experience, Mehrotra is best known for building category-defining platforms. Before leading Superhuman, formerly Grammarly, he was chief executive officer and co-founder of Coda, an AI-led productivity platform. Earlier, he served as chief product officer and chief technology officer at YouTube, helping scale it into the world’s largest video destination and one of Google’s fastest-growing businesses.
Mehrotra holds a dual bachelor of science degree in mathematics and computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The appointment comes as Walmart’s digital engine continues to fire, with its advertising business surging 53 per cent and e-commerce growth crossing 20 per cent for the seventh straight quarter.
As Walmart doubles down on technology, data and AI-led commerce, Mehrotra’s arrival signals a clear intent. This is not just about retail scale any more. It is about building the future of platforms, at speed.
e-commerce
ITC Sunfeast, Zepto host mango-themed experiential ‘Paglu Party’
Event blends Alphonso desserts, DIY sessions and interactive formats
MUMBAI: When mango season peaks, some savour it others go full ‘paglu’. ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations, in collaboration with Zepto, turned summer indulgence into an immersive brand experience with its ‘Mango Paglu Party’, a high-energy, mango-themed event designed to blur the line between dessert and discovery. Built around the brand’s ‘Mad Over Mangoes’ universe, the space leaned into a sensory overload bright, playful and unapologetically mango-drenched. From curated installations to social-first corners, every element was designed to be as shareable as it was experiential.
At the centre of the celebration was the fruit itself, elevated into a menu crafted using fresh, carbide-free Alphonso mangoes sourced by Zepto. The spread ranged from a flaky Mango Pista Kouign Aman to Mango Coconut Serradura Pudding and a Mango Mascarpone Cake, balancing indulgence with seasonal freshness.
But this was not a passive tasting affair. Guests were drawn into the experience through interactive formats, including a DIY dessert session led by the brand’s chef, where attendees created classics like Mango Tres Leches. Zepto chief business officer Chandan Mehndiratta also joined the session, adding a touch of brand personality to the proceedings.
A quirky highlight came in the form of the ‘Aam Paglu Prescription’, a playful, doctor-themed concept that positioned mango indulgence as the only “treatment” worth taking, turning a simple insight into a memorable activation.
The event built up to a theatrical finale, with the crowning of the ‘Aam Paglu of the Day’ followed by the cutting of an oversized mango-shaped Mango Mascarpone Cake, closing the experience on a high note.
More than just a seasonal showcase, the Mango Paglu Party reflects a broader shift in brand storytelling, where products are no longer just consumed, but experienced. For ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations and Zepto, mango season was not just about flavour, it was about creating a moment that audiences could step into, engage with and, quite literally, devour.
