Archives 2026

When most travellers think of Rajasthan, images of golden deserts, sun-soaked forts, and warm climates instantly come to mind. Yet tucked away in the Aravalli range lies a lesser-known, charming contrast — Mount Abu, the state’s only hill station, where winter unfolds with misty mornings, forested landscapes, and a refreshingly cool climate.

This January, Sterling Holiday Resorts invites travellers to rediscover Rajasthan through a different lens with “Meet Winter at Abu”, a seasonal campaign highlighting Mount Abu as an ideal escape for festive weekends and the long Republic Day break. With winter temperatures dipping to a crisp 9–13°C at night and settling into a comfortable 22–24°C during the day, Mount Abu offers the rare pleasure of chilly mornings, sunlit afternoons, and cosy evenings — a combination seldom associated with the state.

Winter in Mount Abu brings with it a slower, more intimate rhythm. Early mornings are perfect for curling up with a hot cup of tea as the hills awaken in soft light, while daytime invites leisurely sightseeing, forest walks, and outdoor exploration without the intensity of summer heat. Evenings turn pleasantly cool, making warm winter layers a welcome companion as the town settles into quiet calm.

Positioned as Rajasthan’s coolest secret, Mount Abu appeals strongly to families and short-break travellers from Gujarat and Rajasthan, looking for an easy-to-reach hill destination that feels refreshing yet familiar — without the crowds of more popular winter hill stations.

At Sterling Mount Abu, guests can experience this seasonal charm through unhurried days and immersive surroundings. Sunset views from iconic vantage points such as Prithvi Vilas, tranquil walks through forest trails, temple visits, and peaceful, sun-drenched resort mornings come together to create a restorative winter holiday. The destination’s natural beauty — from golden-hour skies to lush green paths — is brought alive through visual storytelling that captures Mount Abu’s serene, wintertime personality.

“January is the perfect time to experience Mount Abu,” said Harinath M, Senior Vice President – Marketing, Sterling Holiday Resorts Ltd. “With festive weekends and the Republic Day break, families can rediscover a cooler, greener side of Rajasthan in a way that feels both relaxing and memorable.”

This winter, Sterling Holiday Resorts invites travellers to rethink Rajasthan and meet winter in a place where cool mornings, pleasant days, and mountain calm come together — at Sterling Mount Abu.

Mumbai, Jan 8: In a strong show of community-led preventive healthcare, HCG Cancer Centre, Mumbai, in collaboration with the Mumbai Dabbawala Association, conducted a two-day men’s health awareness campaign on 6th and 7th January 2026. The initiative saw over 500 dabbawalas wearing blue jackets to raise awareness on men’s health and early cancer detection, using their daily citywide presence to spread the message.

The campaign, titled “Delivering Hope Together,” symbolised the shared commitment of HCG Cancer Centre, Mumbai and the Mumbai Dabbawala Association to take preventive healthcare beyond hospital walls and into the heart of the community. By leveraging the dabbawalas’ unmatched reach and trust across Mumbai, the initiative aimed to deliver not just meals, but also lifesaving messages on early cancer detection, reinforcing the belief that timely awareness and screening can significantly reduce the cancer burden among working men.

The campaign focused on creating awareness around head and neck cancer and prostate cancer, which are among the most commonly detected cancers in men. Through the trusted and extensive network of Mumbai’s dabbawalas, the initiative ensured that the message of preventive care reached every corner of the city in an organic and impactful manner.

To further extend its gratitude to the lifeline of the city  the dabbawalas  HCG Cancer Centre, Mumbai set up a dedicated mobile medical van to provide free cancer screening. This van was exclusively dedicated to the dabbawalas and stationed at key locations across the city, including Churchgate, Borivali, Grant Road, and Mira Road. The screenings were conducted by HCG’s medical team, who also counselled participants on early warning signs, risk factors, and the critical role of timely diagnosis in improving treatment outcomes.

The initiative received an overwhelming response, with a large number of dabbawalas voluntarily coming forward for check-ups over the two days. More than 500 dabbawalas participated in the screenings, reflecting growing awareness and acceptance of preventive healthcare among working communities.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Avik Chauhan, Cluster Chief Operating Officer at HCG Cancer Centre, Mumbai, said, 

“This initiative with the Mumbai Dabbawala Association reflects our belief that awareness and early detection must reach people where they are. Dabbawalas are the backbone of Mumbai’s daily life, and by engaging with them, we were able to take the message of men’s health and cancer prevention directly to the community. The enthusiastic participation over the last two days reinforces the importance of such grassroots initiatives in saving lives through early detection.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Mr. Ulhas Muke. President, Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Charity Trust, said,

 “We appreciate the efforts and recognition extended to the dabbawalas by HCG Cancer Centre, Mumbai. We are proud to be part of this awareness drive that focuses on reducing cancer cases through early detection. We are grateful to HCG for providing free screenings and medical guidance to our community and for empowering us with knowledge that encourages preventive healthcare and timely action.”

The two-day campaign concluded with meaningful interactions between healthcare professionals and participants, reinforcing HCG’s commitment to accessible, community-centric cancer prevention efforts. Through initiatives like Delivering Hope Together, HCG continues to work towards building healthier communities and reducing the burden of cancer through awareness, early screening, and timely intervention.

New Delhi, India, Jan 08: Univest today announced the appointment of three senior leaders as it strengthens its leadership bench and accelerates expansion across its advisory-first broking and wealth-tech platform. The company has appointed Girraj Prasad Garg, former Executive Director at the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), as Non-Executive Director; Sachin Gupta, former senior leader at Lenskart and AstroTalk, as Chief Marketing Officer; Gagan Singla, former Managing Director at BlinkX and senior leader at HDFC Securities and Angel Broking, as CEO – Broking Business and Aman Bindal, former CTO at Creditas, as Chief AI and Technology Officer.

The appointments significantly enhance Univest’s leadership across governance and regulatory oversight, brand and growth, and end-to-end broking execution, strengthening capabilities across product, technology, analytics-driven growth and P&L ownership as the company enters its next phase of scale.

The leadership expansion comes as Univest continues to deliver strong momentum, recording over 150% year-on-year growth, even as segments of the broader broking industry face moderation due to regulatory changes and evolving market conditions. Backed by Bertelsmann India Investments (BII), Univest is targeting 200%+ growth by FY 2026–27, driven by disciplined execution, expanding product offerings and a sharp focus on investor trust.

As part of its growth strategy, Univest has recently launched its Mutual Fund business, introducing a research-first, goal-linked Mutual Fund advisory model. The offering maps investor goals with high-performing Mutual Funds and keeps portfolios aligned through continuous monitoring. Powered by a Human + AI research framework, Univest provides Regular Mutual Fund plans for long-term investors, along with UniClub (Pro MF)—a premium solution offering analyst-built, actively reviewed and rebalanced portfolios for serious investors.

With the expansion into Mutual Funds and strengthened leadership across key functions, Univest is consolidating its position as a one-stop Wealth Operating System, uniting advisory, broking and Mutual Funds within a single, research-driven ecosystem designed to deliver consistent, goal-oriented investment outcomes.

Pranit Arora, Co-Founder and CEO, Univest, said, 

“These leadership appointments strengthen Univest across governance, growth and broking execution at a critical stage of our journey. With our expansion into Mutual Funds and a continued focus on research-led advisory, we are building a platform that helps investors stay disciplined and focused on long-term wealth creation.”

New Delhi,  Jan 8: Project Management Institute  the world’s leading authority in project management, has released new research that directly links the global strategy-execution gap to how organizations run projects, revealing a clear pathway to improve the odds that transformation efforts pay off dramatically.

The report, Step Up: Redefining the Path to Project Success with M.O.R.E. conducted with 5,800 respondents globally, arrives as organisations globally including India, face unrelenting pressure to reinvent themselves. In a parallel global survey of senior executives, 35% identified a disconnect between planning and execution as one of the biggest barriers to reinvention, underscoring how the strategy-execution gap is widening at the very moment organisations need to transform fastest.

Only half of projects succeed  putting transformation at risk.

The study revealed that just half of today’s projects meet the modern definition of success: delivering value that exceeds the effort and expense involved as perceived by all stakeholders. Thirteen percent of projects fail outright and 37% only partially deliver the expected results.

“As Indian industries spearhead rapid transformation driven by GenAI adoption, digital public infrastructure, and sustainability mandates we cannot afford to settle for a coin-toss probability of success. A 50% success rate poses a significant risk to the capital and effort fuelling India’s growth story. Organizations need to harness the elements of M.O.R.E. to reverse this trend and harness GenAI’s transformative potential,”

Amit Goyal, Managing Director, South Asia, Project Management Institute

 “To stay globally competitive and fully unlock the value of their strategic investments, Indian organisations and project professionals must embrace and apply the M.O.R.E. elements, thereby maximising project success and elevating our world, as reflected in the Net Project Success Score.”, added Goyal.

Industry Standard: Net Project Success Score 

The industry standard Net Project Success Score  is an industry standard metric that captures the effectiveness of project delivery by measuring the percentage of successful projects minus the percentage of outright failures.  When project professionals apply all four elements, project performance improves dramatically. Net Project Success Score jumps from 27 when none of the M.O.R.E. elements are used to 94 when all four are consistently applied. M.O.R.E. interventions are proven to improve outcomes for at-risk projects. Despite this, the report found that currently very few project professionals apply the framework holistically.

From research insight to global movement

PMI is embedding M.O.R.E. across its products, learning experiences, and community initiatives to help organizations apply the findings at scale. This includes new learning journeys, updated standards defining success by value, and expanded recognition for teams exemplifying the M.O.R.E. mindset.

“For Indian enterprises, reinvention is now a continuous journey rather than a one-time event. Consequently, project success has escalated from an operational metric to a critical boardroom agenda,” concluded Amit Goyal. “Closing the strategy-execution gap starts with a paradigm shift in how we lead and measure value. M.O.R.E. gives Indian leaders and professionals the robust blueprint needed to ensure consistency and drive high-impact outcomes.”

Sustainability, inclusion, and responsible governance are no longer optional ideals. They are fast becoming essential to how institutions, businesses, and societies define long-term success. Responding to this shift, SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies  has announced the Mirae Asset Foundation SVKM’s NMIMS ESG Research Chair, a dedicated platform focused on advancing research, education, and policy thinking in Environmental, Social, and Governance  domains.

Building on NMIMS’ long-standing focus on socially responsible management education and sustainability-oriented scholarship, the ESG Research Chair is envisioned as a national platform with a strong emphasis on the Indian and Global South context. It will develop rigorous, context-driven ESG research, case studies, policy briefs, and teaching material to contribute meaningfully to academic literature, industry practice, and public policy.

Dr. Ramesh Bhat, Vice Chancellor, SVKM’s NMIMS, said,

“At NMIMS, we believe sustainability and ethics are part of everything we do. ESG, diversity, and inclusion are integrated across all our programmes, so students see how these ideas work in practice. With this initiative, we are not just teaching sustainability, we are creating a living ecosystem where research, education, and industry come together. The Mirae Asset Foundation SVKM’s NMIMS ESG Research Chair builds on this approach, strengthening research, encouraging dialogue, and developing leaders who can tackle today’s ESG challenges with confidence and purpose.”

The Chair will integrate ESG themes across MBA, Executive MBA, and Doctoral programmes, while also driving capacity-building through specialised workshops, executive education, and structured industry engagement. It will collaborate closely with industry leaders, regulators, policymakers, and global institutions, and host its flagship Annual ESG Conference to foster dialogue and actionable insights.

Mr. Ritesh Patel, Director, Mirae Asset Foundation said,

“This Chair reflects our shared commitment to creating leaders who understand that growth and responsibility must go hand in hand. By bringing together academia, industry, and policymakers, we aim to advance ESG thinking that drives real, measurable, and inclusive impact and results in long-term value creation and positive societal impact.  It is indeed a privilege to be partnering with NMIMS for this initiative as it has rich academia experience and has been doing extensive work in this area”.

The Chair is being set up with support from the Mirae Asset Foundation (MAF), the philanthropic arm of the Mirae Asset Financial Group in India. Guided by a human-centred investment philosophy, the Foundation enhances educational access and quality through scholarships, research and innovation support, skills development initiatives, and educational infrastructure. Its approach reflects a strong commitment to socially responsible development and aligns closely with ESG principles that promote inclusive and long-term growth.

New Delhi, Jan 8: adidas launches its most versatile training shoe to date, the Dropset 4. Engineered for the demands of multi-discipline workouts, the footwear delivers both controlled stability and explosiveness across a wide range of movement.

Based on the insight that 7 in 10 gym goers are wearing incorrect footwear, the Dropset 4 was born from a commitment to help its community of next-gen athletes cut through the noise and realise their strength by creating a shoe that is everything they need for functional training.

The Dropset 4, an evolution of Dropset 3, hosts a unique blend of technology and features to provide both all-around stability and dynamic energy return across the demands of functional training. Now with enhanced versatility, the Dropset 4 delivers robust support across the entire spectrum of a functional workout, from foundational deadlifts to high impact box jumps and up to 800m sprints.

Key features include:

• ​Full-Length Repetitor foam: Provides a consistent level of energy return and stability, supporting overall endurance throughout the toughest of workouts.
• Energyrods: Engineered for a balance of stiffness and flexibility, energyrods protect the foot through optimal force distribution, supporting the heel during heavy movements and providing a propulsive forefoot for exercises like box jumps, and skipping.
• Continental & Adiwear rubber combination: Strategically placed to offer extra traction and durability for loaded movements like sled pushes and weighted lunges.
• Footadapt sockliner: FOOTADAPT technology increases foot awareness within the shoe, improving balance control of the body to maintain form and maximum muscle engagement.
• Haptic print: The upper 3D printed layer of textured material provides increased durability against abrasion, while maintaining breathability for even the sweatiest of workouts.

Aimee Arana, adidas Global General Manager Sportswear & Training, said: “We know our community has embraced functional training as an important part of their routine and needs a shoe that will support them with the demands of their entire workout, from warm-up to cool-down. We are proud to offer them an improved solution that truly meets their different needs during training: the Dropset 4 is built to be sturdy and stable enough for those big compound strength moves, while still delivering the cushioning and energy return essential for explosive actions like box jumps or even a warm-up run.”

The launch is accompanied by a campaign that champions the Dropset 4 as ‘All You Need’ for functional training, demonstrating its capabilities across lift, jump, run movements. adidas partners, including US basketball player Hailey Van Lith, Argentinian entrepreneur Antonela Roccuzzo, Brazilian fitness star Caio Cabral, and German actor Emilio Sakraya, put the footwear to the test. Also featuring is Hungarian competitive training athlete Laura Horvath, who recently wore Dropset 4 to victory, claiming first place at one of the world’s most elite fitness stages in Aberdeen in October 2025, demonstrating how the footwear supports athletes of all levels, from everyday gym-goers to elite athletes.

Speaking on the Dropset 4, WNBA player Hailey Van Lith, said: “My training demands it all, from shuttle sprints, to deadlifts, no session is ever the same, which is why I love it. So, having a shoe that can do it all means I feel confident that it will support every move so I can focus on my performance.”

Speaking on the Dropset 4, Antonela Roccuzzo, said: “Training is such an important part of my routine, it’s not just about fitness, it’s about feeling strong, balanced and ready for everything the day brings. The Dropset 4 has everything I need for a big training day, and gives me a locked-in and stable base on big power moves whilst being explosive and responsive on box jumps.”

Speaking on the Dropset 4, Caio Cabral, said: “When I train, I’m always pushing my limits whether on big compound moves or intense sprints, so I need a shoe that can handle it all without slowing me down. The Dropset 4 is made for intensity, which is exactly how I like to train, giving me the perfect mix of stability, grip and comfort, no matter what the workout looks like.”

Speaking on the Dropset 4, Emilio Sakraya, said: “My training keeps me ready for any role, so I need footwear I can rely on. The Dropset 4 doesn’t force me to compromise, it’s light enough to accelerate, solid enough when I land and versatile enough to keep up on explosive moves.”

Speaking on the Dropset 4, Laura Horvath, said: “The Dropset 4 is my favourite adidas strength shoe yet, the stability and confidence I feel when wearing them across all disciplines, especially now with running, is next level. When I’m competing, I want to trust my footwear and concentrate on my performance, and the Dropset 4 allows me to do that.”

Pimpri, Pune  Jan 8: As the new year begins with renewed hope for patients waiting for transplant care, DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune enabled a time critical lung transfer that reached Pune from Jalna through a successful green corridor, allowing a transplant pathway to move forward for a patient under the authorised allocation process. The transfer followed the organ donation of Dhananjay Anant Kale, a 25 year old BHMS student from Jalna. After his untimely demise following a two wheeler accident on December 29, 2025, his family consented to organ donation. The donation is reported to have helped save six lives through organ donation across cities.

The green corridor that came into Pune on January 1, 2026 was a demanding and tightly managed movement under real world traffic conditions. The transfer was carried out with tight police deployment and route control and the ambulance was flagged off with a salute by the police department as it proceeded towards Pune. The transfer was supported by the transplant and critical care doctors who ensured protocol based handling and clinical readiness at the receiving end. The operation required continuous on ground coordination and swift clearances so that precious time was protected through the route and into the city.

“A green corridor is efficiency in action. It is built on minutes, coordination and disciplined execution across every checkpoint. When institutions and administration align with clarity, time becomes capability and capability becomes outcomes. We recognise the collective effort that enabled safe passage into Pune and ensured the transfer moved with the urgency a time critical organ requires,” said Dr. P. D. Patil, Chancellor, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune 

“This donation reflects the highest form of human courage. In a moment of personal grief, the family chose to help others live and that choice deserves the deepest respect. We also acknowledge the doctors, critical care teams, transplant coordinators and on ground support staff who worked with quiet precision to ensure every handover remained time sensitive and safe. We honour every authority and frontline team that supported this challenging green corridor, because organ donation succeeds when compassion is matched by coordination and responsibility,” said  Dr. Bhagyashree Patil, Pro Chancellor, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune .

“In a time critical transfer, accuracy is the difference between possibility and outcome. From controlled handling to seamless handovers, every step must be precise and every update must be timely. We place on record our sincere thanks to the police department for enabling the green corridor from Jalna to DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune and for supporting safe passage into the city. This corridor reflects what can be achieved when the system treats every minute like a patient safety commitment,” said Dr. Yashraj P. Patil, Trustee and Treasurer, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune .

DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune reiterates its respect for donor families whose consent makes transplant care possible and strengthens the larger cause of organ donation across Maharashtra.

Jan 8: Canva, the world’s leading all-in-one visual communication platform, is stepping into Shark Tank India Season 5 as title sponsor, bringing the power of clear, creative storytelling to one of India’s most defining startup stages. The partnership underscores Canva’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs in its fourth-largest market to turn bold ideas into compelling stories that truly resonate.

As India’s startup ecosystem scales at unprecedented speed, the ability to communicate an idea clearly has become a critical advantage. Shark Tank India has emerged as a national platform where founders pressure-test their vision, earn credibility, and tell their story at scale. Through this partnership, Canva reinforces its mission to democratise access to design, equipping entrepreneurs with intuitive, powerful tools to pitch with confidence, build with clarity, and grow with impact as they shape the next generation of Indian businesses.

“Canva sits at the intersection of ideas and execution,” Shubhika Jain, Brand Lead  India at Canva.

“Shark Tank India is where that intersection is tested at scale. This partnership is about enabling Indian founders to show up with creativity, clarity and conviction at moments that define their journey, and equipping them with the right tools to carry that momentum forward as they grow.”

Visual Communication as a Business Superpower
Visual communication is no longer just a design skill, but a core business capability. According to Canva’s State of Visual Communication Report 2025, 89% of business leaders consider visual fluency a must-have skill, while 94% of GenZ professionals in India say they do their best work when communicating visually. For startup teams juggling everything from investor pitches and brand building to marketing and internal communication, Canva brings it all together in one place.

From investor-ready pitch decks and Docs-to-Decks workflows to Brand Kits that keep teams consistent, collaborative whiteboards for planning, and one-click resizing for multi-channel marketing, founders can move seamlessly from idea to execution. With Canva available in multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu, teams can create confidently in the language of their choice. Built-in AI features like Canva AI, Magic Write, and Ask Canva, further help teams create, collaborate, and scale faster, without the need for large marketing or design resources.

Built into the Founder Journey
Canva’s presence in the Tank will be rooted in authentic, in-show usage, reflecting how founders naturally use the platform while building their pitches. Canva will be seamlessly integrated across the season through daily summaries, weekly episodic moments, and weekly wrap videos powered by Canva AI.

Taking the experience beyond the screen, Canva will also launch a dedicated “As Seen on Shark Tank” template collection in January. Available free to all users, the collection will enable aspiring entrepreneurs to use the same tools, formats and design approaches seen on the show to their own pitches, brands and business communication.

As one of Canva’s most important growth markets, India is home to founders building boldly and scaling rapidly. This partnership marks a natural meeting point of creativity, ambition and entrepreneurship, helping founders communicate clearly when it matters most inside the Tank and beyond.

Tokyo, Japan, Jan 8: transcosmos and Priv Tech, Inc. today announced the joint release of Privacy Consulting Services, launching in December 2025. This service helps companies leverage data while complying with privacy regulations applicable to digital marketing in Japan and abroad.

This offering supports clients in revising their privacy policies—essential for deploying Conversion APIs (CAPI), which are key to maximizing advertising performance—while mitigating risks in data utilization. By creating an environment that enables companies to fully harness marketing data, they can enhance targeting accuracy and improve return on investment (ROI). Combining transcosmos’s expertise in executing marketing solutions with Priv Tech’s strength in privacy technologies—the company’s key competitive advantage—the two companies provide comprehensive support across privacy protection, advertising, and technology. This collaboration empowers clients to promote data utilization and boost performance effectively.

• Complex regulations and challenges in data utilization

With the tightening of privacy regulations—including the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, the Telecommunications Business Act, GDPR, and CCPA—traditional policies are no longer sufficient to meet privacy protection requirements in today’s digital marketing landscape. At the same time, increasing targeting accuracy and maximizing ad performance requires accelerating AI learning processes across platforms. This makes it critical to prepare and utilize first-party data, such as conversion (CV) and event data transmitted via CAPI. However, revising privacy policies to comply with increasingly complex regulations has become a major bottleneck for many businesses seeking to deploy CAPI and fully utilize data.

• End-to-end services in collaboration with Priv Tech

To help businesses overcome these challenges, transcosmos partnered with Priv Tech—a leading company with a proven track record in data protection and privacy-enhancing technologies. By combining expertise in privacy technologies, advertising and marketing, and technology deployment—the areas that the two companies specialize in—transcosmos and Priv Tech deliver end-to-end support—from building privacy protection systems to deploying technologies such as CAPI—helping businesses clear hurdles.

• Service menu examples

– Support for revising privacy policies to comply with new regulations
– Support for revising privacy policies to comply with the Japanese privacy acts
– Development of cookie policies (site scan and template creation)
– Deployment of a consent management platform
– Compliance support for the Telecommunications Business Act

• Expected outcomes

– Increased customer trust and enhanced brand value
– Effective use of marketing data and higher ROI
– Prevention of privacy risks and online backlash
– Competitive edge built on privacy protection

transcosmos remains committed to helping businesses achieve sustainable growth by delivering optimal solutions to address client challenges.

Mumbai, Jan 8: PAG-led Sekhmet Pharmaventures announced today that it has appointed two seasoned industry leaders, Sumit Kumar as Chief Commercial Officer  and Jitendra Jalan as Chief Human Resources Officer  to support its next phase of global expansion.

These new appointments further reinforce Sekhmet’s strategic emphasis on scaling its fully integrated API and CDMO platform while building a strong, future-ready organization anchored in people, capability and performance.

Sekhmet has seen strong business momentum in FY26 under its new leadership. The strategic focus on integrating its API and CDMO capabilities has resulted in increased global customer confidence. The company has recorded more than 25% EBITDA growth over the first 8 months of FY26, signalling a strong trajectory for the current fiscal year.

Sumit Kumar brings over 24 years of experience across APIs, formulations, and international regulatory environments. His deep expertise spans in regulatory issue management, product lifecycle oversight, intellectual property, and ESG initiatives. Previously, Sumit spent 15 years at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and most recently served as CCO at Cohance Lifesciences, where he drove portfolio expansion, optimized business processes and strengthened customer service standards.

Sumit has extensive international business experience across North America, China, North Asia, MENA and other markets. He holds an MBA and has completed the AMP (Advanced Management Programme) at The Wharton School. At Sekhmet, he will lead business development and export growth strategies, leveraging the company’s integrated platform to expand its presence across regulated and semi-regulated markets.

Jitendra Jalan (CHRO) brings over 25 years of multidisciplinary leadership experience spanning Sales, Operations and Human Resources. He has held senior leadership roles at USV Pvt Ltd, ACC Ltd, Endress+Hauser India, Astral Glass and other leading IT organizations. Jitendra is recognized for driving large-scale organizational transformation, strengthening leadership pipelines to support sustainable business growth.

He holds a PGCHRM from XLRI, is SHRM-SCP certified, and an ICF-ACC accredited coach. At Sekhmet, Jitendra will focus on strategic HR business partnering, leadership development and fostering a high-performance, people-centric culture aligned with the company’s global growth ambitions.

Commenting on the leadership appointments, Santosh Mahil, Managing Director & CEO of Sekhmet, said:

“We are thrilled to welcome Jitendra and Sumit to Sekhmet. As a fully integrated API and CDMO platform through Optimus Pharma and Anjan Drug, we are experiencing strong growth across our API and CDMO business. These appointments enhance both our commercial and operational leadership, enabling us to address evolving global customer needs with agility, expertise and sustainability at the core.”

Nikhil Srivastava, Co-head of Private Equity at PAG, added:

 “We are delighted to welcome Sumit and Jitendra to the Sekhmet’s leadership. The Sekhmet 2.0 transformation program reflects our commitment to solidifying Sekhmet’s industry leading position. We are confident that the new leadership will accelerate Sekhmet’s progress in advancing its CDMO and API businesses.”