IndiGo appoints Gaurav Hazrati as Business Head – Loyalty, Marketplaces & Financial Services

Gaurav Hazrati brings over 18 years of experience across loyalty, financial services and digital platform businesses.

IndiGo has announced the appointment of Gaurav Hazrati as Business Head – Loyalty, Marketplaces & Financial Services. In this role, he will be responsible for driving growth across IndiGo BluChip, expanding the rewards ecosystem, and scaling the airline’s travel marketplace and financial services businesses.

Gaurav brings with him, over 18 years of experience in building and scaling loyalty and financial services businesses across banks and digital platform ecosystems. He has built multi-product businesses from inception and scaled them to revenue and profitability.

Leadership appointment at IndiGo

Welcoming Gaurav Hazrati to IndiGo, Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said, “As IndiGo continues its transformation journey, creating greater value and deeper engagement for customers across and beyond travel will become increasingly important. With extensive experience of developing and scaling loyalty and financial services businesses, I am confident that Gaurav is well-equipped to drive these critical functions at IndiGo and his expertise will play a valuable role as IndiGo evolves as a global airline of scale in the coming years.”

Commenting on his appointment, Gaurav Hazrati, Business Head- Loyalty, Marketplaces & Financial Services, IndiGo, said, “IndiGo connects India like no other airline and has become the trusted choice of an aspirational India that is flying more, spending more and expecting more. My mandate is to extend that trust into a consumer platform where we bring loyalty, marketplace and financial services together for the customer. IndiGo BluChip will reward people not just for how they fly, but for their everyday choices. I am glad we are already gaining altitude.”

Previous leadership experience

Prior to joining IndiGo, he served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Tata Payments Limited, President, Financial Services at Tata Digital, and Non-Executive Director on the board of Tata Fintech Limited.

As part of Tata Digital’s founding leadership team, he played a key role in conceptualising, launching and scaling the Tata group’s loyalty and financial services businesses across payments, credit cards, lending, insurance, and investment products.

Earlier in his career, Gaurav Hazrati was part of the founding team at Axis Direct, the broking business of Axis Bank. He subsequently held senior leadership roles at IndusInd Bank, where he established the bank’s digital banking business across customer servicing and acquisition, payments, investments, and lending platforms.

Leads Brand Connect Appoints Raksha Narayan Kotian As Business Head For Coração Do Vale

Kotian will lead the brand’s market expansion, premium partnerships, luxury distribution, corporate gifting, and strategic growth initiatives across India

NOIDA, NCR, July, 2026: Consumer brands company Leads Brand Connect has appointed seasoned luxury brand strategist Raksha Narayan Kotian as Business Head for Coração Do Vale, Portugal’s finest and India’s first luxury extra virgin olive oil brand. In her new role, Raksha will be responsible for driving the brand’s business growth, market expansion, strategic partnerships, and premium positioning in the Indian market.

With over 15 years of experience across hospitality, wellness, beauty, lifestyle, and luxury consumer sectors, Raksha brings extensive expertise in business development, commercial strategy, premium brand building, customer engagement, and operational leadership. Throughout her career, she has contributed to the growth of leading organisations including Panache, Jean Claude Biguine, Kaya, Chrysalis Home Needs, and Fairmacs Diplomatic Supplies, among others.

At Leads Brand Connect, Raksha will spearhead Coração Do Vale’s strategic growth initiatives across luxury hospitality, premium retail, corporate and bespoke gifting, influencer collaborations, experiential marketing, embassy relations, diplomatic engagement, and high-value partnerships. As Leads Brand Connect holds the exclusive sales, marketing, and distribution rights for Coração Do Vale in India, Raksha will also focus on strengthening the brand’s distribution network and building meaningful relationships across hospitality, wellness, lifestyle, and luxury business ecosystems.

Commenting on the appointment, Richa Khandelwal, Founder and Managing Director, Leads Brand Connect, said, “We are delighted to welcome Raksha as Business Head for Coração Do Vale India. Raksha brings a rare combination of commercial leadership, luxury brand expertise, and relationship-building capabilities that perfectly align with our vision for the brand. As India’s luxury and wellness-conscious consumer segment continues to grow, her experience in creating strategic partnerships, developing premium business opportunities, and building trusted stakeholder relationships will play a pivotal role in accelerating Coração Do Vale’s growth journey. We are confident that her leadership will further strengthen the brand’s presence amongst the gourmet and lifestyle connoisseurs. “

Speaking on her appointment, Raksha Narayan Kotian said, “Coração Do Vale represents far more than a premium olive oil brand; it embodies heritage, craftsmanship, authenticity, and a lifestyle centred around wellness and refined living. Indian consumers today are increasingly seeking products that offer quality, provenance, and meaningful experiences. I am excited to lead

the next phase of growth for the brand in India by building strong partnerships, expanding our market presence, and creating experiences that connect consumers with the rich Portuguese legacy behind Coração Do Vale. I look forward to establishing the brand as a preferred choice in the premium lifestyle and gourmet segment.”

Founded in Portugal, Coração Do Vale is an ultra-premium extra virgin olive oil brand known for its commitment to quality, authenticity, and craftsmanship. Rooted in Portuguese heritage, the brand offers a carefully curated collection of premium olive oils designed for consumers who appreciate gourmet excellence, wellness, and elevated living experiences.

About Leads Brand Connect

Leads Brand Connect, established in 2022 by Richa Khandelwal as an integrated advertising and communications agency, has now become India’s fast-growing consumer brands company that helps businesses and brands scale, position, and penetrate markets across India with strategic precision.

The Noida-headquartered company forayed into consumer brands with mass staples like Nourish and Bail Kolhu, and now has premium international brands like Coração Do Vale, Portugal’s finest extra virgin olive oil, and Amazonika Mundi, a 100% plant-based Brazilian food brand, in its portfolio. Leads Brand Connect is focused on successfully bringing more global lifestyle and gourmet brands into the Indian market and building their presence through a structured go-to-market and brand-building approach.

Leads Brand Connect Appoints Puneet Chhabra as Business Head for Amazonika Mundi India

Chhabra will be spearheading the brand’s Sales and Marketing Communications across HoReCa, Food Service, B2B, Modern Trade, and Online channels

 NOIDA, NCR, June , 2026: Consumer brands company Leads Brand Connect has appointed a veteran food industry professional Puneet Chhabra as Business Head for Amazonika Mundi India. In his new role, he will be responsible for driving the brand’s overall revenue growth and business operations in the Indian market. Leads Brand Connect holds the exclusive sales, marketing, and distribution rights for Amazonika Mundi India, a leading Brazilian 100% plant-based food brand, in the country.

 Chhabra comes with three decades of experience in building national brands in food and beverages industries and create distribution base. At Leads Brand Connect, he will be spearheading Amazonika Mundi India’s Sales and Marketing Communications across HoReCa, Food Service, B2B, Modern Trade, and Online channels and leading product innovation (Ready to Cook, Ready to Eat, Ready to Drink).

 Commenting on the appointment, Richa Khandelwal, Founder and Managing Director, Leads Brand Connect, said, “We are extremely delighted to have Puneet on board as Business Head for Amazonika Mundi India. Puneet will be using his rich experience of 30 years to drive the Sales & Marcom for the entire range in local HoReCa, Food Service, B2B, MT & Online markets and will handle the topline. Puneet’s experience in channel depth and commercial leadership is the ideal combination that is needed to fuel Amazonika Mundi’s growth in India strategy. His experience across institutional, retail and digital channels will be instrumental in making our range a staple for discerning kitchens and food businesses across the country.”

 An elated Puneet Chhabra said, “We are living in times when food preferences of our people are changing as they look for healthy and sustainable options. Amazonika Mundi perfectly sits in this intersection and represents an exceptional opportunity. Over the last six years, Amazonika Mundi has been carefully built as a brand in Brazil that offers superior product and premium food experiences. I am looking forward to bring this experience to India and unlock the full potential of this portfolio across institutional, retail and digital channels.”

 Puneet has held leadership positions in India’s leading brands Kohinoor Foods Ltd, Amira G Foods (India, UK & EU exposure), Miraya International, AAA Foods, Borges India, Lavazza (Fresh & Honest Café Ltd.), etc.  He has also managed P&L and prepared strategic business models with The Taj, ITC, Oberoi, Marriott, Accor & IHG brands and Jubilant Foodworks, Impresario, Massive Restaurants etc. Walmart India, Reliance Mart, Spencer’s etc. His core specialisations including Team building, market mapping & expansion, B2B/OEM Partnerships.

 Puneet is graduate from Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition (Gwalior MP under Govt. of India IHMCTAN) in 1995, and completed his under graduation in Hotel Management from Apeejay Institute of Management in 1992.

 Founded in 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, Amazonika Mundi is a 100% plant-based Brazilian food company that is designed on a simple yet profound philosophy that healthy food should be sustainable, delicious and accessible to all. Amazonika Mundi celebrates Brazil’s biodiversity and biomes. Amazonika pioneered the use of cashew fibre and other natural resources to build an innovative range of plant-based products rooted in the country's rich biodiversity. 

 The story of Amazonika Mundi started in 2018 when two brothers, Thiago Rosolem (CEO) and Bruno Rosolem (CCO), started Sottile Alimentos, a plant-based food startup. Their first product was a falafel infused with Brazilian ingredients including lima beans from Santarém and made its debut during Rock in Rio festival and it became an immediate hit with festivalgoers. Two years later, Amazonika Mundi was formed by combining tradition and innovation to create premium experiences. Today, Amazonika Mundi is available in four countries, Brazil, India, Israel and Switzerland.

Indian Craft Brewery welcomes Kunal Joshi as the new Business Head

(Bengaluru, August)– Indian Craft Brewery (ICB) has announced the appointment of Kunal Joshi as its new Business Head. With an experience of over two decades in the hospitality and F&B space, Kunal steps into the role to lead ICB through its next phase of growth and innovation.

In his new role, Kunal will head the overall business operations of ICB’s flagship 2-acre, 1500-seater brewery in Bengaluru.  He will lead end-to-end operations while also driving the brand’s taproom expansion plans and multi-vertical growth strategy.

“Craft beer is more than just a beverage- it is a celebration of storytelling, community, and passion. These are values I have always resonated with and ICB brings them to life in the most authentic way. I am thrilled to join a team that is so committed and dynamic and I look forward to contributing to the next chapter of this remarkable journey.”, said Kunal Joshi, Business Head, ICB

Kunal brings with him an impressive leadership journey with senior roles at Hard Rock Cafe India, V&RO Hospitality, Sidecar India, and Krispy Kreme. From launching high-volume outlets to leading cross-functional teams and driving record-breaking revenues, he has consistently delivered results across formats and regions. During his tenure at Hard Rock Cafe India, he was instrumental in the post-pandemic revival of the brand, successfully launching five new outlets.

Gopichand, Founder, ICB added - “Kunal’s appointment comes at a time when ICB is entering a new phase of growth and experimentation. His deep understanding of operations and guest experiences, coupled with a proven track record in scaling hospitality brands makes him the ideal partner to help us realise our long-term vision. We are excited to have him on board.”

Kunal is an alumnus of IHM Goa with a Diploma in Hotel Management, holds a BA from Delhi University, and a Diploma in Business Management from IMT Ghaziabad.