Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. has outlined its leadership transition plan for Pantaloons, appointing Dr. Suraj Bahirwani as CEO Designate. The company’s board, at its meeting on March 24, 2026, approved the appointment of Suraj Bahirwani as CEO Designate for Pantaloons and senior managerial personnel with effect from April 1, 2026. He will take over as CEO of Pantaloons and senior managerial personnel from October 1, 2026.
Bahirwani brings over two decades of experience within the Aditya Birla Group, with roles spanning strategy, retail operations, and global sales. Most recently, he served as Head of Global Sales at Cellulosic Fibres. He joined as a Group Management Trainee in 2002 and has since held key leadership roles, including at Aditya Birla Retail and as COO of Pantaloons.
Sangeeta Pendurkar Tanwani will continue as CEO–Pantaloons through September 30, 2026, overseeing the handover. From October 1 until her retirement on January 31, 2027, she will serve as an advisor to the Managing Director on strategic matters. She will formally cease to be a whole-time director and key managerial personnel at the close of business on January 31, 2027.
The board also named Marco Agnolin as CEO of OWND!, ABFRL’s fast-growing Gen Z-focused retail format, with effect from April 1, 2026. OWND! is inspired by youth culture, with a core mission to empower young people to own every moment with their unmistakable charisma.
On the finance side, Nikhil Modha has been appointed CFO (Designate) from April 1, 2026, and will assume the full CFO and key managerial personnel role from January 1, 2027. Current CFO Jagdish Bajaj will oversee the transition until his retirement on December 31, 2026.
