Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) has unveiled a series of senior leadership changes as part of a broader succession plan, appointing new heads across its finance function, flagship retail chain and youth-focused brand.
The most significant appointment is that of Nikhil Modha as the company’s next Chief Financial Officer. He is set to join as CFO-designate on 1st April 2026 and will assume full responsibilities from 1st January 2027. Incumbent CFO Jagdish Bajaj will continue in the role until the end of the year, overseeing a structured transition before his retirement.
In a parallel move, Suraj Bahirwani has been appointed as the next Chief Executive Officer of Pantaloons, ABFRL’s largest retail format with over 1,100 stores nationwide. He will join as CEO-designate on 1st April 2026 and work alongside current CEO Sangeeta Tanwani, who is scheduled to step down on 30th September 2026, with Bahirwani formally taking charge from 1st October 2026.
The company has also named Italian executive Marco Agnolin as Chief Executive Officer of OWND!, its recently launched Gen Z-focused fashion brand, with effect from 6th April 2026. Introduced in September 2025, OWND! forms part of ABFRL’s strategic expansion into the value fashion segment and is expected to scale to 100 stores.
ABFRL stated that the appointments were part of a structured succession and transition plan aimed at ensuring leadership continuity.
The leadership reshuffle comes at a critical juncture for the company following the recent demerger of its lifestyle brands into a separate listed entity, Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands. In the post-demerger phase, ABFRL has outlined ambitious plans to triple its revenues and double profitability over the next five years, with Pantaloons, ethnic wear and digital-first brands identified as key growth drivers.
