Metro Brands Limited has announced the appointment of Ariff Bham as Assistant Vice President – Business Head, Sports Division, as the company steps up its efforts to strengthen its presence in India’s rapidly expanding performance, sneaker, and athleisure retail segment.
Bham joins Metro Brands from Reliance Brands Limited, where he served as Senior General Manager and contributed to shaping the India identity of several international lifestyle and premium labels. Before his tenure at Reliance, he played an instrumental role in the launch and scaling of brands such as Brooks Brothers, Salvatore Ferragamo, Thomas Pink, Villeroy & Boch, Pottery Barn, and West Elm across India.
In his new role, Bham is tasked with building a robust sports retail ecosystem for Metro Brands — focusing on differentiated assortments, elevated yet locally resonant store experiences, and cultivating city-based communities centred around movement, fashion, and performance. He has stated that his objective is to create a retail environment where “global energy meets Indian scale.”
As of Q2 FY ’26, Metro Brands operates a network of over 950 stores across more than 200 cities, with a market capitalisation of approximately Rs. 30,607 crore (US $ 3.45 billion). The company’s portfolio includes in-house brands such as Metro, Mochi, and Walkway, alongside long-term strategic partnerships and exclusive retail formats for international names like Crocs, Clarks, FitFlop, Skechers, and Fila.
In the past year, Metro Brands introduced the Foot Locker concept in India in collaboration with Nykaa Fashion, and recently launched MetroActiv, a multi-brand athletic retail destination featuring leading global sportswear brands such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, ASICS, Skechers, New Balance, FILA, and New Era in an immersive, experience-first setting.
