Ralph Lauren has recently shut down its liaison office in India and given responsibility of its sourcing operations to the New Times Group. As of now most of the staff of Ralph Lauren has shifted to New Times Group though few top-level and some middle-level professionals have decided to join elsewhere or are looking for new opportunities. Currently, New Times Group is operating from the same premises of Ralph Lauren but things may change in near future as various opinions are coming in regarding the future course of action. According to some insiders, familiar with the entire issue, for the next six months there will be no change to facilitate smooth transit and New Times Group will only keep a close watch on the situation, after which a decision about the staff and functioning of the Ralph Lauren account will be taken. Nataraj Sankaran, Ex-VP & MD of Ralph Lauren who served there for 7 years, has started his own business firm Vétement Consultant. He was like a pillar in the opening of the liaison office of Ralph Lauren in Bangalore in 2010 and managed a team of 70 people. According to industry sources, even Rajani Arora, former Senior Director, Ralph Lauren, has decided not to join New Times Group, but it could not be confirmed.
In the meanwhile, Vikram Dhillon, who was Director with Ralph Lauren and worked with the company for 5 years, has joined New Times Group at same position and will take care of the account as he was doing earlier.
“We are hearing of reshuffling of staff between both the companies from the last few months. We are sceptical as it can affect our business too, after all New Times Group has offices across the world and must be planning some strategy to carry the business forward,” said a Gurgaon based company, working with Ralph Lauren for many years. Ralph Lauren is currently sourcing US $ 200 million worth of products annually from India.
“As far as I have heard from seniors, Ralph Lauren tried to show its investors that the company is doing cost cutting and reducing its head count but in-fact its overheads were never less. There are some retrenchments too,” says one middle-level staffer of Ralph Lauren. However, officials of New Times Group denied that there is any retrenchment or that there will be any in the future. “Those who have left have done so on their own; but Ralph Lauren will continue increasing its sourcing,” says a senior person of New Times Group, who didn’t want to be quoted. A senior person from Ralph Lauren informed Apparel Online that whoever has quitted, have been paid well and jobs were being offered to all by the New Times Group.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
