5 Key Leadership Appointments across Indian Firms in March 2026
When discussing leadership, we frequently reference Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, a visionary leader often referred to as the ‘People's President,’ who merged extensive scientific knowledge with profound humility and integrity. As a leader, he concentrated on motivating youth, encouraging innovation, accepting responsibility for setbacks, and enabling his team to reach ambitious objectives, such as those in India's missile programs.
Similarly, in this age of technology, leadership involves steering organizations through ongoing digital transformation by integrating technological expertise with human-centric competencies. It demands the adaptability to navigate swift changes, cultivating an innovative culture, and leveraging data-driven insights for decision-making while emphasizing empathy and support for hybrid teams.
Now, let’s explore the significant leadership appointments that have occurred across the India Inc during March 2026.
Keventers Names Shaurya Prabhat as CEO
Keventers, a well-known milkshake brand with a rich history spanning over a century, is pleased to announce the appointment of Shaurya Prabhat as its new Chief Executive Officer. Having been with the company for eight years, Shaurya succeeds Agastya Dalmia, who successfully revived the brand's appeal among today's consumers.
Shaurya joined Keventers in 2017 to oversee business growth, a period in which the company heavily relied on franchise operations. Over time, Shaurya took on additional responsibilities in strategy, marketing, operations, human resources, and overall business enhancement, significantly shaping the brand's strategic direction from its headquarters in New Delhi. Prior to his time at Keventers, Shaurya worked at The Smart Cube (now part of WNS Global Services), offering consultancy services to prominent multinational corporations in various sectors like retail, finance, pharmaceuticals, and energy.
As the Chief Executive Officer, Shaurya has set forth multiple key objectives for the near future, including plans to open 70 new outlets within the next year, expand the business significantly within three years, and further double its size by the fifth year.
The company is also exploring growth opportunities beyond its primary outlet business, considering ventures into retail, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), quick commerce, and institutional sales. This initiative corresponds with the company's overarching "House of Brands" strategy, focused on creating a diverse portfolio of food and beverage products tailored to the preferences of contemporary Indian consumers. To ensure relevance while preserving its traditional appeal, the brand is expanding its menu to include trendy offerings like waffles, boba tea, and cheesecake ice creams.
Adobe Names Shamik Basu as VP of its Creative Products Group
Adobe has appointed Shamik Basu as the Vice President of its Creative Products Group in India, as the company focuses on expanding AI-driven creative technologies from the region.
Based in Noida, Basu will oversee the engineering and product management teams at Adobe India, working closely with global leadership on key product lines.
He will report to Ely Greenfield and join the company's India leadership team, with a mandate to drive innovation and execution across its creative portfolio.
This role places Basu at the forefront of Adobe's efforts to advance products such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, and its generative AI platform Firefly, which are crucial to the company's push into AI-driven creativity and productivity solutions.
India, with a workforce of over 8,000 employees in multiple campuses, is now Adobe's second-largest employee base worldwide and plays a vital role in its innovation pipeline, especially in emerging areas like generative AI and digital content development. This move underscores Adobe's ongoing dedication to strengthening local leadership and expanding its AI-native platforms, underscoring India's significance in shaping its global product strategy.
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Cadence Names Dr. Alok Jain as Managing Director for India
Cadence has announced the appointment of Dr. Alok Jain as the Managing Director for its division in India to oversee the strategic expansion in the region, focusing on improving operations, driving innovative initiatives, and fostering partnerships with the Indian government, educational institutions, and businesses to advance the semiconductor industry in the country.
With over thirty years of industry experience and expertise, Dr. Alok joined Cadence India in 1997 and currently serves as the vice president of the System Verification Group (SDA), where he has collaborated with the executive team to shape the growth and direction of Cadence's Noida site, leading teams in delivering cutting-edge solutions for global clients, showcasing his strong leadership skills and dedication to technological advancement.
Dr. Alok, a prolific author with more than 30 published technical papers, is credited with holding 10 patents in formal and functional verification. India plays a vital role in Cadence's operations, accounting for over 30 percent of its global workforce, with teams engaged in crucial research and development activities as well as product innovation.
Cadence has consistently been recognized among the top 100 companies in the "India's Best Companies to Work For" survey by the respected Great Place to Work (GPTW) Institute, and since its establishment in 1987, has been instrumental in shaping India's semiconductor industry as a founding member of the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA).
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Furthermore, Cadence has established partnerships with prestigious institutions including MeitY, AICTE, IITs, and various colleges and universities to foster a skilled workforce in chip design, underscoring its commitment to driving innovation and growth in the semiconductor sector.
Vinay Tonse Joins YES BANK as Managing Director & CEO
YES BANK has formally announced that Vinay Muralidhar Tonse will assume the role of Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer-Designate following approval from the Reserve Bank of India. The duration of Vinay's appointment is set for three years, with his tenure as MD & CEO slated to begin on April 6, 2026, succeeding the current incumbent, Prashant Kumar.
Vinay boasts a wealth of experience in the banking sector spanning over 35 years, holding various leadership roles in treasury, retail banking, corporate banking, international operations, and asset management. He graduated with a Commerce degree from St. Joseph’s College of Commerce Bengaluru and furthered his education by obtaining a Master’s degree in Commerce from Bangalore University.
Vinay embarked on his professional career at State Bank of India, where in his most recent capacity as Managing Director, he oversaw the bank's retail operations and effectively managed a substantial retail book valued at around $ 800 billion, positioning it as the largest in the country.
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During his tenure, Vinay played a pivotal role in expanding SBI's customer base and solidifying its financial standing. His extensive global experience includes a two-year assignment in Singapore and four years overseeing SBI's overseas operations in Osaka, Japan.
Prior to this, he served as Managing Director & CEO at SBI Mutual Fund, where he successfully grew assets under management from Rs.4.32 trillion to Rs.7.32 trillion between August 2020 and December 2022.
Vinay will succeed Prashant Kumar, who served as Managing Director & CEO at YES BANK starting in March 2020 and played a crucial role in stabilizing and enhancing the bank's operations during a critical period.
VinFast Appoints Anurag Saxena as Deputy CEO for India
VinFast has appointed Anurag Saxena as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer for India, bolstering its executive team amidst the company's expansion in the rapidly growing automotive market in the area.
With over two decades of experience in the automotive sector, Saxena brings a wealth of knowledge to VinFast, having spent nearly 23 years at Honda in various leadership roles.
His most recent role at Honda as the Operating Officer, from April 2024 to February 2026, provided Saxena with valuable insights into operations and business functions during his extensive tenure with the company.
Beginning his professional career at Cosmo Ferrites in international sales, Saxena transitioned to the automotive industry at Honda, showcasing an impressive background that aligns with VinFast's goal of strengthening its leadership and operational capabilities in India and supporting its global strategy for electric mobility expansion.