Catalyst Brands Business Services (CBBS), the global capability centre of Catalyst Brands, today announced the appointment of Nihar Nidhi as its new Managing Director. In his role, Nihar will lead the Bengaluru-based centre, which supports Catalyst Brands’ portfolio of six iconic American retail brands—JCPenney, Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, and Nautica.

Nihar joins Catalyst Brands with over 30 years of cross-industry experience spanning hospitality, telecommunications, and financial services. He will be responsible for shaping enterprise, brand, and functional strategies, strengthening operational capabilities, and enhancing CBBS’s role as a cornerstone of Catalyst’s global growth agenda.

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“We’re delighted to welcome Nihar to Catalyst Brands,” says Kevin Harper, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Catalyst Brands.

“I’m excited to join Catalyst Brands at such a defining moment. The opportunity to shape the next phase of growth, build on a strong foundation of talent, and create an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive is truly energising”, says Nihar Nidhi, Managing Director, Catalyst Brands Business Services.

“I look forward to working closely with our teams in India and the U.S. to deliver on our shared vision”, adds Nihar.

 

Kevin adds, “His extensive leadership experience, coupled with his passion for people and culture, will be pivotal as we continue to scale smarter, move faster, and build a truly world-class capability centre in India. Nihar’s leadership will help us deliver even greater value across our global ecosystem”.

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Before joining Catalyst Brands, Nihar spent more than two decades at JPMorgan Chase, where he held several key leadership roles, including Managing Director for Consumer and Community Banking Operations and Chief Executive Officer of JPMorgan Chase’s Global Capability Centre in the Philippines. In these roles, he led large-scale transformation initiatives, championed service excellence, and built high-performing, inclusive teams rooted in innovation and client focus.

A graduate in Hospitality Management, Nihar’s career also includes leadership roles at Sterling Holiday Resorts, Reliance Telecommunications, FIS, and Tech Mahindra. Known for his ability to drive transformation through empathy and clarity, he is a strong advocate for community engagement and talent development.

Catalyst Brands Business Services currently operates from Manyata Tech Park in Bengaluru, with over 800 associates supporting functions across Information Technology, Digital and eCommerce, Supply Chain, Finance, Merchandising, Marketing, and Data and Analytics.

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Catalyst Brands ignites America’s most beloved retail brands to make fashion accessible to all. The portfolio includes legendary department store JCPenney, as well as iconic specialty retail brands Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, and Nautica.

Established in 2025 following the merger of JCPenney and the former SPARC Group, Catalyst Brands has a combined revenue of over $9 billion, a network of 1,800 stores, and a presence across e-commerce and wholesale channels across the U.S. and Canada, serving more than 60 million customers worldwide.