Executive movements in India's apparel industry

The year 2010 has heralded in several top level executive

movements in the Indian apparel industry. Nitin Chhabra, till recently Senior Vice President at Reliance Brands, has quit the company to join Reid & Taylor as Business Head. Chhabra, had joined Arvind Brands in 2000 and in 2007, he quit as the Vice President Sales to join Darshan Mehta at Reliance Brands. Chhabra is the second senior manager to have left Reliance Brands for the S Kumars Nationwide Limited group (SKNL). Earlier, Pradeep Mukhim had left to join SKNL as CEO Total Wardrobe Solutions. SKNL is one of India’s leading textile and apparel house with brands like Reid & Taylor, Belmonte, S Kumars. They also are the licensed sellers of UK’s well known lifestyle brand, Stephens Brothers in India.
Men’s apparel brand Allen Solly from Madura Garments, India’s largest apparel maker, too saw some movement with Simon Smith, Retail Director putting in his papers after about 1.5 years with the company. He is moving to Europe as the CEO of Marks & Spencer, Prague. Earlier he had served as CEO, Marks & Spencer, Turkey. Madura is yet to name his successor.
Meanwhile, Lalit Gulati has taken over as the President of the 500-member strong Apparel Exporters and Manufactures Association (AEMA) for the year 2009-10. He was elected unanimously at AEMA’s 12th annual general meeting recently. Gulati takes over from Praveen Nayyar who was AEMA`s earlier President. Gulati is the founder Chairman of Modelama Exports Limited, the country’s leading manufacturer and exporter of readymade garments.