Inditex managing director for India departs

Inditex renews its corporate team in India as managing director Sanjay Rao leaves the role. The Spanish company said deputy managing director Ashish Dash will serve as interim head of the Indian business.

According to Business Standard, the fashion retailer was reportedly unhappy with Rao’s real estate decisions. The previous managing director spent seven years at the helm of the since joining the company to oversee its launch in the Indian market in 2010.

The rumours of Inditex being unhappy with recent real estate deals were not be confirmed.

The Spanish retail giant signed a joint venture agreement with Trent Limited, a Tata Group company in 2009 to develop its brands in India.

In 2016, the Indian unit saw sales increase by 17% to 8.4 billion rupees ($130 million), one if its weakest results since it launched in the country.

Following his departure from Inditex, Sanjay Rao will join Guess Europe. The Inditex veteran is expected to take over for Guess as a country manager in Europe.

Rao confirmed his appointment to Business Standard and said he took the decision to leave Inditex after being offered an exciting international role at Guess. He is not the first Inditex executive to join the American denim brand. Victor Herrero, who served as the head of Asia Pacific for Inditex Group for more than 10 years, joined the label as CEO in 2015.

2017 is expected to be a key year for Inditex’s Indian arm. The group is planning to launch in the next months its first online store in the country and is set to open a new Zara flagship store in Bombay. The 4,645 sq mt store is expected to become India’s largest international high street store.

Inditex managing director for India departs

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