Puma has announced the appointment of Karthik Balagopalan as the new Managing Director for its India operations. Balagopalan, who is 42 years old, will take over from Abhishek Ganguly, who has been at the helm of Puma India since 2014. Ganguly is set to leave the company to pursue other opportunities and his departure will take effect on August 1st ‘ 23. Balagopalan is a seasoned business leader with over 18 years of experience in the retail and consumer goods sectors. He has previously held senior positions at companies like the Tata Group and Reliance Retail. His most recent role was as the CEO of W for Woman; a leading women’s fashion brand in India.
Karthik Balgopalan Puma India Managing Director
In his new role, Balagopalan will drive Puma’s growth and expand its market share in India, one of the company’s key markets in the Asia – Pacific region. He will also lead Puma’s efforts to strengthen its brand presence and engage with consumers through innovative marketing campaigns and partnerships.
Commenting on his appointment, Balagopalan said “I am excited to join Puma India when the company is poised for strong growth in the country. Puma has a strong brand legacy and a wide range of innovative and high-quality products that resonate well with Indian consumers. I look forward to working with the talented team at Puma India to build on this foundation and take the business to new heights.”
Puma’s outgoing Managing Director, Abhishek Ganguly, expressed confidence in Balagopalan’s ability to lead the company in India. He said “Karthik has a deep understanding of the Indian market and a proven track record of driving growth and profitability in the retail and consumer goods sectors. I am confident that under his leadership; Puma India will continue to grow and achieve new milestones.”
Puma is a leading global sports brand with a presence in over 120 countries. In India, the company operates through a network of more than 370 stores and sells its products online through its website and e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart. With the appointment of Karthik Balagopalan, Puma is well-positioned to leverage the growth opportunities in the Indian market and strengthen its position as a top player in the sports apparel and footwear industry.