Birlas get expat retail head
The Aditya Birla group has roped in former Carrefour executive Razal Barman to head the hypermarket (discount stores) business, reports Sabarinath M.
The Aditya Birla group has roped in former Carrefour executive Razal Barman to head the hypermarket (discount stores) business.
Barman, who was with a state-run Chinese retail giant after his long stint with Carrefour, is expected to take charge shortly, according to retail industry sources.
Sources said that Barman, the latest to join the ranks of expats who are now moving to Indian retail companies, will be responsible for launching the hypermarket operations.
The Birla group's retail venture, headed by Sumant Sinha, is forming an independent team for the hypermarket operations.
More than 100 executives have already joined, which include the heads for various sections. After making the first round of top-level recruitment from Shoppers' Stop, the Birlas are now hiring people from various rival retail chains.
Darshan Mistry has recently joined the company as vice-president (projects) from Lee Copper International. Another senior executive is tipped to join from retail chain Planet M Vijay Kashyap was the first to join from Shoppers' Stop.
Industry sources said that the Birla's retail venture is now filling up middle-level vacancies.
"Specialists like merchandisers and designers are being hired. More executives are joining from companies like Shoppers' Stop," said an industry source.
The Aditya Birla group has set the ball rolling for the retail play through the takeover of Andhra Pradesh-based Trinethra Super Retail Ltd, which runs a chain of over 100 food and grocery stores in South India.
Retail chains like Reliance Retail, Pantaloon Retail (India) have already recruited many expats. Indians, who had spent long years in the global retail industry, are also making a beeline to participate in the booming retail sector.
