Indian CEO dies in Dubai a day before Grammy-winning artistes perform at his company event

Rohit Walia, CEO of Alpen Capital, died at his home in Dubai. He died a day before the annual Global Fusion event.

Published on: Jan 26, 2026, 13:57:14 IST

By Shylaja Varma

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The Indian CEO of an investment banking advisory firm died at his home in Dubai earlier this month, a day before a musical event in the city that his company hosts annually.

Rohit Walia, CEO of Alpen Capital, died in Dubai on January 17. (@Alpen Capital/LinkedIn)

Rohit Walia, executive chairman and CEO of Alpen Capital, died at his home in the UAE on January 17, according to a Gulf News report. He was 65.

Several Grammy-winning artistes, including Indian-American vocalist and entrepreneur Chandrika Tandon, performed at Global Fusion, the event hosted by Walia's company. At the event, the performers and guests paid rich tributes to Walia who died a day earlier. Tandon is the elder sister of former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi.

“Global Fusion was his (Walia's) heart and soul. Being on stage, surrounded by musicians from across the world, felt like honouring his spirit through the very language he loved most: music,” said South African flautist Wouter Kellerman who is a three-time Grammy Award-winner, Gulf News reported.

(Also Read: Indra Nooyi’s sister wins her first Grammy at 71: All about Chandrika Tandon)

Alpen Capital mourns Rohit Walia, appoints interim CEO

Alpen Capital, which Walia founded in 2005 in Dubai, took to social media to announce Walia's death, and paid tributes to the company's founder. "With profound grief, we announce the untimely passing of Rohit Walia, our respected and beloved Executive Chairman and CEO," the company said on LinkedIn.

"An extraordinary banker, businessman, and above all, an exceptional human being, Rohit was a guiding force for all of us... Beyond his professional life, Rohit was a devoted and exceptional father, grandfather and a true family man, whose love, generosity, and values shaped not only his home but everyone fortunate enough to know him."

Following Rohit Walia's untimely death, Alpen Capital has appointed TM Lakshmanan as its interim CEO.

Walia's family organised a condolence meeting last week at Waldorf Astoria in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shylaja Varma
Shylaja Varma is the Trending Editor at Hindustan Times. Having worked in some of India’s top newsrooms, she has established herself as a keen observer of internet culture. Her work often bridges the gap between fast-paced digital developments and traditional reportage. From writing about the human toll of disasters and decoding the hottest memes to tracking what Elon Musk, Indian CEOs, billionaires and tech leaders are doing on social media, Shylaja’s editorial lens is defined by accuracy, speed and a deep understanding of the online landscape. She also writes stories about Indians abroad, the NRI life and struggles. She also has a keen eye for stories about Bengaluru and its startup and IT culture, having grown up in the Karnataka capital and seen its evolution. Prior to her current role, Shylaja spent several years at CNN-News18, NDTV and Moneycontrol, where she honed her skills in real-time news reporting and digital storytelling. She started her career in television news, reporting from Bengaluru and New Delhi. Shylaja built Moneycontrol’s Trends vertical and set up the team, turning it into a high-traffic destination. She also did video interviews for events like Startup Conclave and The Creator Economy Summit A microbiology graduate from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, she went on to complete a Master’s in Journalism and Audio-Visual Communication from COMMITS, Bengaluru.Read More

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