Rahul is a seasoned finance professional with 29 years of industry experience. He has spent 15 years in corporate banking with pedigree foreign institutions including Standard Chartered, Scotiabank, GE Capital. In his previous assignment, he was the President & Dy CFO for HDFC Ergo General Insurance. During his career, he has been in the CFO role for the last ~14 years, during which he has also worked with Max India Group and Bharti AXA General Insurance. He has handled large corporate accounts in the apparel and textile sector and has rich experience in fundraising, cash management, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, business structuring to unlock value, turning around businesses, business transfer, shareholder & joint venture management, and investor relations.

Rahul has hands-on experience in risk management, managing investment portfolios, financial planning and analysis, budgeting and forecasting, and improving productivity and operational processes. He also has vast experience in dealing with the board of directors and shareholders and has served on the board of multiple companies. Rahul holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

With a foundation in operations, finance, and strategy, Sagar Ballari has built a diverse career across manufacturing, investment banking, and consulting, shaping his expertise in corporate strategy and entrepreneurial business development. As Executive Director – New Business Initiatives at PDS Limited, he leads the incubation and scaling of new verticals aligned with the Group’s long-term growth vision.

Sagar began his career at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, contributing to key operational projects focused on improving efficiency and supply chain management. Following his MBA in Finance from the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi, he gained experience in investment banking and consulting before transitioning into home textiles manufacturing and eventually into the fashion and retail infrastructure space with PDS.

At PDS, Sagar plays a pivotal role in identifying market opportunities, developing commercial strategies, and supporting early-stage ventures as they integrate into the Group’s decentralized ecosystem. His work spans cross-border sourcing, brand partnerships, and the creation of scalable business models that strengthen the Group’s global platform.

An IIT Guwahati alumnus, Sagar’s cross-functional expertise in finance, deal execution, and growth strategy continues to drive innovation-led transformation across PDS’s new business initiatives.

Paul brings over four decades of in-depth expertise in both Retail and Manufacturing. He began his career in the UK garment manufacturing industry as a mechanical engineer, later moving into Production and Quality Management, where he oversaw manufacturing operations in Morocco and Portugal. In the retail sector, Paul has led teams in Sourcing, Social Compliance, Quality, and Sustainability for leading retailers such as Primark, ASDA, Matalan, and Dunelm. His experience spans Apparel, Health & Beauty, and General Merchandise, driving excellence across diverse product categories.

Shriram is Vice President of Strategy & Corporate Development, based in the Vice Chairman’s office in London. His focus is to identify & develop new business opportunities and drive strategic initiatives with customers. Prior to joining PDS, Shriram was the Finance PMO lead at Li & Fung in Hong Kong. With over 12+ years of experience in Audit, Consulting and Supply Chain, Shriram is an MBA from the Indian School of Business & a Chartered Accountant.

Ankur Agarwal is a seasoned venture capital leader with a sharp eye for value creation, operational excellence, and mission-driven innovation. As Head of VC Investments at PDS Ventures—the venture capital arm of PDS Limited, a global fashion infrastructure company listed on the Indian stock exchange—he spearheads the firm’s early- and growth-stage investment strategy, focusing on technologies and business models shaping the future of fashion, sustainability, circularity, and consumer innovation.

Part of the Founder and Executive Vice Chairman’s Office, Ankur plays a pivotal role in aligning PDS Limited’s long-term vision with its innovation and investment initiatives. He manages the $50M VC fund, overseeing deal sourcing, due diligence, portfolio management, and value creation. Under his management, PDS Ventures has built a diverse portfolio of 80+ investments across the globe, backing both emerging disruptors and category-defining startups.

With a background spanning corporate finance, private equity, M&A, and cross-border transactions, Ankur combines financial discipline with entrepreneurial insight—translating promising business models into scalable, sustainable outcomes. His pragmatic, data-informed approach ensures that PDS Ventures’ capital is not only catalytic but also resilient and results-driven.

Based in London, Ankur operates at the intersection of entrepreneurship, sustainability, and scalable innovation, driving PDS Ventures’ mission to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs building a more responsible and resilient fashion ecosystem.

Mr. Abhishekh Kanoi is a highly accomplished General Counsel and Company Secretary with over 18 years of experience navigating diverse industries and complex ecosystems across India and South Asia. A Fellow Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments, United Kingdom, he also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (Hons. in Accounts).
 
Abhishekh has held leadership positions at renowned organizations including PDS Limited, Hero Group, and Eros International, where he has consistently demonstrated excellence in strategic legal advisory, corporate governance, and business partnering. His expertise spans corporate legal affairs, regulatory and listing compliances (India and overseas), mergers & acquisitions, venture capital and cross-border transactions, intellectual property rights, and media & entertainment laws.
 
Over the course of his career, he has led numerous strategic initiatives, including M&A transactions, fundraising, regulatory compliance programs, corporate restructurings, board management, and legal strategy development. Known for his ability to design and implement robust governance frameworks, Abhishekh has been instrumental in developing and institutionalizing a global legal and governance framework that aligns the international expansion of his organization with centralized compliance and governance standards.
 
A trusted advisor to business leaders and boards, he is recognized for his balanced approach to risk, innovation, and collaboration—empowering teams through accountability and continuous upskilling. His leadership philosophy is rooted in integrity, foresight, and a commitment to building high-performing, resilient legal functions that enable sustainable business growth.
 
Abhishekh’s contributions have earned him industry recognition, including being adjudged General Counsels of the Year by Legal Era and Forbes India, Chief Compliance Innovator of the Year by UBS Forum and Policy and Regulatory Lawyer of the Year as well as Young Achiever of the Year by Legal Era.

Suresh is a Chartered Accountant from India with experience in Fashion, Retain, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Management Consultancy domains. He has a rich experience of over 30 years including international experience of over 17 years in the United Kingdom/UAE and Hongkong. In his previous assignment, he was Head of Internal Audit, Assurance and Risk Management at India based Future Group (one of the top retailers) and was leading the Function for over 10 years.

He focuses on GRC frameworks (Governance, Risk Management and Compliances). Help Design/improve integrated Internal Audit function, develop Internal Control frameworks, design policies, & help design Standard Operating Procedures. Develop enterprise risk mitigation strategies, optimize revenue, cut costs and enhance stakeholders value in a Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time (SMART) bound manner.

Nihar is a seasoned Procurement professional with over 26 years of experience in Fabric Sourcing & Apparel Merchandising working for US & European clients. Nihar also has wide experience in Textile Machinery, Apparel Manufacturing, Buying and Business Development.

Before joining PDS, he was working with Geniemode Global Pvt Ltd as Vice President (Fabric Sourcing) heading and managing their Fabric Vertical. He has previously also worked with Li & Fung (India), Triburg Consultants, TCNS & Sylvia apparel, and Voltas Ltd.

Nihar holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Garment Manufacturing Technology
(GMT) from National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT/Kolkata) and B.Tech in Textile Technology from Kolkata University.

Kanhai Trivedi is a seasoned procurement leader with over two decades of strategic experience in the apparel industry, specializing in global material sourcing and supply chain optimization. His career is distinguished by a proven track record in driving operational excellence, implementing cost-effective sourcing strategies, and enhancing procurement frameworks across international markets.

At PDS Limited, Kanhai spearheads the general procurement function, leveraging his deep expertise in planning, target costing, process improvement, and sustainable sourcing. He plays a pivotal role in developing global sourcing solutions for trims and accessories, ensuring competitive pricing while upholding environmental and ethical standards. His leadership has been instrumental in redefining sourcing best practices across the group’s diverse portfolio.

Prior to joining PDS, Kanhai served as Director at MUST Group in Hong Kong, where he led strategic initiatives in material procurement and supplier development across Asia. He holds a degree from the University of Mumbai and a diploma in computer programming and information technology, equipping him with a strong foundation in data-driven decision-making and digital transformation in procurement.

Mr. Mohit Sharma is a seasoned technology leader with over 24 years of global experience across Thailand, China, Geneva, the UK, and Europe. His expertise spans digital transformation, IT strategy, and enterprise-level Agile Operating Models. He has successfully led large-scale implementations of platforms such as Salesforce CRM, SAP, e-commerce solutions, and corporate websites, while establishing shared service centers and aligning IT initiatives with broader business objectives. Mohit has managed technology investments exceeding $50 million and led matrix teams comprising more than 200 IT professionals.

Prior to joining PDS Limited, he held key leadership positions at Bacardi, HT Media, and Kohler. In his most recent role as IT Director – UK & Europe, he spearheaded regional digitization efforts across go-to-market technologies, Industry 4.0, SAP rollouts, and enterprise data analytics.

Prakhar Srivastava leads the global people strategy at PDS, driving enterprise-wide HR transformation, leadership capability building, and process digitalization across regions. With over 17 years of experience across Consulting, Technology, BFSI, and Education sectors, he has led large-scale HR functions and organizational development initiatives. Prior to joining PDS, Prakhar held leadership roles at Toppr Technologies, Ernst & Young, HDFC Life, and Infosys. He holds an MBA in Human Resources, a Master’s in Business Law, and a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology.

With over 25 years’ experience in fashion manufacturing, sourcing, and investment ecosystem, Pallak Seth is a serial entrepreneur, who has built a leading entrepreneurial platform in fashion infrastructure. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from Northwestern University in Chicago, Pallak moved to Hong Kong, at the age of 21, and founded an apparel sourcing business with US $200,000 in initial capital and support from his father. Established in 1999, Norwest Industries made US $1 million in profit in its first year. Today the flagship company, PDS Limited is a US $2.7 billion global enterprise, being one of the largest consumer goods design, product development, sourcing, virtual manufacturing, and distribution organization in Asia. Pallak serves as the Vice Chairman of the PDS Group. PDS operates from a global network of 50+ offices in 22 countries across Europe, North America, Middle East, and Asia.

Instead of remaining as an apparel sourcing company, PDS today is a platform business and has transformed into being one of the most favoured designer-manufacturers for some of the world’s leading brands and retailers with a strong customer base part of FTSE 100, S&P500 and DAX30. Capitalizing on recent market trends, PDS has also developed several in-house proprietary brands, or undertaken collaborations with celebrities and influencers, along with licensing or acquiring its own brands.

Pallak is passionate about building a robust venture ecosystem with a focus on innovation, sustainability, technology and direct to consumer brands / digital brands. He believes in backing young, bright founders and giving them the benefit of the PDS Platform. This led to the formation of PDS Ventures which is a $50M investment fund with $20M deployed across 55+ start-ups and a few institutional funds. Pallak is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School, having completed the Executive Program (Ownership/President Management) from HBS.

Sanjay Jain is a dynamic professional with rich experience in the Retail, Consumer, Media & Entertainment industries. For over three decades, he has been instrumental in leading transformation across various industry-leading conglomerates.

As Group Chief Executive Officer, Sanjay Jain has been pivotal in steering the company’s growth trajectory and strengthening its position as a Global Supply Chain Solutions Partner to some of the world’s leading brands and retailers. His leadership has been instrumental in driving operational efficiency and strategic cost optimisation, across global operations, fostering collaboration, implementing best practices, achieving cost synergies, and leading the turnaround of key manufacturing businesses.

Prior to joining PDS, Sanjay was associated with the Future Group, which operated India’s largest chain of stores across various formats. Over his six-year tenure, he held several key leadership roles, including Chief Executive Officer of Future Retail Limited and Group Chief Financial Officer of Future Group.

He also held senior roles at Zee Group, Crompton Greaves and Eicher Group. Throughout his career, he has played a central role in global expansion initiatives – leading acquisitions and integrations across India, Indonesia, France, Belgium, Ireland, Canada, and the United States. He was a key member of the senior leadership teams responsible for integrating acquired companies (across North America, Europe & Asia) revitalizing them and steering them back onto a path of sustainable growth and profitability.

Sanjay has spearheaded fundraising initiatives of close to USD 5 billion from marquee strategic, private equity, and financial investors worldwide.​

He currently serves as the Chairperson of the Business Committee and a Board Member of the International Apparel Federation (IAF), a global body representing apparel manufacturers, SME brands, and allied industries.

He has been widely recognized for his leadership and contributions across diverse roles, including being honoured as ‘CEO of the Year’ by Business Leader of the Year (2022) and receiving multiple accolades as ‘Best CFO’ from prestigious institutions. Academically, he is a gold medalist from his graduation, holds a master’s degree in management, and is a Science graduate with an MBA in Finance. Additionally, Sanjay is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.

Alex Feng brings over a decade of diverse leadership experience across sourcing, manufacturing, and international supply chain operations. As Managing Director of PDS Asia Star, he has been instrumental in establishing and expanding the Group’s presence in China since 2013. Under his leadership, PDS Asia Star has grown into a significant contributor to the Group’s global platform, delivering innovative and sustainable product solutions to clients across Europe, the US, and emerging markets.

Alex has been at the forefront of scaling PDS’s China vertical. He has been responsible for building cross-border teams, driving operational excellence, and integrating cutting-edge technology intosourcing and manufacturing processes. With a keen focus on data-driven transformation, he is leading the evolution of the China business into an AI-powered, future-ready enterprise—enhancing agility and transparency across the supply chain.

His core strengths lie in strategic execution, market expansion, and sustainability-oriented growth. Aligned with the Group’s entrepreneurial model, Alex has fostered a high-performance culture rooted in innovation and autonomy. He continues to play a critical role in championing PDS’s ESG agenda and advancing partnerships with global fashion and retail clients through a value-centric approach.

Anuj Banaik joined Poeticgem in 1995 as General Manager, leading a small team of just five dedicated individuals. Together, they laid the foundation for what has grown into a design-driven apparel sourcing company, known for its innovative designs, premium craftsmanship, and commitment to ethical practices throughout the supply chain. Since being appointed Managing Director in April 2016, Anuj has continued to shape Poeticgem’s growth, expanding its portfolio of owned, licensed, and acquired brands and reinforcing its position as global collaborator in design and sourcing.

Demonstrating his commitment to continuous personal development and leadership excellence, Anuj recently graduated from Harvard Business School’s prestigious Executive Education OPM programme. A passionate, people-first leader, he champions Poeticgem’s culture of creativity, ethical sourcing, and collaborative innovation and is driving the company’s evolution into a vibrant, forward-thinking organisation powered by its people.

A visionary founder and entrepreneurial strategist, Sunny Malhotra established Simple Approach Ltd in 2005, transforming it from a boutique sourcing firm into one of PDS Group’s most dynamic verticals. His journey is rooted in building design-led, people-first organizations that fuse creativity with commercial excellence. With over 20 years of industry insight, Sunny has played a pivotal role in shaping PDS’s global footprint across fashion and lifestyle categories.

Simple Approach has become a multi-category powerhouse under Sunny’s guidance, offering curated solutions in woven, jersey, knitwear, lingerie, tailoring, and homeware. He has cultivated an expansive design network across the UK, Hong Kong, and South Asia, enabling the company to stay ahead of trends and consumer shifts in key global markets.

Driven by a philosophy that blends operational prudence with design innovation, Sunny has consistently delivered 20% year-on-year growth while ensuring financial resilience. His trusted leadership has been instrumental in building long-standing relationships with marquee clients such as Primark, Hanes, and Ralph Lauren—anchored in reliability, product excellence, and speed-to-market execution.

With a deep commitment to sustainability, Sunny has led major shifts towards eco-friendly sourcing, initiated recycling programs in Bangladesh, and championed the use of 3D sampling and virtual prototyping. He continues to pioneer new frontiers in digital product development and supply chain agility, aligned with the broader ESG goals of PDS Group.

Sunny’s ability to blend entrepreneurial independence with platform-scale thinking positions him as a key growth architect within PDS. His work is a benchmark for how decentralised leadership can power global impact while maintaining agility and innovation at the core.

Thomas Mueller is the Managing Director of Zamira Fashions, a core vertical within the PDS Group, where he leads global operations with a focus on design-led sourcing, sustainable product development, and strategic growth.

With over 30 years of experience in fashion sourcing, supply chain management, and product innovation, Thomas has been instrumental in transforming Zamira into a design-first, sustainability-driven sourcing platform serving leading global retailers and brands. Under his leadership, Zamira has strengthened its position as a premier specialist in denim and jeanswear, expanding its creative capabilities and embedding responsible practices throughout the value chain—from material sourcing to finished product delivery.

Thomas is known for his collaborative and empowering leadership style, aligned with the PDS Group’s entrepreneurial operating model, fostering autonomy, innovation, and accountability across diverse teams. He works closely with international clients to co-create market-responsive and ESG-aligned solutions, ensuring long-term value creation and strategic alignment across markets.

Before founding Zamira in 2007, Thomas built extensive international experience across Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Japan, and Hong Kong, managing sourcing, design, and execution across Europe and Asia. Since establishing the company, he has guided it through sustained growth and global expansion, driven by creativity, agility, and purpose.

As a member of the Executive Board at PDS Limited, Thomas continues to shape the Group’s future—combining on-ground operational excellence with forward-looking strategy to deliver impact across the global fashion value chain.

Safak Kipik is a dynamic leader with over 25 years of experience in design-led sourcing, sustainable supply chain strategy, and global fashion partnerships. As CEO of Spring Near East, a key vertical within the PDS Group, he has played an instrumental role in transforming the organization into a premier private-label partner for leading fashion and retail brands across Europe, Turkey, North Africa, and Central Asia.
Since joining the business at its inception in 2010, Safak has overseen the development of a robust sourcing and manufacturing ecosystem. Spring Near East operates with a vertically integrated model featuring a design studio in London, sourcing operations in Istanbul, and financial hubs in Hong Kong and Dubai. Under his leadership, the company has successfully delivered across multiple categories including womenswear, menswear, kidswear, footwear, and accessories.
Safak has been a strong advocate for ethical and sustainable practices across the supply chain. He has championed initiatives around responsible sourcing, supplier compliance, and gender equity, including long-standing support for women’s empowerment programs within the industry. His approach blends strategic foresight with operational precision, making Spring Near East a trusted, agile partner for clients seeking fast turnaround, quality, and accountability.

Rajnish Kapoor is a seasoned leader with over three decades of experience in the global apparel industry, he founded Krayons Sourcing in 2010 under the PDS umbrella. What started as a modest organization with just four employees has since grown exponentially to a thriving team of 100 dedicated professionals.

Under Rajnish’s visionary leadership, Krayons has evolved into a premier sourcing solutions company, celebrated for its innovative approach to fabrics, sustainability, global sourcing, and design. Always at the forefront of industry trends, Rajnish has redefined the art of sourcing by seamlessly integrating creativity with practicality, ensuring Krayons stays ahead in delivering excellence.

Further cementing his legacy, Rajnish completed the prestigious Owner/President Management (OPM) Program at Harvard Business School, specializing in overall business strategy. This unique combination of industry expertise, strategic insight, and a commitment to innovation has made Rajnish a true trailblazer in the global fashion sourcing landscape.

Rajive Ranjan brings over 20 years of strategic experience in design-led sourcing, supply chain leadership, and international textile partnerships. As Managing Director of Techno Design GmbH, Rajive has been pivotal in establishing and scaling PDS’s European sourcing operations, with a focus on delivering textile solutions for major fashion brands across Germany and broader Europe.

Since stepping into his current role, Rajive has driven operational excellence by aligning Mumbai- and Istanbul-based supply chains with European quality norms, ensuring faster lead-times and enhanced product reliability. His leadership spans technical sourcing, production planning, vendor compliance, and quality assurance—creating a seamless bridge between end clients and factories.

Rajive’s deep understanding of European retail dynamics and close collaboration with marquee clients like s.Oliver has enabled Techno Design to become a trusted partner for private-label production and seasonal collections. He is known for his meticulous approach to partner engagement, contract negotiation, and strategic sourcing execution.

A collaborative steward of PDS’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Rajive empowers a multi-cultural team in Germany to blend local responsiveness with global standards. He endorses autonomous leadership while integrating feedback loops across finance, compliance, and sustainability functions within the platform.

As an Executive Board Member at PDS Limited, Rajive continues to shape the Group’s mission of delivering high-quality, ethically sourced fashion products through scalable and decentralized verticals, driving both performance and innovation across markets.

Paul brings over four decades of in-depth expertise in both Retail and Manufacturing. He began his career in the UK garment manufacturing industry as a mechanical engineer, later moving into Production and Quality Management, where he oversaw manufacturing operations in Morocco and Portugal. In the retail sector, Paul has led teams in Sourcing, Social Compliance, Quality, and Sustainability for leading retailers such as Primark, ASDA, Matalan, and Dunelm. His experience spans Apparel, Health & Beauty, and General Merchandise, driving excellence across diverse product categories.

Rajeev is a dynamic leader with over 27 years of experience driving transformation across global organizations such as VF Corporation, Landmark Group, United Colors of Benetton, and Metro (Germany).
Renowned for his strategic vision and people-centric leadership, Rajeev has consistently led cross-functional teams, navigated complex international environments, and championed impactful CSR and supply chain initiatives.

His ability to inspire, mentor, and mobilize diverse teams has been central to his success in implementing large-scale social compliance programs and aligning business objectives with sustainable practices. Rajeev’s leadership is defined by a strong commitment to ethical standards, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Leadership Credentials & Certifications:

Julia is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in the apparel industry, having worked with retailers such as M&S, Tesco, and Boden. She holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Textiles and Clothing Production Management and began her career in Garment Technology. She later went on to establish an Ethical Trade department within the business and successfully completed certification courses in auditing and social systems, while also managing ETI membership requirements and reporting.

Julia has travelled extensively, leading capacity-building and production efficiency projects, and has played a direct role in improving working conditions within homeworking supply chains. She joined PDS in 2020, supporting multiple business verticals that supply UK high street retailers, and in 2023, she transitioned to lead compliance for the Ted Baker brand.

Buddhi is a highly accomplished professional with a strong background in digitalization, innovation, sustainability, and corporate strategy. With extensive experience in driving digital initiatives and fostering sustainable processes, Buddhi has played key leadership roles in renowned companies.

Prior to his role as Director Sustainability & Innovation for PDS Limited, he was the Chief Innovation Officer for the companies Sri Lankan subsidiary – Norlanka. He has also operated as the Head of Innovations & Director – Group Strategy, Technology & Innovations at Hela Clothing (Hela Apparel Holdings). Buddhi has held managerial positions at MAS Holdings earlier in his career. He has over 12+ years of experience within the industry and possesses extensive knowledge in Product & Process Innovation, Corporate Strategy and Lean Manufacturing.

Buddhi holds a BSc (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Robotics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, USA. Furthermore, he is an associate member of IESL (Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka) and a certified practitioner of Lean Manufacturing.