Darshan Mehta, man behind building Reliance Brands, passes away at 63

Mehta was also behind the acquisition of the London-based toy chain Hamleys Global Holdings in 2019, for more than Rs 600 crore

Darshan Mehta, the man behind building Reliance Brands — the company under Reliance Industries that houses its luxury brands in the country — passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 63 after suffering a sudden heart attack.

 

Mehta, who was a consistent mid-distance runner and an avid Himalayan trekker, is known for bringing some of the biggest names in global retail to the Indian market, including Valentino, Balenciaga, Tiffany & Co., Ermenegildo Zegna, Giorgio Armani, Bottega Veneta, Jimmy Choo, Burberry, and Pottery Barn, among others.

 

Apart from introducing several well-known international brands to the Indian market, the company also invested in many Indian designers, including Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla (Abu Sandeep), Manish Malhotra, Rahul Mishra, Anamika Khanna, and Abraham & Thakore, among others.

 

He joined the company in 2007 when Reliance Brands was being formed, and during his 17-year stint, he not only helped establish the company but also built it into the largest player in the premium to luxury fashion and lifestyle space in India. He also launched Reliance group’s two retail centres in Mumbai — Jio World Drive and Jio World Plaza — both located at Bandra Kurla Complex.

 

Jio World Plaza is India’s largest luxury shopping destination, spread over 750,000 square feet, and houses brands like Bvlgari, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Valentino, Manish Malhotra, Abu Sandeep, and Pottery Barn, among others.

 

Mehta was also behind the acquisition of the London-based toy chain Hamleys Global Holdings in 2019, in a deal valued at over ₹600 crore.

 

“Darshan was a visionary leader who played a defining role in shaping India’s luxury and lifestyle retail sector. With a career spanning over three decades, including impactful leadership roles at Arvind Brands, Trikaya Grey, and Reliance, he introduced global brands to Indian consumers and helped elevate the industry to new heights,” Kumar Rajagopalan, chief executive officer (CEO) at the Retailers Association of India, said.

 

In November last year, he resigned as managing director at Reliance Brands and took on the position of non-executive director on the company’s board. He also assumed a mentoring role within the Reliance group.

 

A chartered accountant by profession, Mehta began his career with PwC India. He later spent over two decades with the Lalbhai group, where he held leadership positions at Grey Advertising (then part of the Lalbhai group before being acquired by WPP), Anagram Stockbroking, and eventually served as CEO of Arvind Brands, where he built a portfolio of international fashion partnerships out of mainstream licensed brands.