Darshan Mehta, former MD & CEO of India's Reliance Brands, passes away

Mehta joined RBL at its inception in 2007 and led the company as managing director and CEO for 17 years. Under his leadership, Reliance Brands brought over 90 international fashion and lifestyle labels to the Indian market, including renowned names such as Giorgio Armani, Bottega Veneta, Jimmy Choo, Versace, Valentino, Coach, Zegna, and Pottery Barn. He was also instrumental in RBL’s investment in prominent Indian designers such as Manish Malhotra, Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla, Rahul Mishra, Anamika Khanna, and Abraham & Thakore.

Mehta also played a key role in the launch of Jio World Drive and Jio World Plaza at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex. The latter, spanning over 750,000 square feet, is currently India's largest luxury shopping destination, home to global luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, Cartier, and Burberry.

In late 2024, Mehta stepped down from his executive responsibilities, taking on a non-executive director role on RBL’s board while continuing to mentor teams across the Reliance ecosystem.

“An untimely farewell to our beloved Mr. Mehta—a father figure, a guiding light, and an irreplaceable mentor to our entire team. His presence shaped us, and his absence leaves a space that can never truly be filled,” Indian fashion designer Rahul Mishra said in a social media post.

“He [Mehta] was a mentor, advisor, and strategist to the retail, fashion & design industry. The retail king of India…his contribution leaves a lasting imprint. We at the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) are deeply saddened by the loss of this icon who was our constant force of inspiration and support,” FDCI said in a post on Instagram.

Before joining Reliance, Mehta was CEO of Arvind Brands Ltd between 2001 and 2007, where he played a crucial role in bringing global sportswear brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Gant, and Nautica to India. Earlier in his career, he worked at Price Waterhouse in Mumbai and later held senior leadership roles within the Lalbhai Group, including a tenure at Grey Advertising, now part of the WPP Group.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)