Tata Digital appoints Naveen Tahilyani as CEO, replacing Pratik Pal
ETtech
Synopsis
Naveen Tahilyani is currently the CEO and MD of Tata AIA Life Insurance. He will assume the CEO role at Tata Digital on February 19. Sources said he was handpicked by Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran after having demonstrated good execution in the insurance, banking and asset management business of the group.
By ETtech
Last Updated:
In a significant top-deck change, Tata Digital said it has appointed Naveen Tahilyani as chief executive officer and managing director of the Tata group's ecommerce unit, replacing Pratik Pal. Tahilyani, who is currently the CEO and MD of Tata AIA Life Insurance, will take over his new role on February 19.
Sources said Tahilyani was handpicked by Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran after having demonstrated good execution in the insurance, banking and asset management business of the group.
Pal, who launched the much-hyped superapp Tata Neu, will continue in Tata Digital to “ensure continuity and contribute with his wealth of experience” to the firm, according to a company statement. The company did not say what exactly Pal’s role would be. Insiders say Tata Digital chairman N Chandrasekaran had been dissatisfied with the overall state of the entity which houses the Tata Neu superapp.
Pal was part of the first team put together by TCS when Tata Digital was formed, and he played a crucial role in setting up the entity and the launch of the app. However, it had been lately felt that the entity lacked both organisational cohesion and the kind of scale-up that was essential for the next level of growth. Tahilyani is expected to bring in that executional expertise, sources said.
“Naveen brings in strong understanding of consumer domain and a very successful track record of leadership. I wish Naveen success in his new role,” Chandrasekaran said in a statement. “Pratik has been successfully leading the company since its inception and led Tata Group’s foray into digital commerce,” he added. Chandrasekaran is also on the Tata Digital board.
According to people aware of the matter, the CEO change was approved in a board meeting held in Mumbai on Tuesday. “This was in the making for some time. The insurance business has a new CEO in Venkatachalam H and Tahilyani is moving to steer Tata Digital,” a person briefed on the matter said.
Tata Digital did not have an ideal start with its superapp Neu, and the company has undergone consistent churn in its senior ranks, including a not-so-long stint by Mukesh Bansal – who joined the firm as president in June 2021. He left by the end of 2022. Several top ecommerce executives hired by Bansal have left the firm over the past year.
Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year, ET had reported in March that Neu had seen a muted start in its first year of operations. Neu contributed less than 10% of gross sales to Tata’s two biggest digital assets — egrocer BigBasket and epharmacy 1mg — since its launch, people briefed on the numbers had told ET.
The Tata Group is the title sponsor of the IPL. It has renewed the title rights for another five years.
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The move is seen as part of a larger plan to give momentum and executional heft to the digital ecommerce entity, officials close to the development said.Elevate Your Tech Prowess with High-Value Skill Courses
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Pal, who launched the much-hyped superapp Tata Neu, will continue in Tata Digital to “ensure continuity and contribute with his wealth of experience” to the firm, according to a company statement. The company did not say what exactly Pal’s role would be. Insiders say Tata Digital chairman N Chandrasekaran had been dissatisfied with the overall state of the entity which houses the Tata Neu superapp.
Pal was part of the first team put together by TCS when Tata Digital was formed, and he played a crucial role in setting up the entity and the launch of the app. However, it had been lately felt that the entity lacked both organisational cohesion and the kind of scale-up that was essential for the next level of growth. Tahilyani is expected to bring in that executional expertise, sources said.
“Naveen brings in strong understanding of consumer domain and a very successful track record of leadership. I wish Naveen success in his new role,” Chandrasekaran said in a statement. “Pratik has been successfully leading the company since its inception and led Tata Group’s foray into digital commerce,” he added. Chandrasekaran is also on the Tata Digital board.
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According to people aware of the matter, the CEO change was approved in a board meeting held in Mumbai on Tuesday. “This was in the making for some time. The insurance business has a new CEO in Venkatachalam H and Tahilyani is moving to steer Tata Digital,” a person briefed on the matter said.
Tata Digital did not have an ideal start with its superapp Neu, and the company has undergone consistent churn in its senior ranks, including a not-so-long stint by Mukesh Bansal – who joined the firm as president in June 2021. He left by the end of 2022. Several top ecommerce executives hired by Bansal have left the firm over the past year.
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Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year, ET had reported in March that Neu had seen a muted start in its first year of operations. Neu contributed less than 10% of gross sales to Tata’s two biggest digital assets — egrocer BigBasket and epharmacy 1mg — since its launch, people briefed on the numbers had told ET.
The Tata Group is the title sponsor of the IPL. It has renewed the title rights for another five years.
ADVERTISEMENT
