Darshan Mehta

SUMMARY

Darshan Mehta, Former President & Chief Executive, Reliance Brands, was a pioneering figure in India’s luxury and premium retail sector. With a background as a chartered accountant and early experience in advertising and branding, Mehta played a key role in bringing global luxury fashion brands to the Indian market and in expanding the Reliance footprint in domestic and premium lifestyle retail. His leadership helped transform India’s luxury retail landscape and nurture both international brand partnerships as well as home‑grown Indian designer labels.

BIOGRAPHY

Darshan Mehta was born in India and trained as a chartered accountant, having completed his articleship with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Mumbai in 1984. This strong financial foundation laid the groundwork for his subsequent business leadership roles in retail and fashion.

Darshan Mehta

He served as Chief Financial Officer at Trikaya Grey Advertising (later acquired by WPP) and subsequently moved into retail. Darshan Mehta’s early experience gave him exposure tobrand building, licensing, and consumer trends, within India’s evolving economy. Before his association with Reliance, Mehta led Arvind Brands Limited as President (and earlier CEO roles), where he was responsible for introducing international sportswear and lifestyle brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Gant and Nautica to the Indian market in the early 2000s.

In 2007 Mehta joined Reliance Industries to set up Reliance Brands Limited, becoming its first employee, president and chief executive. From a small start‑up venture within the group, he built RBL into the largest player in the premium to luxury fashion and lifestyle space in India, having partnered with over 80 brands including as Ermenegildo Zegna, Giorgio Armani, Bottega Veneta, Jimmy Choo, Burberry and Salvatore Ferragamo.

Under Mehta’s stewardship, RBL grew its portfolio to include more than 80 global brands and expanded its retail operations significantly. He emphasised the concept of “multiple Indias” in luxury retail—recognising the distinct consumer profiles across cities and tailoring retail strategy accordingly. Meanwhile, he spearheaded initiatives to bring Indian designer labels into the group’s ecosystem, thereby supporting the evolution of India’s premium fashion industry.

During his tenure, Mehta oversaw major strategic milestones: forging partnerships with international luxury brands, launching RBL’s multi‑brand stores such as The White Crow, and aligning RBL’s retail model to low‑cost shared infrastructure for brands. He was also instrumental in orchestrating retail centre development in India, enhancing the luxury experience and aligning with the broader ambitions of the Reliance retail group.

In the early 2020s, Mehta spearheaded RIL’s investment spree in upmarket Indian designer labels such as Manish Malhotra, Rahul Mishra, Anamika Khanna, Abraham & Thakore, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla and Ritu Kumar. In November 2024, Mehta stepped down from his executive position and moved into a non‑executive director and mentoring role within the Reliance group. He continued to guide the business informally and remained a respected mentor within the luxury‑retail community.

Darshan Mehta passed away on 9 April 2025 after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. His passing was widely mourned across the retail and fashion industries in India, with tributes emphasising how much the luxury‑retail sector owes to his vision and leadership.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Darshan Mehta’s influence in India’s luxury and premium retail sector earned him recognition among industry peers. For example, he was included in the BoF 500 list — a compendium of the most influential people shaping the global fashion industry — underscoring his international stature. Industry commentators regularly acknowledged him as a trail‑blazer in Indian luxury retail: his role in expanding RBL, mentoring designers, and changing consumer perceptions of luxury in India were repeatedly highlighted in the press.