New Delhi:
Former Managing Director and CEO Darshan Mehta, former Managing Director and CEO of Reliance Brands Limited (RBL), who changes Reliance’s luxury and lifestyle retail business, died on Wednesday, according to people aware of development.
64-year-old Mr. Mehta, who was a mid-destination runner and Himalayan trekker, died after a heart attack.
He was leading RBL as his Managing Director till last November, after which he infected in an advisory role as a non-executive director.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Darshan Mehta, the founder of Reliance Brands and the leading Darshan Mehta in India’s luxury retail space.
The vision of philosophy brought global icons to Indian shelves, and his leadership shaped an entire industry. His legacy will be tolerated in everyone … pic.twitter.com/hmfome156h
– Retailers Association of India (Rai) (@Rai_India) 9 April, 2025
Mr. Mehta, who joined Reliance in 2007 to start RBL, is known for starting the leading global brands in the Indian market, Valentino, Balensiaga, Tiffany & Company, Arriengildo Zegna, Georgio Armani, Botga Veneta, Jimmy Cho, Barbari and Potary Barn.
In addition, RBL participated with several Indian designers including Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, Manish Malhotra and Rahul Mishra, introduced them to the global fashion scenario.
Currently, RBL has a portfolio of more than 60 leading global brands, working in fashion retail space.
Apart from this, in RBL, Mr. Mehta also launched two Reliance Group’s Retail Centers in Mumbai, which re -defined luxury retail in India – Jio World Drive and Jio World Plaza.
He also played an important role in the acquisition of Reliance of UK -based Toy Chain Hamles in 2019.
Mr. Mehta, a chartered accountant by profession, started his career with PWC India.
Later, he joined the Lalbhai group, where he spent two decades. He took over the leadership positions in the Gray Advertisement – Lalbhai Group’s part before being acquired by WPP – Anagram Stock Broking, and finally took over as CEO of Arvind Brands Limited, where he created a rushing portfolio of mainstream license brands in a magnificent portfolio of international fashion partnerships.
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