Benetton India CEO Ramprasad Sridharan to step down after four years

Benetton India’s chief executive, Ramprasad Sridharan, will leave the company after four years in charge, opening a leadership transition at one of the Italian fashion house’s most important overseas markets.

The company said Sridharan, who is also managing director, will remain in place during a handover period to ensure operational continuity. He is expected to pursue a new professional opportunity, though his next move has not been disclosed.

A pivotal market

Claudio Sforza, chief executive of Benetton Group, emphasised India’s strategic importance on a visit this week. “India has been a key market to Benetton’s growth journey and it will continue to remain a priority market for us,” he said. He credited Sridharan with broadening the retailer’s footprint and deepening consumer engagement.

Under Sridharan’s tenure, Benetton expanded its presence to nearly 300 standalone stores, supported by a mix of company-owned outlets and franchises. Its distribution now spans more than 1,000 physical and digital points of sale, strengthening its reach across metros and smaller cities.

Steering through headwinds

Sridharan took charge in a period marked by pandemic disruption, inflationary pressures and intensifying competition in the apparel trade. Industry executives note that his push into digital engagement and tier-two markets helped stabilise sales and reinforced the brand’s profile against fast-fashion rivals.

Benetton, which entered India in the early 1990s, has long traded on its colourful design aesthetic and global identity. But the market has grown more crowded, with global giants, homegrown labels and online platforms jostling for share. 

Preparing the ground

The group has not yet named a successor but said a structured succession plan is in place. Sridharan will stay on through the transition. For Benetton, the change comes as it doubles down on expansion in smaller cities and seeks to leverage e-commerce to capture younger consumers.

Sforza said the company remained “focused on building the business in a consistent and sustainable manner”.