Aastha Almast is the Co-Founder of The New Shop, India’s largest tech-enabled convenience retailer focused on empowering next-generation business owners through an omnichannel, 24×7 retail model. She leads business development, strategic partnerships, HR, and compliance, playing a key role in scaling the brand’s rapid expansion.

A serial entrepreneur with over 12 years of experience across retail, finance, entertainment, branding, and technology, Aastha has founded multiple ventures before The New Shop, including Motion Punch Studios, Smartican, and ProductX. Through these businesses, she built expertise in gaming, AI-led content discovery, online reputation management, and global consumer product sourcing.

Earlier in her career, she worked with Bank of America and S&P Capital IQ. Aastha studied Economics at Hindu College, pursued PGDM in Fashion Marketing from Pearl Academy, and is an alumna of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta.

Abhijat Hukoo is a driven and results-oriented professional with over 29 years of experience in design and construction management. His diverse portfolio encompasses urban and town planning, as well as projects spanning residential, commercial, healthcare, hospitality, educational, and institutional sectors. Beyond design and detailing, Abhijat excels in budgeting and cost control, aiding clients in balancing design objectives with business goals. As Principal and Managing Director at MBH Architects, he leads the firm’s strategic direction, overseeing design excellence, project execution, and client partnerships across markets.

With a strong focus on innovation and functionality, Abhijat has been instrumental in driving high-impact architectural solutions that balance aesthetics with operational efficiency. Under his leadership, the firm has successfully delivered complex projects, strengthened its client portfolio, and expanded its presence across key sectors. As MBH expanded into the South Asian markets, Abhijat’s leadership has been instrumental in guiding his team to deliver quality work under tight time constraints, while also instilling the essence of the MBH brand and culture in the India offices. Abhijat holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Gurugram, Haryana.

Abhishek Bansal is the Executive Director at Pacific Development Corporation Ltd., where he plays a pivotal role in shaping the group’s strategic direction and growth across real estate and allied sectors. With extensive experience in the construction and development industry, he has been instrumental in the planning and conceptualisation of several successful projects, while overseeing execution across the group’s ventures.

He is a key force behind the group’s expansion into retail real estate and education, driving the development of high-quality commercial assets. Under his leadership, Pacific Group has strengthened its retail portfolio, attracting leading brands through strong stakeholder relationships and sharp market understanding.

Abhishek’s expertise lies in strategic planning, project execution, and business development, supported by a hands-on leadership approach. He is an alumnus of Mayo College and Kirori Mal College. A keen reader and sports enthusiast, he is known for his dynamic personality, strong communication skills, and ability to drive sustained business growth.

Abhishek Ganguly is the CEO of Agilitas Sports, a sportswear and athleisure platform he co-founded in 2023. A seasoned business leader, he has a strong track record across the sports, lifestyle, and retail sectors. Prior to this, he served as Managing Director of Puma India and Southeast Asia, where he played a key role in building the brand’s presence in the region. At Agilitas, he is focused on creating an innovation-led, end-to-end sports ecosystem spanning manufacturing, product development, and retail. He is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow.

Abhishek Raj is the Chief Operating Officer for Sports and Leisure Apparel Limited – Lacoste Licensee in India. As an integral team member, he has been instrumental in Lacoste’s growth journey in India from the last 17 years. In his 20 years of corporate journey, Abhishek has worked around most stimulating areas of modern retail, starting from Apparel Production, Merchandising & Buying, Retail Planning, Visual Merchandising, Project Management, New Business Development, Retail Operations, Travel Retail, E-Commerce, CRM, Marketing, T&D and Supply Chain Management.

Abhishek has completed his Post Graduation in ‘Garment Manufacturing Technology’ from NIIFT and has also accomplished his Chief Operating Officer Programme from prestigious Indian Institute of Lucknow.

Aditya Bagri is the Director of the Bagrry’s Group, one of India’s pioneering companies in FMCG and food processing, with a legacy spanning over 50 years. Since joining the group in 2012, Aditya has played a key role in driving the company’s expansion into new product categories, strengthening national and international distribution, scaling supply chains, and building Bagrry’s into a trusted household name.

As a dynamic young leader, Aditya actively engages with industry forums, trade bodies, and government platforms, contributing to policy discussions and thought leadership in India’s evolving food ecosystem.

Before joining Bagrry’s, he was associated with the global youth leadership organization AIESEC and worked with Goldman Sachs in the UK. Aditya holds a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Hindu College, Delhi University, and a Master’s in Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Aditya Dhingra is a seasoned technology leader with strong expertise in solution architecture, digital transformation, and enterprise innovation. As Director, Solution Engineering at Salesforce, he leads teams that help organizations design and implement scalable, customer-centric technology solutions that drive business growth and operational excellence. With extensive experience in enterprise software, pre-sales consulting, cloud platforms, and business process transformation, Aditya has played a key role in enabling companies across industries to modernize operations, improve customer engagement, and unlock greater agility. He is known for translating complex business challenges into practical, high-impact technology strategies.

Aditya’s expertise spans CRM transformation, automation, data integration, AI-enabled customer experiences, and multi-cloud solution design. By combining technical depth with strategic insight, Aditya has consistently helped enterprises maximize technology investments and accelerate measurable outcomes. A collaborative and forward-thinking leader, Aditya is passionate about innovation, mentoring high-performing teams, and helping businesses navigate the evolving digital landscape through future-ready solutions.

Ajay Bindroo is a global entrepreneur and business leader, serving as Managing Partner for the Beverly Hills Polo Club fashion and accessories business. He is managing the next phase of the brand’s growth across Asia, Africa, CIS, and the Pacific markets. Ajay is driving the transformation of BHPC into a fully integrated, globally controlled lifestyle platform. His focus is on market ownership, cross-category expansion, and long-term value creation. He oversees strategic direction, organizational alignment, and the development of scalable growth engines across high-potential emerging markets.

Prior to this, Ajay spent over two decades in a family business, rising from an intern to Global CEO. During his tenure, he led the company’s expansion into more than 160 countries, building a strong global footprint in the personal care industry. He played a key role in developing one of the world’s leading razor blade brands, establishing it as the second-largest globally.

With over 30 years of hands-on experience across global markets, Ajay brings deep commercial insight and a practical understanding of global business dynamics. He is widely recognized for his clarity of thought, executional discipline, and ability to combine entrepreneurial instinct with structured, institutional thinking to build enduring global brands.

Akash Srivastava is a seasoned retail and hospitality professional with over 11 years of experience across business development, retail real estate, leasing, project management, franchising, and market entry strategy. He currently leads store expansion for Jubilant FoodWorks across India, driving growth for its portfolio of brands. He played a pivotal role in scaling Chaayos, contributing to the launch of 50+ outlets across diverse formats and cities.

Previously, he led expansion for Tata Starbucks during its high-growth phase and managed business development for KFC. Akash has launched over 100 outlets across malls, high streets, airports, and other retail channels. He also serves as an advisor to BIMTECH and contributes to NSDC, while actively speaking at leading retail industry forums.

Aman Abdullah is the Director of Market99, a leading value retail chain in India. He studied Retail Management at Loughborough University, followed by International Finance, building a strong foundation in business and retail operations. Aman joined the family business in 2007 when it operated just two stores under the brand Store99. In 2017, the brand was reimagined as Market99, which has since grown to over 100 company-owned stores nationwide.

At Market99, he oversees IT systems, business development, projects, logistics, warehousing, and front-end operations, playing a key role in driving efficiency and expansion. He comes from a family with a strong legacy in retail, including ventures like Sabka Bazaar and The Home Store (THS). In 2024, he led Market99’s international foray with the launch of Something Ells in Melbourne, Australia.