Hyderabad: Darshan Mehta, the former Managing Director and CEO of Reliance Brands, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, after suffering a cardiac arrest while exercising on a treadmill at the Taj hotel in Hyderabad. The news of his demise sent shockwaves through the Indian retail and fashion industry, where Mehta was regarded as a pioneering force.
Mehta was one of the founding members of Reliance Brands when it was set up in 2007, and served as its MD and CEO until November 2024, when he stepped down from active leadership and switched to a mentorship role.
During his tenure, Mehta was widely known for expanding Reliance Brands’ footprint across India by forging high-profile partnerships with leading global fashion and lifestyle companies. His deep understanding of market trends and strategic foresight also enabled the company to successfully introduce and scale a wide range of premium international labels in the country.
Before Reliance, Mehta served as the President at Arvind Brands from 2001 to 2007. In his career, he was recognised for a series of successful collaborations, market expansions, and his relentless drive to elevate India’s presence in the global fashion retail sector.
