Darshan Mehta, the former Managing Director and CEO of Reliance Brands Limited (RBL), has passed away at the age of 64 after suffering a sudden heart attack. His unexpected death has deeply saddened many people, especially those in the fashion and retail industry in India. Mehta was known for playing a big role in bringing international luxury brands to the Indian market.
Darshan Mehta Dies at 64 Shaping Luxury Retail
Darshan Mehta started his journey with Reliance Brands in 2007. Over the next 17 years, he helped the company grow into a leader in luxury retail. Under his guidance, global fashion brands like Valentino, Balenciaga, Tiffany & Co., Giorgio Armani, Jimmy Choo, and Burberry became available to Indian customers. Mehta was known for having a sharp eye for luxury trends and understanding what Indian buyers wanted. He helped make high-end fashion more accessible in India, which was just beginning to explore luxury shopping.
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Apart from introducing global brands, Darshan Mehta also supported Indian fashion designers. He worked closely with famous names like Manish Malhotra, Rahul Mishra, and Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla. These partnerships helped Indian designers gain more visibility at the international level. Mehta believed in blending Indian culture and craftsmanship with global fashion standards.
Even after stepping down as Managing Director in 2023, Mehta stayed connected with Reliance Brands as a non-executive director. He continued to guide and mentor the team using his deep industry knowledge. He also played a key role in developing luxury shopping centers like Jio World Drive and Jio World Plaza in Mumbai, which have become popular spots for high-end retail and luxury experiences.
One of Darshan Mehta’s major achievements was leading the acquisition of Hamleys, a famous toy store brand from the UK, in 2019. This move showed how he wanted Reliance to expand beyond just fashion and into other areas of retail.
Before joining Reliance, Mehta worked in several well-known companies. He started his career as a chartered accountant and worked at PwC India. He later worked with Lalbhai Group, Grey Advertising, and Arvind Brands. At Arvind, he played a key role in building strong brand portfolios, which helped him earn respect in the industry.
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After his death, many people from the business and fashion world shared their memories and paid tribute to him. They remembered him as a leader with a clear vision, calm nature, and deep love for fashion and retail. His passing is a big loss, but his contributions will continue to inspire future business leaders and fashion entrepreneurs in India.
