Know Your Honchos

After graduation in Industrial Design from the NID, Ahmedabad in 2003, and a brief stint working abroad, Ayaz started The Busride Design Studio with his brother, an architect. Aim to achieve an interesting mix of the two disciplines in his work, working from macro planning perspectives, to micro details. Have been involved in a diverse range of projects, from Bollywood films and Carnival parades, to Restaurants and Retail, from planning of Design institutes, to experimental structures. All his projects are experiments in creating mental environments, something that they are constantly refining and evolving with time.
 

Ashwin has over 10 years experience in the Indian retail real estate industry. He leads a multi-disciplined team at Pioneer Property Zone (PPZ), and influences the design process of shopping centres from concept level in sync with property management. Over the last few years, he has been involved in the conceptualisation and execution of over 7 million sq.ft. of pan-India retail developments. This has included investment advisory services for international funds on retail-centric opportunities. PPZ is managing R City, Mumbai’s largest retail destination, and is set to open shopping centres in key cities like Delhi, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad under Ashwin’s leadership.
 

An MBA worked in the corporate sector for twenty-five years, of which seventeen were at ITC Limited where he rose to become the youngest ever managing director of any ITC group company. In January 1995, he was recognised as a ‘Global Leader for Tomorrow’ by the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland. In 2003 he started a chain of health and beauty retail outlets in north India under the brand name Guardian Pharmacy which has now grown to over 230 outlets is adding two new stores each week. He is also the author of the bestselling book ‘The Buck Stops Here’.
 

Prior to joining mydala.com, Arjun was a Director at Capital Fusion Partners, where he focused on promoting new businesses and raising capital. From 2004 to 2008, Arjun was a Senior Portfolio Manager, Investments for Capital One Bank where he managed a $6+ billion portion of a $24+ billion multi strategy investments portfolio. From 2000 to 2003, Arjun was a Senior Associate at Capital One. In 1999-2000, Arjun co-founded and raised venture capital funding for a South Asia centric financial services business. From 1993 to 1997, Arjun was Director at BAPL, a South Asia centric management firm.
 

With 26 years retail experience out of which last 16 years as Director /CEO/ President, Arif successfully managed all key business functions in shopping mall life cycle biggest to small malls in India & abroad. Expertise includes strategic retail business planning P&L management, human resource and facility management MBA with proven track record in UK/US/Middle East and India There is nothing he enjoy greater than Malls (than perhaps Harley Davidson motorcycle). He was awarded for excellence in leadership (Retail) in 1999 of USA, then in Dubai -DSF best retail chain CEO award and, this year India super achiever award too and recently announced Retail Icon award by Asia retail congress. He has authored two books which are now on curriculum of many B schools. www.sheikharif.com.