CXO Moves: 3 Key Appointments Made across India Inc. 

India Inc. is in the midst of a defining year, with marquee CXO appointments signaling profound leadership shifts across real estate, manufacturing, fintech, and global banking. Let’s spotlight four such recent appointments—each marking an inflection point for their respective organizations, and for India’s evolving business landscape. 

Venkatesh S Appointed Chief Executive, L&T Valves 

L&T Valves, the flow-control arm of India’s engineering giant Larsen & Toubro, announced the appointment of Venkatesh S as its new Chief Executive in August 2025. Venkatesh brings more than 30 years of industry expertise covering manufacturing, global sales, and product management. From playing a formative role in establishing L&T’s valve manufacturing operations to driving growth during his stint at Emerson Process Management, he returns with a global vision and deep operational knowledge. 

In his new leadership role, Venkatesh will champion innovation-driven growth and operational excellence at L&T Valves and steer the company’s continued expansion in domestic and international markets. His “homecoming” is seen as a confidence booster for the company as it seeks to set new benchmarks in industrial manufacturing and flow-control solutions. 

Rahul Shetty Appointed Group Chief Product Officer, CarDekho Group 

CarDekho Group, a frontrunner in India’s autotech, fintech, and insurtech arenas, has appointed Rahul Shetty as its Group Chief Product Officer. With nearly 20 years of experience crafting digital roadmaps and driving product innovation, Rahul’s appointment signals CarDekho’s ambition to further disrupt the sector. A Computer Science & Engineering graduate from MIT Manipal, he has successfully helmed product teams at BYJU’S, Toppr, and more, as well as founding GrowthBeats Technology. 

Rahul’s mandate spans not only leading product vision and execution across CarDekho’s diverse portfolio but also deepening ecosystem integration and accelerating customer-centric innovation. Tasked with strengthening CarDekho’s tech-first positioning, his focus will be on user experience, scalable tech platforms, and new-age AI-driven products to unlock value in the auto, financial, and insurance domains, both in India and Southeast Asia. “It is an honour to join CarDekho Group… I look forward to building impactful products, optimizing user journeys, and enabling sustainable growth,” Rahul stated. 

Shalini Fernandes Named Head of Human Resources, Crédit Agricole CIB 

Crédit Agricole CIB, the corporate and investment banking arm of the globally renowned French banking group, has named Shalini Fernandes as its Head of Human Resources to lead its Global Capability Centre (GCC) expansion in India. With nearly two decades of HR expertise spanning banking, IT, hospitality, and other service sectors, Shalini’s appointment comes at a strategic moment for the bank’s India operations. 

Shalini will drive people strategy, workforce transformation, and cultural integration aligned with Crédit Agricole CIB’s long-term vision for its GCC. She holds a reputation for scaling HR operations and tailoring talent strategies for high-growth, technology-led environments—skills crucial to supporting the bank’s growing footprint in India’s global financial ecosystem. 

These appointments—rooted variously in technology, innovation, growth, and human capital—underscore a critical theme shaping India Inc.: that leadership agility and deep functional expertise are becoming paramount as Indian organizations pivot to global standards, digital transformation, and ambitious expansion.