Tata Sons today announced the appointment of Sajith Sivanandan as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tata Digital, effective September 1, 2025. The move marks a pivotal moment in the Tata Group’s digital journey as it looks to strengthen its position in India’s fast-growing e-commerce and technology-driven consumer ecosystem.
With a wealth of experience across technology, payments, media, and consumer internet businesses, Sajith Sivanandan brings nearly three decades of leadership expertise to the role. His appointment underscores Tata Sons’ commitment to driving a customer-first, innovation-led strategy in the digital era.
A Proven Digital Leader
Sivanandan has held senior leadership roles at some of the world’s most recognized technology and media organizations:
- Google (Alphabet Inc.) – Over 15 years at Google, where he played a central role in scaling Google Pay in India and led the Next Billion Users initiative across Asia-Pacific, building inclusive digital ecosystems for millions of new internet users.
- Disney+ Hotstar – As CEO, he oversaw rapid growth of the platform, helping it emerge as one of India’s most popular OTT services.
- Reliance Jio – Most recently, he served as President, Mobile Digital Services, where he worked on expanding Jio’s digital offerings to millions of customers.
His expertise in consumer engagement, payments innovation, and large-scale platform management makes him uniquely positioned to lead Tata Digital’s next phase of growth.
Strengthening Tata Digital’s Vision
Tata Digital, established in 2020, has been at the forefront of building the Tata Neu super-app, which integrates diverse consumer offerings ranging from grocery and healthcare to electronics, fashion, travel, and lifestyle services. The ecosystem currently houses leading platforms such as BigBasket, Tata 1mg, Tata Cliq, and Croma.
While Tata Digital has made significant progress, it also faces challenges in execution and profitability in a highly competitive landscape. The appointment of Sajith Sivanandan comes at a time when the company is undergoing a major transformation, backed by a $400 million equity infusion from Tata Sons to fuel its growth.
Strategic Priorities Under the New CEO
As CEO, Sivanandan will focus on four key areas:
- Reinvigorating Tata Neu – Making the app more user-friendly, integrated, and rewarding for consumers, while building stronger cross-platform synergies.
- Driving Operational Excellence – Streamlining business models for subsidiaries like BigBasket, Croma, and Tata Cliq to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver value at scale.
- Competing with Market Leaders – Strengthening Tata Digital’s competitive positioning against Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, Zepto, and other emerging digital commerce players.
- Fueling Sustainable Growth – Balancing expansion with profitability while investing in cutting-edge technologies like AI-driven personalization, logistics optimization, and digital payments.
The company is also preparing to relocate its headquarters to a new facility at One International Centre, Lower Parel, Mumbai, reducing overhead costs and enabling a more agile operating environment.
Leadership Statements
N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, said:
“As we deepen our presence in the digital consumer space, it is critical to align ambition with execution. Sajith brings a rare blend of global expertise, digital vision, and operational discipline. His leadership will be instrumental in shaping Tata Digital into a trusted, customer-first platform that can stand out in a competitive marketplace.”
Sajith Sivanandan, CEO-designate, Tata Digital, said:
“I am honored to join Tata Digital at such an exciting juncture. With its strong foundation and the Tata Group’s unmatched trust, Tata Digital has the potential to redefine how Indians shop, transact, and experience services digitally. My goal is to build a seamless, inclusive, and innovative ecosystem that enriches the lives of millions of consumers while creating long-term value.”
A Tata’s Digital Story
Tata Digital has already invested significantly in its ecosystem, with over $2 billion deployed since inception to acquire and scale ventures like BigBasket and 1mg. While Tata 1mg reported 20% revenue growth last year, other verticals such as Croma, Tata Cliq, and BigBasket have faced mixed performance, highlighting the need for sharper execution.
Under Sivanandan’s leadership, the company is expected to adopt a customer-first and data-driven approach, using technology to create intuitive consumer journeys, boost adoption of Tata Neu, and bring operational synergies across all subsidiaries.
Industry experts believe his appointment signals Tata Digital’s intent to reassert its presence in India’s digital commerce sector, where consumer expectations are rapidly evolving, and competition remains intense.
Tata Digital
Founded in 2020, Tata Digital Limited is the digital services and e-commerce arm of Tata Sons. Its mission is to create a unified digital ecosystem through Tata Neu, India’s first super-app, bringing together offerings from leading Tata brands including BigBasket, Tata 1mg, Tata Cliq, and Croma. Tata Digital is focused on delivering convenience, trust, and innovation to millions of Indian consumers across diverse categories like grocery, healthcare, fashion, travel, electronics, and financial services.
