MMR 2025:
Theme: The New HR Playbook for Retail: Talent & Transformation
The retail industry is undergoing a profound transformation, shaped by technological advancement, evolving consumer behavior, and new business models such as quick commerce, omnichannel retail, and AI-driven operations. In this fast-changing landscape, the role of Human Resources is
"The New HR Playbook for Retail: Talent & Transformation" reflects a forward-looking approach to managing and empowering the retail workforce. This theme recognizes that traditional HR practices must evolve to meet the demands of a more agile, tech-enabled, and purpose-driven work environment.
It calls for reimagining talent strategies—from attracting and retaining the next generation of retail professionals to skilling for future-readiness and fostering inclusive, resilient cultures. HR leaders are now strategic partners driving business transformation, aligning people and productivity, and embedding digital capabilities into the workforce DNA.
This year’s Manning Modern Retail will spotlight how retail HR can rewrite its playbook to lead the change, build competitive advantage through people, and shape the future of work in retail.
350+ Delegates
50+ Speakers
160+ Retail Companies
15+ Partners
Event Design
KEYNOTE
EXPERIENCE ZONES
ROUNDTABLES
STANDALONE ADDRESS
PANEL DISCUSSION
RETAIL HR-AWARDS
Panel Topics and Discussion
Skilling for an AI-Enabled Future
The Emergence of Quick Commerce and Its Implications on HR
HR as a Strategic Partner: Aligning People and Productivity
Performance, Pay and Progress: Rethinking Rewards in Modern Retail
Event Venue
When:
JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar
When:
25 September, 2025
Partners 2024
Presenting Partner
Regulatory Compliance Partner
Gold Partner
Background Verification Partner
Associate Partner
Retail L&D Partner
Academic Partner
Gifting Partner
Gifting Partner
Gifting Partner
Gifting Partner
Gifting Partner
Charity Partner
Magazine Partner
Digital Marketing Partner
Speakers 2024
Abhimanyu Sharma
Head - HR,
Natures Basket
Adhir Mane
CHRO - Corporate,
Raymond Ltd.
Ameesha Prabhu
CEO & Co-Founder,
Trust for Retailers & Retail Associates of India
Amrita Biswas
Head - People & Culture,
Timezone Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
Amrita Chowdhury
VP & Head - HR,
Kaya Ltd.
Aniruddha Mahajan
Customer Care Associate & Deputy VP – HR,
Shoppers Stop Ltd.
Anjali Goel
Head - HR,
V-Mart Retail Ltd.
Ankur Shukla
Head - HR, Grocery Store Operations,
Reliance Retail
Ashwin Khasgiwala
COO, Reliance Retail,
& Director Reliance Brands Ltd.
Asim Jagdale
CHRO,
Arvind Fashions
B. Venkataramana
Former Group President - HR,
Landmark India
Balbir Singh
CEO,
Great Place To Work India
Bidhisha Banerjee
Group HR Central Services, CLO & DEI Head,
Welspun Group
Bidyut Bhanjdeo
Chief Business Officer,
Ethnix by Raymond
Bijou Kurien
Chairman,
Retailers Association of India
Binny Ashish
Head – HR,
Celio Retail Pvt. Ltd.
Chakrapani Sharma
Deputy General Manager - HR,
Lifestyle International Pvt. Ltd.
Chitra D. Ram
Director HR, Pizza Hut (North & South Asia),
Yum Restaurants International
Debarati Dutta
Head TA,
Vedant Fashions Ltd. - Manyavar-Mohey
Deepali Bhardwaj
CHRO - Business Growth Partner,
IHG Hotels & Resorts (InterContinental Hotels Group)
Deepali Mathur
Chief Manager - People,
Spykar Lifestyles Pvt. Ltd.
Dhruva Dubey
CHRO,
Vishal Mega Mart Ltd.
Dr. Lawrence Fernandes
Director - Retail Learning & Membership,
Retailers Association of India
Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Chauhan
Director - HR,
Pepe Jeans India Ltd.
Dr. Venu Murthy
CTO,
Aparajitha Corporate Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Farzeen Khan
CHRO,
Four Aces Fashion House Pvt. Ltd. (Being Human Clothing)
G.R. Venkatesh
CHRO,
Reliance Retail Ltd.
Harsh Aparanji
President & CHRO,
Landmark Group
Hiral Vyas
Head - HR,
Reliance Brands Ltd. - Hamleys
Jaikrishna B
President & Group CHRO,
Amara Raja Group
Jeeva Balakrishnan
Chief Talent Officer,
Reliance Retail
Kumar Rajagopalan
CEO,
Retailers Association of India
Mandavi Singh
Customer Care Associate & AVP - DIT Digital & Information Technology,
Shoppers Stop Ltd.
Meenu Bhatia
Co-Founder,
VMentor.ai & YUGMA.ai
Mukta Nakra
Head - People & Sustainability,
Marks and Spencer Reliance India Pvt. Ltd.
Mukul Sirohi
Associate Director, Business Development & Growth,
OnGrid & eLockr
Nabamita Banerjee
Director – Partner Resources (HR),
Tata Starbucks
Nandini Mehta
CHRO,
Metro Brands Ltd.
Nirav Jagad
Chief People Officer,
SUGAR Cosmetics
Noopur Borwankar
Head HR - West,
Titan Ltd.
Parineeta Cecil Lakra
Country People & Culture Manager,
IKEA India
Prashant Bhokil
Group CTO & CISO,
Finquest Group of Companies
Priya M Pillai
Head People Function - Retail, Corporate and Manufacturing,
Titan Company Ltd.
Puja Pradhan
Head - Learning & Talent Management,
Nexus Select Malls
Rahul Jain
Head - HRBP,
bigbasket
Rajesh Kadam
CEO,
Inc.5 Shoes Pvt. Ltd.
Ramakrishnan K R
Lead - Branding, Wellbeing and Culture,
Reliance Retail Ltd.
Ramandeep Singh
Head - HR, Electronics,
Reliance Retail
Robin Sharma
Head - HRBP,
Croma
Rohith Kumar
CHRO,
Westlife Foodworld (McDonalds India West & South)
Saba Adil
CHRO,
Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance
Saksham Gandhi
Business Head - Retail & BPO Practice,
APNA
Shivshankar SV
Head - HR,
Standard Charter Bank
Shweta Gambhir
People Director,
Smollan India Pvt. Ltd.
Tanuja Tewari
Head - HR,
bigbasket
Varadharaju Janardhanan
VP - HR,
Flipkart
Yogesh Somani
AVP & Head - HR,
MR DIY India