Mumbai, May 05: Metro Brands Ltd., one of India’s leading footwear retailers, today announced the appointment of Uttam Kumar as Chief Product Officer.
Kumar brings over two decades of experience across India and the APAC region, with a proven track record in product strategy and merchandising, and retail transformation. Known for building consumer-centric product engines, he has consistently delivered margin expansion, driven digital innovation, and scaled growth across complex, multi-market environments.
In his new role as Chief Product Officer at Metro Brands Ltd., Kumar will lead the company’s overall product strategy and merchandising function, focusing on strengthening portfolio relevance and enhancing speed-to-market. He will also work closely with cross-functional teams to build scalable product capabilities that support profitable growth.
Commenting on the appointment, Nissan Joseph, CEO, Metro Brands Ltd. said, “We are delighted to have Uttam on board as Chief Product Officer. His deep expertise in product strategy and merchandising aligns strongly with our vision of accelerating growth across our portfolio. His proven ability to enhance margins and scale product functions across markets will be instrumental as we continue to evolve our offering and strengthen our connection with consumers.”
Sharing his thoughts on the new role, Uttam Kumar, Chief Product Officer, Metro Brands Ltd. said, “I am excited to join Metro Brands Ltd. at such a dynamic phase of its growth journey. The company has built a strong legacy and brand equity in the Indian footwear market. I look forward to working with the team to further elevate product innovation, deepen consumer-centricity, and build agile and future-ready merchandising capabilities.”
Prior to joining Metro Brands Ltd., Kumar served as Senior Vice President – Product & Merchandising at Bata India, where he led enterprise-wide merchandising strategy and product roadmap. His career also includes leadership roles across APAC and Southeast Asia, where he drove business performance and built omnichannel competencies. He is recognized for leveraging AI-led forecasting, digital product lifecycle management, and modern merchandising frameworks to optimize inventory and drive consumer relevance.
