From Tata CLiQ to Paytm to Meta India: the professional journey of Vikas Purohit

Former CEO of Tata CLiQ Vikas Purohit was appointed as the global business head for Meta India on Monday. He will be reporting to Arun Srinivas, director and head of ads business for Meta India.

Jan 10, 2023

By: eetika.kapoor@timesinternet.in

Credit: Black Book Magazine

Meta India on Purohit

"Purohit joins our team to shape the role that Meta platforms can play in enabling businesses, supporting India's economic growth, and building the digital advertising ecosystem of the country," said Srinivas.

Credit: Black Book Magazine

C-suite exits at Meta India

His appointment comes after three top C-suite executives quit Meta India last year. Its MD and VP Ajit Mohan quit in November. The same month, Abhijit Bose, who was head of India, WhatsApp resigned as well. Both of them worked for around four years at the company. Meta India’s director of public policy, Rajiv Aggarwal also quit along with Bose.

Credit: BCCL

Stint with Tata CLiQ

Purohit joined Tata CLiQ as its COO in 2016 and was promoted as its CEO in 2018. He quit in 2022, ahead of its merger with Tata Neu, the super-app of the salt-to-software conglomerate.

Credit: Vikas Purohit LinkedIn

Gained friends for life

Before leaving Tata CLiQ he wrote on LinkedIn, “The only place I failed was an attempt to keep relationships purely professional. I have gained friends for life.”

Credit: Vikas Purohit LinkedIn

IIT BHU and IIM Bangalore

Purohit did his schooling at St. Paul Senior Secondary School in Udaipur. He graduated in mechanical engineering from IIT Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi in 2000. He later joined IIM-Bangalore for a post graduate diploma in business management.

Credit: BCCL

Intern at Aditya Birla group

He started his professional life with the Aditya Birla Group as an intern in 2002, where he became brand initiatives manager within a year. After three years he moved to Tommy Hilfiger. He also worked for Reliance Brands, Planet Retail and Amazon.

Credit: BCCL

Brief stint at Paytm, wanted his own startup

He joined as Paytm’s senior vice president in 2015 and quit the company a year later. This stint is the only position that’s not mentioned on his LinkedIn profile. He quit to start his own company.

Credit: BCCL

‘What is my purpose?’

At Yourstory’s TechSparks 2021 Conclave, Purohit said, “You really have to ask yourself the fundamental question of - what is my purpose? Solving the problems of a customer is a purpose I would like to work for rather than looking for a $5 billion market and saying - Let's take 20 percent of the market share.”

Credit: MICA

How do you measure a good job before switching jobs?

Purohit, who worked for many companies in his career, said at a YourStory conclave, “There are four yardsticks to measure the right job — company culture, salary (including bonuses and other perks), job description and quality of the people you work with including your reporting manager and colleagues.

Credit: Vikas Purohit LinkedIn

Married to Devhooti Paliwal, daughter of Bollywood producer

Vikas Purohit married Devhooti Paliwal in 2014, the daughter of Indian business magnate Madan Paliwal, chairman of Miraj Group. The family also owns Mirage Cinemas with multiplexes across India and also produces Bollywood films.

Credit: IANS

The man behind Tetley acquisition, R K Krishnakumar passes away at 84