Startup Originals Team
Indian logistics company Delhivery has elevated Chief Business Officer Vani Venkatesh to Deputy Chief Executive Officer, expanding her responsibilities across revenue, marketing and customer experience.
The appointment took effect immediately, according to a stock exchange filing dated August 8. Venkatesh will continue overseeing the company’s revenue functions while taking on a wider role across customer experience and marketing.
At the same time, Chief Operating Officer Ajith Pai is set to leave Delhivery on September 15, 2026, to pursue other opportunities. The company said Pai has already transferred his responsibilities to its new operations leadership team.
What Happened?
Vani Venkatesh joined Delhivery in February 2025 as Chief Business Officer and a key managerial personnel. She was initially responsible for the company’s revenue functions.
With her elevation to Deputy CEO, her mandate has been expanded to include marketing and customer experience alongside revenue. She will also work closely with Delhivery’s operations teams.
The appointment is part of a broader leadership transition at the logistics company, which has made several changes to its senior management structure in recent months.
Ajith Pai, meanwhile, will step down from his COO position at the end of business on September 15. Delhivery said he has already handed over his responsibilities to the company’s newly appointed operations leadership team.
Pai joined Delhivery in 2013 and previously served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer before becoming COO in 2019. The company describes him as one of its founding members.
Key Details
Pai said his decision to leave came as Delhivery’s new operations leadership team had taken full control of the company’s operational functions.
In his resignation letter, Pai said the company had developed a strong leadership team from within and that he believed it was the right time to move on and pursue other entrepreneurial interests.
Delhivery Managing Director and CEO Sahil Barua credited Pai with making significant contributions to the company during his tenure as CFO and COO.
Barua also said Venkatesh’s elevation reflects her growing responsibilities and impact at Delhivery, while highlighting the company’s focus on developing internal executive leadership.
The latest change follows several other senior appointments. Varun Bakshi was elevated to Chief Sales Officer, while Vikas Kapoor was appointed Chief Strategy Officer.
Arun Bagavathi, Prashant Gazipur and Nikhil Ummat were also appointed as Chief Operating Officers, with each taking responsibility for different areas of the company’s operations. Sunny Raja was named Chief Procurement Officer.
Company Background
Delhivery is a Gurugram-based logistics company operating across India’s logistics and supply-chain ecosystem.
Venkatesh joined the company after holding roles at Airtel, McKinsey, Unilever and Abbott Nutrition. Her experience spans business, strategy and commercial functions, which now forms part of her expanded mandate at Delhivery.
Pai has been associated with Delhivery since 2013 and has held two of its key financial and operational leadership positions. His transition out of the company marks the departure of a long-serving member of its senior leadership team.
Industry Impact
The leadership changes come as logistics companies face growing demands for operational efficiency, technology-led services and stronger customer experiences.
For Delhivery, combining revenue, marketing and customer experience responsibilities under the Deputy CEO role could allow greater coordination between commercial functions and the company’s operational network.
The appointment of multiple COOs across different areas also indicates a more distributed approach to operational leadership. This could help the company manage different business functions while allowing senior executives to focus on specialised responsibilities.
Pai’s departure, meanwhile, represents a significant leadership transition given his long association with Delhivery and his previous roles as CFO and COO.
Future Plans
Delhivery’s immediate focus will be on implementing its new leadership structure, with Venkatesh taking on her expanded responsibilities and the newly appointed operations executives continuing to manage their respective areas.
The company is also expected to maintain its focus on strengthening internal leadership capabilities as responsibilities are distributed across its senior management team.
Pai will leave Delhivery on September 15, after which he plans to pursue other entrepreneurial interests.
Conclusion
Delhivery’s elevation of Vani Venkatesh to Deputy CEO marks another significant step in the company’s ongoing leadership reshuffle.
Her expanded mandate across revenue, marketing and customer experience places her at the centre of Delhivery’s commercial strategy, while Ajith Pai’s planned departure brings an end to his more than 13-year association with the company.
The changes underline Delhivery’s effort to build a broader internal leadership structure as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
