Footwear retailer Metro Brands Ltd. has appointed Uttam Kumar as its Chief Product Officer & Senior Management Personnel effective from 4th May 2026.
In his new role, Kumar will lead product strategy and merchandising, focusing on strengthening portfolio relevance, accelerating speed-to-market, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to build scalable product capabilities that support profitable growth.
Over a career spanning more than 20 years, he spent over 13 years with Bata India in various leadership roles including Senior Vice President – Product & Merchandising, where he led merchandising strategy for the Indian market.
He served leadership roles across APAC and Southeast Asia, at Bata Group from 2022 to 2025 focusing on business performance and omnichannel development.
Kumar also served as Country Manager and Managing Director for Thailand, driving business growth, operations, and market expansion between 2019 and 2022.
As a Business Head of Footin from 2011–2015, Kumar managed operations and business strategy, and began his career as a Product Merchandiser at Leiner Shoes Private Limited between 2004 and 2005.
