Mallikharjuna Rao has taken on the role of Chief Operating Officer at Robust Kommerce, a strategic appointment that comes on the heels of the company’s exclusive partnership with Myntra. In his new position, Rao will be leading the international brands’ offline and omni-channel portfolio in India, including Mango, Nautica, and NEXT. This move underscores Robust Kommerce and Myntra’s joint vision to strengthen their footprint across the country while steering commercial operations toward long-term success.
Rao brings with him over 20 years of cross-industry expertise spanning Retail, Apparel, General Insurance, and Telecom. Most recently, he spent more than 12 years with Levi Strauss & Co., where he played a pivotal role in expanding the brand’s presence across Retail and Distribution channels in India and South Asia, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. As National Head for the Centre of Excellence & New Businesses, he spearheaded several digital and operational initiatives such as omni-channel integrations, the launch of the Quick Commerce vertical, and category diversification, all within a remarkably short span.
Prior to Levi’s, Rao held leadership roles at Tata AIG General Insurance as Zonal Head for TN & Kerala and at Hutchison Essar as Corporate Sales Manager. His extensive background across retail operations, distribution networks, B2B, and corporate sales uniquely equips him to drive this critical partnership between Robust Kommerce and Myntra to efficiently run the offline business. Known for his ability to scale businesses and deliver sustainable growth, Rao is well-positioned to align strategy, execution, and innovation in this new role.
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, Rao’s leadership philosophy is rooted in strategic execution, data-driven decision-making, and building high-performance teams. With his proven record of driving market expansion and fostering customer-centric business models, his appointment is expected to accelerate Robust Kommerce’s ambitions and reinforce its leadership in India’s evolving retail landscape.
RK Group the parent company of Robust Kommerce, stands as one of the fastest-growing independent e-commerce sellers in India with a diversified portfolio spanning omni-channel business, quick commerce, and channel finance entities within the group. With over $3 billion in annual GMV and a 3,000+ strong workforce, the group continues to scale new heights, and Rao’s leadership will play a vital role in shaping its next phase of growth in establishing their foothold in the offline Retail and Distribution businesses.