Reliance brings in Carrefour exec to boost grocery play

Carrefour senior leader Guillaume de Colonges to oversee Reliance Retail’s grocery business

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Analysts view Colonges' entry as a strategic move that may lay the groundwork for long-term succession planning for chief executive Damodar Mall.

Reliance Retail has hired former Carrefour top executive Guillaume de Colonges to oversee its grocery business, indicating he may be in line to succeed Damodar Mall, the chief executive of its grocery retail division.

The development comes as Reliance Industries Ltd’s retail arm gears up for a potential IPO in 2027-28. The business is currently valued at about $100 billion, show an 13 October Axis Securities report.

Colonges, who had served as Carrefour’s chief commercial officer, was hired earlier this year, said people in the know.

Carrefour is a French retail group that operates a network of over 14,000 multi-format stores in over 40 countries. It includes hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, and cash-and-carry, or wholesale, outlets. The Carrefour Group is one of the world leaders in food commerce.