MFL'S new CEO

Aditya Birla Nuvo has named Ashish Dikshit as the CEO of Madura Fashion & Lifestyle, the country's largest apparel maker.

Dikshit will replace Pranab Barua who has taken over as the business director of apparel and retail divisions at Aditya Birla Nuvo, a Rs 21,000-crore conglomerate of Kumar Mangalam Birla.

He will be a part of the six-member fashion council created to advise the newly acquired Pantaloon’s business. Others in the council will be Kumar Mangalam Birla and Kishore Biyani, Pantaloon Retail (India), MD, Rakesh Biyani and Pantaloon Retail, Executive Director, Kailash Bhatia.

Madura Fashions has also carved out an international brands division, which is expected extend its distribution deal with lifestyle brand Esprit into a joint venture shortly. In calendar 2011, the firm recorded revenues of Rs 2,145 crore.