Gayatri Palande Joins Skechers as AGM for Marketing and Visual Merchandising

Gayatri Palande has officially taken on the role of Assistant General Manager for Marketing and Visual Merchandising at Skechers India, marking a new chapter in her accomplished marketing journey. With over fifteen years of rich experience in brand building, retail strategy, and consumer engagement, her appointment is seen as a strong addition to the brand’s evolving marketing leadership.

Gayatri shared the news of her new role via LinkedIn, where industry professionals welcomed her return to the forefront of premium retail marketing. Her appointment comes at a time when Skechers continues to deepen its footprint across India, blending performance wear with lifestyle driven fashion and visual innovation in stores.

Before stepping into her role at Skechers, Gayatri served as General Manager for Marketing at the Himatsingka Group, a global textile leader, where she led several brand visibility and retail expansion initiatives. Her strategic approach helped refine product narratives and strengthen market alignment for key collections. Her stint at Himatsingka, though short, built upon her robust marketing framework developed over the years.

Earlier, she was the Chief Marketing Manager at Reliance Retail, one of India’s largest and fastest growing retail giants. During her tenure from 2022 to 2024, she steered multiple consumer campaigns and loyalty programs across verticals, positioning Reliance Retail’s offerings with clarity and relevance to a diverse consumer base. Her ability to balance large scale rollouts with brand storytelling made her a key part of the marketing vision.

Prior to Reliance, Gayatri worked with Eczacıbaşı VitrA, a globally recognized Turkish brand known for its bathroom and sanitaryware innovations. From 2017 to 2022, she served as Marketing Manager, driving the brand’s India presence and carving a distinct space for VitrA in a competitive market. Her understanding of luxury positioning and cross cultural branding helped the company enhance its resonance among Indian consumers looking for premium European designs.

Gayatri’s early years in the industry include her time at Bombay Dyeing as Deputy Manager, where she handled category growth and retail promotions during a crucial brand revitalization phase. Across each of these roles, she brought consistency in strategic thinking, creativity in execution, and clarity in retail storytelling.

With Skechers continuing to invest in omnichannel retail and experiential store design, Gayatri’s expertise in visual merchandising will play a central role in shaping how the brand connects with urban consumers across touchpoints. Her blend of tactical marketing and creative leadership aligns with the company’s goals to evolve from just a performance shoe brand to a lifestyle symbol in the Indian market.

As the retail landscape transforms, leaders like Gayatri Palande represent a wave of marketers who are not just adapting to change but are actively shaping how brands look, speak, and feel in a competitive marketplace.

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