Leader in multinational public companies with expertise in creating value in the digital economy, having operated businesses now valued over $100Bn and invested in companies now valued over $10Bn. Past President at Reliance Jio (BSE:RIL), India’s largest conglomerate in digital platforms and commerce.

Prior CEO India and Global Leadership of Aimia Inc (TSX:AIM), world’s largest data-driven marketing company. Led SaaS and managed services in emerging markets (India, Indonesia, Portugal) and built & sold businesses in e-commerce (Nectar to Jio), and analytics (Fractal as strategic PE to Apax). Previously, a successful entrepreneur, having run businesses in luxury retail, investment banking, business intelligence, digital mapping, and high-tech security across US and Asia.

One of India’s earliest investors in venture capital and founder of family office fund, Pivot Ventures. Investor in 60+ companies with 10+ unicorns / IPOs / exits.

Alumnus, Harvard Business School and MBA, University of Pittsburgh and University of Bombay. Also Co-President, Harvard Alumni Club of Mumbai and a National Award winning photographer.

Dushyant has over 25 years of leadership experience in strategy and corporate finance, and has advised on 60+ private equity and M&A deals involving investments of over $3.5 billion.

Prior to joining Playbook, Dushyant held leadership roles in the private equity and financial advisory practices at McKinsey & Company, Deloitte, PwC and KPMG. In addition to supporting leading fund houses on investments and exits, has also assisted companies on market entry, growth, M&A, cost-reduction and organisation development. His sector experience covers IT, Media, Consumer, B2B, Healthcare and Financial Services. He earlier led Digital Media at IBM for India and ASEAN regions, and worked in strategy at Indian Express Newspapers.

Dushyant holds an MBA from IIM Calcutta and a B.Com from Sydenham College, Mumbai.

When he’s not counselling portfolio company CEOs, Dushyant roams the jungles of India, camera in hand, in search of big cats.

Jayesh has over 20 years of experience and is currently serving as the CFO at Playbook Partners. Previously, he spent nine years with the Piramal Group in various leadership roles. Jayesh initially worked in the Group CFO’s office, where he led group-level corporate reorganizations, due diligence, and M&A structuring. He later became one of the founding members and CFO of India Resurgence Fund — a joint venture with Bain Capital — overseeing fundraising, finance, investor relations, and due diligence across multiple investments. In his final role at Piramal, he focused on fund investments, capital strategy, and led direct co-investments.

Before joining Piramal Group, Jayesh spent nine years with Ernst & Young, advising clients on corporate restructuring and merger/demerger implementations.

Manish is the non-executive Vice-Chairman of Asian Paints Limited. He has been associated with Asian Paints Limited since 1992 as an Executive, and has grown in ranks by holding various positions across Sales, Information Technology, Supply Chain, Chemicals, International Business and HR functions. In addition to Asian Paints Limited, he serves as an Independent Director on the boards of Vedant Fashions Limited and Birlasoft Limited.

He is an active angel investor, with a particular interest in investing in companies that champion the cross-leverage of physical and e-commerce models. He serves on the Advisory boards of several start-ups and Chiratae Ventures, one of India’s largest venture capital companies.

He has been a leader in the IT community and is the former Chairman of INDUS, a 1100+ company network of SAP users. He served on the advisory boards of IBM's Collaboration business, the Asia Pacific Executive Advisory Board of SAP APAC, and is a member of the Global Chemical Executive Advisory Board of SAP SE as well as SUGEN, a global executive network of all SAP user groups worldwide. He holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and an MBA (with specialisation in the Entrepreneurial Management and MIS Program) from the University of Houston, USA.

Aakash is the Co-founder of Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL). He led the senior management team of AESL until 2023 as Managing Director & CEO, where he was responsible for the company's overall business, management and direction. He transformed Aakash into an established national brand, and ensured that Aakash’s classrooms and hybrid & digital services continued to evolve as the best offerings in the country.

Before AESL, he worked with the top IT companies of India, such as Infosys Technologies and Cognizant Technology Solutions. He is currently the CEO of Aakash Life, a healthcare, beauty and wellness retail business, and also leads his new education venture for online tutoring, Sparkl Eduventures. He invests in private and public markets through his family office - Aakash Emprise.

Milan is the EY Global Technology Managed Services and Ecosystem Alliance Leader. In this role, he helps organizations harness technology-enabled operating models to drive ongoing value and remain resilient in a rapidly changing business environment. He works closely with boards and executive teams of public companies and multinational organizations to support confident decision-making and long-term growth.

He previously served as Executive Vice President – IMEA for Automation Anywhere, where he led customer operations, the partner ecosystem, and geographic expansion across India, the Middle East, and Africa.

Before joining Automation Anywhere, Milan served as the Senior Partner and National Director for Technology Business at Ernst & Young (EY) for over 18 years. In his last role, he was the Managing Partner of the Technology, Media & Entertainment, and Telecommunications consulting business. He was also a global co-lead for the company’s Intelligent Automation Practice, and managed client service in the emerging markets geographies.