AJIO vs Fabindia: Founders, CEOs and History
AJIO was founded in 2016 and is led by Sandeep Karwa. Fabindia was founded in 1960 by John Bissell, William Nanda Bissell and is led by Rajeshwari Srinivasan.
Company facts
Founders
Fabindia
John Bissell
John Bissell (1932-1998) was an American who arrived in India in 1958 on a Ford Foundation assignment to advise on handloom exports. In 1960 he founded Fabindia in New Delhi, initially selling handwoven furnishings to buyers abroad.
William Nanda Bissell
William Nanda Bissell (born 1966) is John Bissell's son and chairman of Fabindia. After studying at Wesleyan University he worked with artisans in Rajasthan, then took over the business in the 1990s and became managing director in 1999.
CEOs and their tenures
AJIO
- Vineeth Nair2023–2026
Chief Executive Officer, AJIO
Public AJIO releases identified Nair as CEO by 2023. During his documented tenure, AJIO launched AJIOGRAM, added ASOS and H&M, and introduced AJIO Rush.
Source - Sandeep Karwa2026–present
Chief Executive Officer, AJIO and online fashion platforms
Reliance Retail appointed Karwa in May 2026 to lead AJIO and its other online fashion and lifestyle platforms.
Source
Fabindia
- John Bissell1960–1998
Founder
An American who came to India with the Ford Foundation, he started Fabindia from two rooms in Golf Links, New Delhi, exporting handloom home furnishings. He suffered a stroke in 1993 and died in 1998.
Source - William Bissell1999–2018
Managing Director (now Chairman)
Took charge in the 1990s after his father's stroke and became managing director in 1999, a role he held until 2018. He turned Fabindia from an exporter into a national retailer and remains chairman.
Source - Viney Singh2016–2023
Managing Director & CEO
Served seven years as managing director and CEO before retiring in April 2023; he stayed on the board as a non-executive director.
Source - Rajeshwari Srinivasan2023–present
Chief Executive Officer
Appointed CEO effective April 2023 after 30+ years in FMCG, retail, luxury and hospitality, including roles as a Tata Administrative Services officer at Rallis India, Tata Consumer, Indian Hotels and Titan Company. She is an IIFT alumna and Chevening Scholar.
Source
Timeline: AJIO and Fabindia side by side
1960Fabindia
Fabindia founded in New Delhi by John Bissell
Started as an exporter of handloom home furnishings.
1976Fabindia
First retail store opens in Greater Kailash
The N-Block shop introduced handloom clothing and linen to Delhi shoppers.
1999Fabindia
William Bissell becomes managing director
Began the national retail expansion and the artisan-shareholder supply model.
2016AJIO
AJIO Previewed at Lakme Fashion Week
Reliance launched AJIO with a collection preview and the 'Doubt is Out' campaign at Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai.
2021Fabindia
First loss in over two decades
Pandemic closures cut FY21 revenue 30% to ~$123 million (₹1,059 crore) with a ~$13.5 million (₹116 crore) loss.
2022AJIO
AJIO Luxe Carried Tod's
A Reliance Brands release identified AJIO Luxe as one of the Indian retail channels already carrying Tod's products.
2022Fabindia
IPO draft papers filed with SEBI
Planned ~$58 million (₹500 crore) fresh issue plus offer for sale of 25.05 million shares.
2023AJIO
Big Bold Sale Order Volume Increased
AJIO said its summer Big Bold Sale offered 1.3 million styles and order volume rose 40% from the previous summer edition.
2023AJIO
AJIOGRAM Launched
AJIO launched AJIOGRAM as a content-led interactive commerce storefront for homegrown D2C brands within its app.
2023Fabindia
IPO withdrawn; Rajeshwari Srinivasan named CEO
Scrapped the roughly $482 million IPO in February; new CEO from April.
2024AJIO
ASOS Entered India on AJIO
ASOS launched in India on AJIO with more than 3,000 options across several ASOS brands.
2024AJIO
H&M Added to AJIO
AJIO announced H&M on its platform with a collection of more than 10,000 styles across apparel, childrenswear and home decor.
2024Fabindia
Organic India stake sale to Tata Consumer agreed
Tata Consumer Products valued Organic India at ~$220 million (₹1,900 crore) enterprise value.
2025AJIO
AJIO Rush Launched
Reliance introduced the four-hour AJIO Rush service in six cities with more than 130,000 product options during the first quarter of FY2025-26.
2026AJIO
AJIO Rush Expanded
Reliance Retail's FY2025-26 annual report said AJIO Rush expanded to additional markets and AJIO maintained growth momentum.
2026AJIO
Sandeep Karwa Named CEO
ETRetail reported that Reliance Retail appointed Sandeep Karwa to lead AJIO and other online fashion platforms as CEO.
2026Fabindia
IPO revival reported
The Economic Times listed FabIndia among companies preparing to tap public markets.
Acquisitions
AJIO
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about AJIO vs Fabindia
Who is the CEO of AJIO and Fabindia?
AJIO is led by Sandeep Karwa and Fabindia is led by Rajeshwari Srinivasan. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was AJIO founded vs Fabindia?
Fabindia was founded in 1960 — 56 years before AJIO, which was founded in 2016. Fabindia's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger AJIO.
How many employees does AJIO have compared to Fabindia?
Fabindia employs approximately 4,200 people. A verified employee count for AJIO is not currently available.
Where are AJIO and Fabindia headquartered?
Both AJIO and Fabindia are headquartered in India, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded AJIO and Fabindia?
Fabindia was founded by John Bissell, William Nanda Bissell. Founder information for AJIO is not available in our dataset.
Which company has a longer operating history — AJIO or Fabindia?
Fabindia has been operating for approximately 66 years, making it the more established of the two companies. AJIO has been in operation for around 10 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the AJIO vs Fabindia overview