India’s Reliance Retail has hired Guillaume de Colonges to oversee its grocery business, as reported by Mint.
The news comes as the company prepares for a potential initial public offering in 2027/28.
De Colonges, who has held several country chief executive roles at Carrefour and previously served as the French group’s chief commercial officer, was hired by Reliance Retail earlier in 2025.
His entry is viewed internally as paving the way for a potential leadership transition in the grocery vertical.
de Colonges is seen as a likely successor to Damodar Mall, chief executive of Reliance Retail’s grocery retail division, although there is no indication so far that Mall intends to step down.
He is currently working across Reliance Retail’s business-to-business and consumer-focused operations, spanning brick-and-mortar stores and parts of the digital business.
A source stated: “He is trying to get a full understanding of the B2B (business-to-business) and consumer-facing businesses, including stores and some parts of online. The focus is to improve the overall store experience and bring in more of his international expertise to create a better offline shopping experience.”
Reliance Industries did not respond to Mint’s queries on the appointment.
Reliance Retail operates close to 5,000 grocery outlets across formats such as Reliance Smart, Smart Bazaar, Fresh Signature, Freshpik and Metro Cash & Carry, alongside the JioMart platform.
The wider retail network reached 19,821 stores in the September quarter of 2025.
The company reported fiscal year 2025 revenue of Rs2.91tn ($32bn) and earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation of Rs250bn.
It has expanded through acquisitions, including Future Group’s retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing businesses in 2020 and Metro Cash & Carry India in 2023.
After rationalising large-format stores in 2024 it added 412 new outlets in the September quarter of 2025.
In November, Reliance Retail signed an exclusive distribution partnership with Germany-based cosnova Beauty to introduce the essence cosmetics brand in India.
The Indian retailer will distribute essence’s product range nationwide through its integrated omnichannel network, including online platforms, beauty stores and partner retail formats.
