Flipkart Appoints Prathyusha Agarwal as Shopsy Vice President

Flipkart, the Walmart-backed e-commerce giant, has appointed former BYJU’S executive Prathyusha Agarwal as the Vice President of its value commerce platform, Shopsy. This strategic move is part of a broader reshuffle in Flipkart’s senior leadership as the company prepares for its initial public offering (IPO).

Agarwal, an alumna of IIT Madras and IIM Ahmedabad, brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She served as Chief Business Officer at BYJU’S from February 2022 to October 2023, followed by a stint as Venture Board Advisor for Zydus Digital Health Solutions. Initially, there were reports suggesting she was being hired as CEO of Shopsy, but sources have now confirmed her position as Vice President.

Shopsy, launched in 2021, began as a social commerce platform aimed at resellers from smaller cities, allowing them to order for their network and earn commissions. The platform has since pivoted to focus on direct consumer purchases, a shift that has driven significant growth. Between January and March 2023, Shopsy served over 16 million shoppers. Operating on a zero-commission marketplace model, Shopsy aims to democratize hyper-value commerce in India.

Flipkart’s leadership changes also saw Anuj Rathi from Jupiter Money being appointed as CEO of Cleartrip, another Flipkart subsidiary. These appointments are seen as crucial steps as Flipkart gears up for its IPO. While the IPO is not expected in 2024, the company is keenly observing successful domestic consumer IPOs and is prioritizing profitability.

Walmart, which owns an 85% stake in Flipkart, has reported impressive advertising earnings from the platform. Additionally, Flipkart’s contribution has been significant in bolstering Walmart’s international sales.

In a related development, Flipkart is reportedly considering shifting its domicile from Singapore to India as part of its IPO strategy, although no definitive plans have been announced yet.