Flipkart hires Google ex-exec Punit Soni as product chief

Flipkart, perhaps India's most aggressive online retailer, on Wednesday announced the appointment of former top executive at Google, Punit Soni, as its chief product officer.

Soni, also a former vice-president of product management at Motorola, will lead product innovation at Flipkart for the e-retailer's consumer products, marketplace and transaction platform. He will drive product strategy, design and product marketing functions to boost Flipkart's user interface and product solutions.

Mukesh Bansal, head, Flipkart commerce, said, ''The next stage of Flipkart is here. As we build a leading-edge technology company, we are pleased to welcome Punit to Bengaluru to lead our product-related initiatives. His deep experience in launching successful tech-related products and his extensive relationships in the US and abroad will help Flipkart stay on the cutting edge.''

As a senior product leader with Google and Motorola, Soni was involved in the development of Google News, Google Books, Google Plus, and Google Mobile.

Earlier he also oversaw a suite of Motorola devices, including Moto X, Moto G and Moto E.

Flipkart chief executive Sachin Bansal and co-founder with his brother Mukesh, said, ''Flipkart has always been a pioneer in innovative solutions. Punit will help accelerate our innovation agenda in building products that consumers love.''

Soni obtained a BTech in electronics and communications engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, before taking a masters' in electrical engineering from the University of Wyoming and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

''India is the next centre of tech innovation and growth globally, and I'm excited to participate by moving to Bangalore for Flipkart. The next world-class technology company will come out of India, and that company will be Flipkart,'' Soni said.