Zomato, the prominent restaurant aggregator and food delivery platform, has appointed Shalin Bhatt as the head of its dining vertical. This strategic move follows the departure of Sankalp Kathuria, who stepped down from the role last month.

Bhatt, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and IIM Ahmedabad, began his career at MediaCom Singapore. He then joined IDG Ventures India and later Matrix Partners India. In 2018, he joined Zomato as Associate Vice President of User Growth and Marketing, eventually rising to the position of Head of Growth. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing the company’s growth marketing strategies, including user acquisition, retention, and business forecasting.

After departing Zomato in 2021, Bhatt rejoined the company in July 2024. His return has culminated in his appointment to lead the dining vertical, a role he now assumes with a focus on enhancing Zomato’s dining-out offerings.

This leadership change coincides with Zomato’s efforts to transition dining-out users to its newly launched District app. Introduced in November 2024, the District app has experienced a promising start, surpassing 6.5 million downloads within a few months. The app consolidates all of Zomato’s dining-out services, aiming to provide a seamless experience for users seeking dining and entertainment options.

Key Highlights:

• Leadership Change: Shalin Bhatt appointed as head of Zomato’s dining vertical, succeeding Sankalp Kathuria.
• Professional Background: Bhatt has a diverse career, including roles at MediaCom Singapore, IDG Ventures India, Matrix Partners India, and Zomato.
• Strategic Focus: Bhatt’s leadership is expected to drive the growth and innovation of Zomato’s dining-out services, particularly through the District app.