The House of Rare has appointed Nishant Poddar as its Chief Marketing Officer, strengthening the company’s leadership team as it looks to accelerate brand growth and deepen consumer engagement across its portfolio of fashion and lifestyle labels. The appointment comes at a time when the Indian fashion retail sector is witnessing heightened competition and increasing emphasis on differentiated brand experiences.
In his new role, Poddar will oversee brand marketing, communications, content, digital initiatives, community building and consumer experience across The House of Rare’s portfolio. This includes brands such as Rare Rabbit, Rareism, RARE ONES and Rare’z. The company said the appointment reflects its focus on building a unified and scalable marketing strategy to support its growing brand ecosystem.
Poddar brings over two decades of experience in marketing, brand building and retail strategy. Prior to joining The House of Rare, he served as Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Retail Experience at WROGN. During his tenure, he played a key role in shaping the brand’s positioning, expanding its retail presence and strengthening its omnichannel strategy. His work involved aligning brand communication with evolving consumer expectations across both physical stores and digital platforms.
Before WROGN, Poddar held leadership roles at Café Coffee Day and worked across multiple consumer-focused businesses. His career spans experience in retail marketing, brand development and digital engagement, with exposure to managing large-scale campaigns and cross-functional teams. This background positions him to take on a broader mandate at The House of Rare as the group scales its operations.
Founded in 2015, The House of Rare has built a diversified fashion portfolio catering to men, women and children. Rare Rabbit focuses on contemporary menswear, while Rareism addresses women’s fashion. RARE ONES and Rare’z extend the group’s offerings across additional lifestyle and apparel segments. The company operates through a mix of exclusive brand outlets, franchise stores and digital channels.
The appointment signals the company’s intent to sharpen its marketing and consumer engagement capabilities as it competes in a fast-evolving retail environment. Indian fashion brands are increasingly required to balance creativity with data-driven decision making, while responding to shifts in shopping behaviour influenced by digital platforms and social media.
Marketing leadership has become a strategic priority for fashion retailers seeking to differentiate themselves beyond product and price. Consistent storytelling, strong digital presence and meaningful engagement are now central to building long-term brand equity. Poddar’s role will involve developing integrated marketing strategies that align with these objectives while supporting business growth.
Industry observers note that senior marketing roles today encompass a wide range of responsibilities, from overseeing digital performance and content strategy to managing influencer collaborations and customer experience initiatives. The ability to integrate online and offline touchpoints is critical as consumers increasingly expect seamless brand interactions across channels.
During his previous assignments, Poddar worked closely with creative, retail and digital teams to ensure consistency in brand messaging and execution. His experience in building marketing structures that support rapid growth is expected to be valuable as The House of Rare continues to expand its footprint.
The Indian fashion retail market remains highly competitive, with a mix of established players, digital-first brands and global entrants vying for consumer attention. In this environment, companies that invest in strong leadership and coherent brand strategy are better positioned to navigate market volatility and changing preferences.
The House of Rare’s portfolio strategy reflects an effort to cater to diverse consumer segments while maintaining a distinct brand identity for each label. Marketing plays a key role in communicating these identities and ensuring that each brand resonates with its target audience. Poddar’s mandate includes strengthening this differentiation while maintaining coherence at the group level.
Digital transformation is another area of focus for marketing leaders in retail. Data and analytics are increasingly used to understand consumer behaviour, personalise communication and optimise campaigns. Poddar will be expected to leverage these tools to enhance marketing effectiveness and support informed decision making.
The company’s leadership has indicated that marketing will continue to play a central role in driving growth, particularly as the group expands into new markets and categories. Investments in brand building and consumer engagement are seen as critical to sustaining momentum over the long term.
As consumer expectations evolve, fashion retailers are required to adapt quickly, balancing trend responsiveness with consistent brand values. Marketing leaders are tasked with translating these values into compelling narratives that connect with audiences across platforms.
For The House of Rare, the appointment of Nishant Poddar as Chief Marketing Officer marks a strategic step toward strengthening its marketing leadership. As the group continues to scale its operations and brand portfolio, effective marketing and consumer engagement are expected to remain key drivers of growth and competitiveness in the Indian fashion retail landscape.