Open to opportunities

Ankit Chhabra

@ankitchhabra

Message

I drive retail mall business development and leasing, shaping tenant mix and maximizing occupancy.

India

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m looking to lead retail mall business development and leasing—using tenant mix, heat zone strategy, and retailer performance insights to maximize occupancy and returns, while mentoring teams and shaping shopping-centre positioning.

I bring 23+ years of experience in retail business development and leasing within the shopping centre industry, with a proven ability to analyze retail markets, negotiate commercially, and improve retail performance. I’ve been associated with R Retail & Warburg Pincus, Shapoorji Pallonji, Pioneer Property Zone, Marks & Spencer, Shoppers Stop & Pantaloons, and more.

As Vice President, Retail Mall at SPR India (Mall of Madras, 1.2 Mn sqft), I’m responsible for conceptualizing the centre’s leasing approach, negotiating leases with retailers to maximize returns and occupancy, and continually improvising the tenant mix. I also align brands to the centre identity and work with vendors to build other income plans like SOH, kiosks, and parking, while coordinating seamlessly with legal and internal teams.

Earlier, as Assistant Vice President at R Retail Ventures (Warburg Pincus LLC & Runwal Developers), I assessed retail investment opportunities, built a strong retailer network, and formulated tenant mix aligned with income statements and regional consumer segmentation. My focus is consistently on heat zone management, trading density and retailer performance metrics, revitalizing underperforming zones through the right category placements, and ensuring ongoing retailer monitoring and refresh to keep spaces vibrant.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Vice President, Retail

Current

SPR India Pvt Ltd

Jun 2021 - Present (5 years)

Conceptualize, lease, and develop operating strategy for Mall of Madras. Lead lease negotiations with retailers to maximize returns and occupancy, and continuously refine tenant mix and shopping center positioning.

Shopping Centre Positioning Lease Negotiation Tenant Mix Planning Kiosks Parking Vendor coordination Mentorship

Assistant Vice President

R Retail Ventures Pvt Ltd

Jun 2019 - Jun 2021 (2 years)

Assess retail investment opportunities across India for the Investment Committee. Negotiate retail leases to maximize returns and occupancy, and develop tenant mix aligned with income statements and regional consumer segmentation.

Retail Investment Opportunity Assessment Lease Negotiation Occupancy Maximization Retailer Performance Matrix Analysis Tenant Mix Planning Business Development Leadership Mentorship

Head Retail Development

Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Pvt. Ltd

Jul 2018 - Jun 2019 (11 months)

Lead retail master planning covering retail development, leasing, and operations. Define positioning, retail mix, and revenue models, and negotiate commercial deals aligned with group expansion plans.

master planning Leasing Strategy Positioning Collaboration With Property Consultants

Head Leasing & Business Dev

Pioneer Property Zone & Bentel Associates

Jan 2013 - Jul 2018 (5 years 6 months)

Lead P&L responsibilities for the leasing vertical and drive commercial leasing performance. Manage tenant mix and rental budgeting, negotiate and close commercials with retailers, and coordinate tenant changes with legal and design teams.

Leasing P&L Ownership Tenant Mix Planning Commercial Negotiation Tenant Change Management Tenant Coordination Rental And Asset Value Enhancement

Regional Head, Business Development

Marks & Spencer Reliance India Pvt Ltd

Jan 2010 - Jan 2013 (3 years)

Lead property scouting for Marks & Spencer while meeting international specifications. Conduct micro-market mapping to develop sales plans and manage commercial negotiations through documentation closure.

Market Mapping Sales Planning Commercial Negotiation Store Rollout (India)

Area Head, West India

Shoppers Stop Ltd

Jul 2007 - Jan 2010 (2 years 6 months)

Drive expansion initiatives for Shoppers Stop and related brands in the West India region. Manage commercial negotiations and document closure, and support committees shaping new retail formats, including renegotiation and exits during the financial meltdown.

Commercial Negotiation Retail Format Committee Involvement Store Exit Management

Assistant Manager Operations

Pantaloons Retail India Ltd

Nov 2006 - Jul 2007 (8 months)

Support retail operations and contribute to leasing activities for Pantaloons. Assist in managing the retail network to improve efficiency.

Leasing Retail Operations retail management Efficiency Improvement

Regional Manager

Woodland Shoes

Jan 2003 - Nov 2006 (3 years 10 months)

Manage regional operations for Woodland Shoes and optimize performance over the term described. Lead operational execution at the regional level to improve results.

Regional Operations Management Retail Performance Optimization