In yet another senior-level shake-up, Lalit Mittal, Chief Business Officer (CBO) at Livspace, has exited the company. His departure marks the second high-profile leadership exit within days, coming shortly after India CEO and co-founder Saurabh Jain stepped down from his role.
The developments arrive at a crucial juncture for the Bengaluru-based home interiors startup, which is undergoing organisational restructuring and cost rationalisation while doubling down on artificial intelligence (AI) to drive operational efficiency.
In this article, we will delve into the recent leadership exits at Livspace, examine the company’s restructuring and AI-driven cost optimisation strategy, and analyse what these changes could mean for its future growth trajectory.
Credits: NewsBytes
Second Top-Level Exit in Days
Mittal’s exit follows closely on the heels of Saurabh Jain’s resignation, signalling a significant leadership churn at the top. While the company has sought to downplay concerns, the back-to-back departures have raised questions about the timing, particularly given Livspace’s broader internal transformation.
According to the company, Mittal had already transitioned out over a month ago. In an official statement, Livspace confirmed his departure and noted that he is embarking on his own entrepreneurial journey after six years at the company.
Mittal and Jain had worked closely on several strategic initiatives, especially around scaling India operations and driving growth across key verticals.
A Six-Year Growth Journey
Mittal played a central role in Livspace’s India business operations. Having joined the company over six years ago, he was elevated to the role of CBO in 2022 when Jain transitioned from Chief Business Officer to CEO of Livspace India.
During his tenure, Mittal reportedly helped drive a fourfold increase in business growth. He worked alongside top executives in strengthening the company’s operational backbone, expanding its footprint, and improving execution efficiency.
His exit leaves a leadership vacuum, with the company yet to announce a successor for the CBO position.
Cost Cuts and AI Push
The leadership reshuffle coincides with a broader restructuring exercise within Livspace. The company has reportedly laid off at least 1,000 employees in recent months as part of a cost-optimisation drive.
The move is part of a strategic shift toward greater automation and AI-led efficiency in operations. Like many high-growth startups navigating a more disciplined funding environment, Livspace appears to be recalibrating its cost structure while prioritising sustainable growth.
The adoption of AI tools is expected to streamline processes ranging from customer design consultations to backend supply-chain management, helping the company reduce manual intervention and improve margins.
Financials Show Improvement
Despite internal restructuring, Livspace’s financial performance shows signs of steady progress.
In FY25, the company reported revenue of ₹1,460 crore, marking a 23 percent increase from ₹1,185 crore in FY24. More significantly, losses narrowed from ₹416 crore to ₹242 crore during the same period.
This combination of topline growth and shrinking losses suggests that Livspace’s operational adjustments may be yielding results, even as it navigates leadership transitions.
Company Response: “Natural Evolution”
Addressing concerns around consecutive senior-level exits, the company described the changes as part of the natural evolution of a maturing organisation.
Livspace stated that it has a history of “graduating” leaders who go on to build significant ventures of their own — positioning the exits as part of its leadership ecosystem rather than signs of instability.
Still, with two senior leaders stepping away within days and significant workforce reductions underway, the optics remain noteworthy.
Credits: Bussiness
What Lies Ahead?
The immediate question now is leadership continuity. Who will step into the CBO role? How will responsibilities be redistributed? And what does Jain’s departure mean for the company’s India strategy?
While Livspace has demonstrated improving financial metrics, sustained momentum will depend on stable leadership, effective AI integration, and disciplined execution.
For now, the company stands at a pivotal inflection point — balancing growth ambitions with operational efficiency, even as its leadership bench undergoes a reset.
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