Pepperfry co-founder Ambareesh Murty dies of cardiac arrest in Leh

Ambareesh Murty, co-founder of Pepperfry, passed away in Leh due to a cardiac arrest, announced fellow co-founder Ashish Shah on Tuesday.

"Extremely devastated to inform that my friend, mentor, brother, soulmate Ambareesh Murty is no more. Lost him yesterday night to a cardiac arrest at Leh. Please pray for him and for strength to his family and near ones," wrote Ashish Shah, co-founder of the furniture and home décor company, in a post on social media platform X.

In 2012, Ambareesh Murty and Ashish Shah established Pepperfry, an e-commerce platform specializing in furniture and home goods. Over the past decade, Pepperfry has transformed traditional retail norms through a unique blend of an online virtual catalogue, an in-house supply chain, and an expansive omnichannel presence across over 100 Indian cities.

Ambareesh Murty | A 5-point profile

1. Industry exposure: Ambareesh began his career with Cadbury in sales and marketing, followed by a stint with Prudential ICICI AMC (now ICICI Prudential) as VP of Marketing & Customer Service.

Ambareesh's illustrious career included key leadership roles such as Country Manager of eBay India, Philippines, and Malaysia, where his strategic acumen and customer-centric approach propelled eBay's growth trajectory. Additionally, he held the position of Vice Chairman of the Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

Previously, he was the brand leader of Levi Strauss India, responsible for product development, marketing, and retail strategies for the brand. His stint with Britannia Industries as the marketing manager-mass markets involved him being responsible for segment P&L and strategy definition, his profile page on the Pepperfry website reads.

2. Entrepreneurial Vision: Ambareesh co-founded Pepperfry in 2012. With an extensive background in various sectors, he embarked on a journey to start an Indian online furniture and home goods market.

3. Leadership: With more than 14 years of comprehensive general management experience spanning FMCG, financial services, and internet sectors, Ambareesh played a pivotal role in shaping Pepperfry into one of India's premier eCommerce furniture and home goods companies.

4. Expertise: Specializing in marketing, sales management, and corporate strategy, Ambareesh leveraged his understanding of consumer behaviour and market dynamics to drive Pepperfry's growth and market dominance.

5. Educational background: Ambareesh's academic journey, included a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) from the Delhi College of Engineering and an Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. His diverse educational foundation served as a strong pillar for his entrepreneurial success and leadership accomplishments.