MakeMyTrip Appoints Pankaj Chauhan as New General Counsel

• Pankaj Chauhan has been appointed as the new General Counsel for MakeMyTrip Group.
• He brings nearly 25 years of legal leadership experience across diverse sectors including Automotive, Telecom, and Consumer Durables.
• Chauhan previously served as Group General Counsel and Senior Vice President at Usha International for over six years.
• His expertise encompasses legal strategy, corporate governance, risk management, data protection, and corporate restructuring.
• At MakeMyTrip, he will lead the legal function, focusing on governance, regulatory risk, transactions, and business alignment.

At MakeMyTrip, the new GC's mandate is clear: to lead the Group’s legal function with a focus on governance, legal and regulatory risk management, and transactional oversight.

MakeMyTrip Group has announced the appointment of Pankaj Chauhan as its new General Counsel, marking a significant leadership change within the company's legal department. This strategic move places Chauhan at the helm of the Group’s legal function, where he will be instrumental in shaping its legal strategy, managing regulatory compliance, and overseeing risk across the organization. His arrival is expected to bolster the company's governance framework and ensure its operational alignment with evolving legal landscapes.

In his capacity as MakeMyTrip's legal head, Chauhan will be responsible for a broad spectrum of critical areas. These include providing leadership counsel, navigating complex transactions, and mitigating legal and regulatory risks. His role is also pivotal in ensuring that the legal function is seamlessly integrated with the broader business objectives of the MakeMyTrip Group, reinforcing the company's commitment to robust legal oversight and strategic growth.

Pankaj Chauhan brings nearly twenty-five years of extensive legal leadership experience to his new role at MakeMyTrip. His distinguished career spans a diverse array of industries, including Automotive, Infrastructure, Power & Mining, Telecom, IT/ITES/Software, and Consumer Durables, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of varied corporate legal challenges. This wide-ranging exposure has equipped him with specialized expertise in several key legal domains.

Before joining MakeMyTrip, Chauhan served as the Group General Counsel and Senior Vice President at Usha International for more than six years, a tenure that solidified his reputation in India corporate legal leadership. His professional journey also includes significant stints at other prominent organizations such as Sterlite Technologies, Vedanta Group, Hero Motors, and Minda Corporation. Throughout his career, he has developed deep expertise in areas like Legal Strategy, Contract Management, Litigation, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Policy Advocacy, Corporate Governance, Risk & Compliance Management, Corporate Restructuring through Joint Ventures and Mergers & Acquisitions, and Data Protection.

Chauhan's academic foundation includes a graduation from Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra, in 2007. Further enhancing his legal acumen, he has completed his LLM in International Business and Finance Laws from Golden Gate University in 2025. He is also a respected member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, underscoring his commitment to corporate governance and compliance best practices.

At MakeMyTrip, the new GC's mandate is clear: to lead the Group’s legal function with a focus on governance, legal and regulatory risk management, and transactional oversight. His leadership counsel will be vital in aligning the legal department's efforts with the company's overarching business goals. Given his extensive background in data protection and corporate governance, his appointment is particularly noteworthy for stakeholders dealing with MakeMyTrip, as it signals a strong emphasis on these critical areas under his guidance.

Lawyers and compliance officers dealing with MakeMyTrip should note Pankaj Chauhan's appointment as General Counsel, as he will now lead the company's legal strategy, risk management, and regulatory compliance. This change in leadership may influence future legal engagements, negotiations, or compliance expectations with the company, particularly given his extensive experience in data protection and corporate governance.

Source: Original reporting via Bar & Bench