Rohan Mirchandani, the CEO of the well-known yoghurt company Epigamia, passed away following a heart arrest, NDTV Profit reported in a news release. It stated the 42-year-old businessman passed away on December 21.
Co-founder and director Uday Thakker and Chief Operating Officer and founding member Ankur Goel will continue to lead Epigamia’s senior leadership in managing day-to-day operations. “To everyone who had the honour of knowing Rohan, he was not just a visionary leader but also an inspiration. We are all forever changed by his unshakeable dedication, limitless enthusiasm, and intense love for Epigamia.”
According to the press announcement, the board of Epigamia stated, “We will collaborate closely with the company’s leadership to elevate Rohan’s legacy to new heights.” Goel and Thakker said in a joint statement that Mirchandani was a leader, friend, and mentor.
“We are unwavering in our resolve to pursue his ambition with courage and tenacity. We will continue to be guided by Rohan’s vision and principles as we collaborate to commemorate the foundation he established and make sure his dream lives on.”
After graduating from the esteemed Stern and Wharton School at New York University, Mirchandani founded Drums Food International in 2013. The company is the parent company of Epigamia, a modern fast-moving consumer goods brand that has emerged as the leading Greek yoghurt brand in India.
According to Mirchandani’s previous interviews, he founded his business after attending a lecture on consumer brands and the lack of innovation in FMCG in Mumbai. Mirchandani’s passing is the most recent in a string of unexpected deaths of CEOs in the startup sector.
Ambareesh Murty, 51, co-founder of the furniture brand Pepperfry, died of a heart attack while riding a bike in 2023, while Rohan Malhotra, co-founder of the venture capital firm Good Capital, passed away on October 1. Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone and French dairy company Danone also back Epigamia, with Belgian investor Verlinvest being one of its biggest external shareholders.
Epigamia, a Mumbai-based company, sells a variety of products, such as kheer, milkshakes, smoothies, yoghurt, curd, and beverages. The brand was first introduced as Hoki Poki ice cream, but as the ice cream market proved to be more seasonal, it shifted its focus to yoghurt.