MUMBAI:  Sunil Raina has officially taken the reins as managing director at Lava International, stepping into the hot seat after a stellar 15-year rise through the ranks at the homegrown mobile brand.

From leading marketing at Xolo to steering strategy as president and business head, and most recently serving as executive director, Raina has been the driving force behind Lava’s brand identity, market expansion, and product innovation over the years.

His journey with the company began in 2010 as chief marketing officer, and since then, he’s been pivotal in Lava’s evolution from an emerging player to a Make in India torchbearer.

With earlier stints at Telenor, Reliance Communications, Airtel, and Tata Teleservices, Raina’s telecom roots run deep. His marketing chops and GTM savvy are expected to play a key role as Lava navigates India’s fiercely competitive smartphone battleground.

Industry insiders say Raina’s elevation signals a renewed push for domestic dominance and global ambition, as the brand looks to consolidate its positioning against Chinese rivals and double down on manufacturing, design, and distribution.

As the handset wars heat up, all eyes are on how Lava’s homegrown hero plans to dial up growth—and ring in a fresh era of desi disruption.