Open Network for Digital Commerce has formally elevated Vibhor Jain to the role of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 7, 2026, marking a key leadership transition for India’s ambitious open commerce initiative. Jain, who previously served as Chief Operating Officer and later stepped in as acting CEO following the exit of Thampy Koshy in April 2025, now assumes full-time leadership at a critical phase of the network’s evolution.
His appointment comes as ONDC continues to position itself as a transformative layer in India’s digital economy, enabling buyers and sellers to transact across interoperable platforms rather than being confined within closed ecosystems. Outlining his strategic direction, Jain emphasized the importance of building capabilities that only an open network can deliver, highlighting that the focus will remain on enabling use cases that traditional, vertically integrated platforms may not prioritize due to structural or incentive limitations.
Jain has articulated a clear intent to deepen ONDC’s impact across a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including small retailers, farmers, artisans, gig workers, and first-time digital participants. This inclusive approach aligns with the network’s founding vision of democratizing digital commerce by lowering entry barriers and expanding access beyond large, centralized marketplaces. He also pointed to the strength of the leadership bench, with key appointments such as Rohit Lohia as Chief Business Officer and Manoj Thakur as Chief Technology Officer, reinforcing operational and technological capabilities as the platform scales.
From a financial standpoint, ONDC has demonstrated strong topline momentum. The organization reported a 127 percent year-on-year increase in revenue to ₹33.41 crore for FY25, compared to ₹14.7 crore in the previous fiscal year. At the same time, its net loss narrowed to ₹147.13 crore from ₹195.6 crore, indicating early signs of improved cost management even as the network continues to invest in expansion and ecosystem development. While profitability remains a longer-term objective, the dual trend of revenue growth and controlled losses suggests a gradual move toward financial sustainability.
Operationally, ONDC has achieved significant scale since its inception. Between January 2023 and August 2025, the network facilitated approximately 288 million orders and onboarded over 167,500 retail sellers. However, in a shift toward a more strategic disclosure approach, ONDC discontinued the regular publication of monthly transaction data in August 2025. The last available figures indicate that more than 83 million retail orders were processed between April 2024 and August 2025, underscoring steady adoption across categories.
Looking ahead, one of the key areas of focus will be the implementation of network infrastructure development and service fees, a move that has been under consideration since late 2024 but delayed multiple times to allow ecosystem participants to prepare. The introduction of these fees is expected to play a crucial role in building a sustainable economic model for the network. In parallel, ONDC is expanding into financial services, with plans to introduce fees for mutual fund and credit transactions conducted through its platform, signaling a diversification beyond core commerce use cases.
Jain’s leadership comes at a pivotal juncture where ONDC must transition from rapid onboarding and experimentation to creating consistent value for all participants in the network. His emphasis on interoperability, inclusivity, and long-term ecosystem development reflects a strategic shift toward strengthening the foundational infrastructure rather than competing directly with established ecommerce players.
Overall, the appointment reinforces ONDC’s commitment to its core philosophy of open digital networks, with Jain expected to steer the platform through its next phase of growth by balancing scale, sustainability, and stakeholder value creation in India’s evolving digital commerce landscape.
