Ambareesh Murty, Co-founder Of Pepperfry, Dies Of Heart Attack At 51

Ambareesh Murty, the co-founder of the online furniture store Pepperfry, passed away due to a heart attack in Leh during the night of Monday, August 7. He was 51 years old. Ambareesh established the home decor company in Mumbai back in 2012.

An alumnus of IIM Calcutta, he was also an avid trekking enthusiast. According to media reports, he had successfully undertaken two cross-country biking expeditions.

On Tuesday morning, Ashish Shah, the other co-founder of Pepperfry, expressed his profound sorrow in a tweet.

He wrote, "It is with extreme devastation that I share the news of my friend, mentor, brother, and soulmate @AmbareeshMurty's passing. He succumbed to a cardiac arrest in Leh last night. I request your prayers for him and for strength for his family and loved ones."

All you need to know about: Pepperfry CEO - Ambareesh Murty

Prior to establishing Pepperfry, Ambareesh had cultivated an extensive corporate career. He held the position of Country Manager at eBay India, Philippines, and Malaysia from March 2008 to June 2011. Preceding this, he served as the Director of Marketplace Development & User Experience from December 2005 to February 2008. Earlier, Ambareesh was associated with Britannia Industries as a Marketing Manager from June 2005 to December 2005. Additionally, he contributed his expertise as the Brand Leader for Levi Strauss India Ltd. from August 2003 to December 2003 and as VP of Marketing and Customer Service at ICICI Prudential from October 2001 to August 2003. His professional journey commenced at Cadbury India, where he spent over five years as a Brand Manager from June 1996 to October 2001.

Aside from these accomplishments, Ambareesh initiated a content development and delivery company named Origin Sources in December 2003, focusing on training within the asset management sector.

Ambareesh holds an engineering and management background, having pursued Civil Engineering at Delhi College of Engineering (1990 - 1994) and an MBA at IIM-Calcutta (1994-1996).

During his tenure at Pepperfry, Ambareesh Murty, dedicated 12 to 14 hours a day, working relentlessly without taking holidays or weekends off. A fervent trekking enthusiast, Ambareesh, cherished Ladakh as his preferred winter vacation destination.

Pepperfry, initiated by former eBay executives Ambareesh Murty and Ashish, commenced its journey in Mumbai in 2012. In 2014, the company marked its offline presence with the inauguration of its first store in Mumbai. Rapid expansion followed, leading to a network of more than 70 stores spread across 28 Indian cities by 2019.

Operational efficiency is supported by four strategically located warehouses in Bangalore, Jodhpur, Mumbai, and Delhi.

In 2020, Pepperfry expanded its horizons by venturing into the realm of home interiors through collaborations with prominent brands like Hettich, Bosch, Siemens, Kajaria, and Gyproc, among others.

The company's funding journey has been significant, raising a cumulative total of USD 240.5 million across eight successful funding rounds.