Pankaj Kumar Gains Global Spotlight In New York’s Times Square
Pankaj Kumar, CXO 2.0 Conference Honoree, Featured In Times Square For Driving Business Growth And Operational Excellence
Las Vegas, USA - July 27, 2026 — Pankaj Kumar, Founder & CEO of Bowl’d Masala, was recognized with the Business Leadership Excellence Award at the CXO 2.0 Conference. His recognition was featured on New York’s Times Square billboards, highlighting his leadership in driving business growth, operational efficiency, and franchise development. The three-day leadership conference, held from April 7–9, 2026, at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, USA, brought together global executives, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to explore strategies shaping the future of business leadership.
Pankaj Kumar is a Certified Franchise Consultant and the Founder of Bowl’d Masala, a fast-casual concept focused on healthy Indian cuisine. With over 20 years of global leadership experience at brands such as Subway, Domino’s, and KFC, he has led business expansion efforts across Southeast Asia, Europe, and America.
His strategic leadership has driven measurable outcomes across multiple ventures, including Kati Roll Wala and DNA Franchise. By leveraging a food hall-based model rather than traditional standalone restaurants, he minimized upfront investment while maximizing customer exposure, enabling faster scalability and earlier profitability. This approach supported expansion across multiple cities and contributed to increased franchise interest and system-wide revenue growth.
During the post-pandemic downturn, when sales declined significantly due to rising delivery costs and shifting consumer behavior, he led a strategic pivot from cloud kitchens to a food hall model. Through menu engineering, cost optimization, and clear communication with franchisees and teams, the business stabilized revenue streams and restored profitability within six months.
In addition to operating his own brand, Pankaj expanded into franchise consulting through DNA Franchise, where he supports businesses in navigating franchise development and building standardized, scalable processes. His work reflects a focus on data-driven decision-making, operational innovation, and sustainable business growth.
His leadership contributions have been recognized through media features, including coverage in the Times Union, as well as appearances on industry podcasts such as Franchise Interviews, where he has shared insights on franchise development and operational excellence.
This recognition highlights Pankaj’s role in driving business innovation, strengthening franchise ecosystems, and building scalable models that support long-term growth and operational efficiency.
About CXO 2.0 Conference
The CXO 2.0 Conference is a three-day global event that brings together senior executives, business leaders, and entrepreneurs to discuss emerging trends, leadership strategies, and business innovation. With upcoming editions in Singapore, Dubai, and Las Vegas, the leadership conference offers a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and recognition of leaders making a significant impact across industries. The conference also features expert-led sessions, panel discussions, and collaborative opportunities designed to promote meaningful business connections. For more information, visit www.cxo2conf.com.