MUMBAI: That the food delivery and tech megacorp Zomato has big ambitions in the live space became apparent when it acquired PayTM’s Insider ticketing business for Rs 20,480 million. It That move  gave it instant access to a platform as well as data around a few million customers who were using it which would make it easier for it provide them further services, including live events and going out experiences.

Now the company has hired Kunal Khambhati, the former head of live events and intellectual property at BookMyShow. The recruitment has happened just as Zomato is gearing up to launch its long-talked-about going out app, District, that will serve users looking for restaurant bookings, payments, live performances, sports events, staycations and holiday rentals. Khambhati’s role will be to look after the live entertainment vertical of the app. 

He has oodles of experience under his belt: he played a big hand in live events and IP for nearly eight years, across India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. Before this, he had held the position of associate vice-president – marketing strategy & sales at Percept for nearly 10 years.  He is a 2006 graduate of the Indian Institute of Planning and Management. 

At Zomato, Khambhati is most likely expected to work alongside former Twitter exec Rahul Ganjoo and Pradyot Ghate (spent several years in Zomato across product, tech and growth) who will lead the District app. 

Zomato  had hired Zeenah Vilcassim as CEO of its live entertainment division last year from Bacardi where she  was the marketing director of  India. 

When District launches, Zomato will have three apps – Zomato, (food delivery), Blinkit (grocery delivery ) and District (going out).

That's not all:  Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal wants to take Zomato live into the stadium space as well, partnering with those who are willing and upgrading the infrastructure. 

The execs at Zomato live are sure going to have their hands full.