# Indian Startups Add Senior Titles Without Matching Pay 2026-08-07T04:41:27+00:00 | Business & Economy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Indian startups are increasingly using titles such as Associate Director, AVP, Principal and Lead to attract and retain employees without proportionate salary increases, ETHRWorld reports. The expansion reflects a wider change in corporate hierarchies, where Vice President has become a mid-career grade at many global investment banks rather than a top executive post. Companies are also creating specialised roles including Chief AI Officer, Chief Sustainability Officer and Chief Culture Officer as data, compliance, sustainability and technology gain greater business weight. Executives quoted by ETHRWorld say a meaningful role must have clear authority, resources, measurable outcomes and lasting relevance. Cars24 has taken the opposite route, removing titles, grades and bands and calling all employees Builders. ## Coverage - hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com Tags: AI, corporate titles, leadership, startups, workplace Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/indian-startups-add-senior-titles-without-matching-pay/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/indian-startups-add-senior-titles-without-matching-pay/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.