ITV

Category: Brands

  • Naos India names Sanjay Sahu area MD: a new chapter for Bioderma’s growth story

    Naos India names Sanjay Sahu area MD: a new chapter for Bioderma’s growth story

    MUMBAI: Naos India has announced the promotion of Sanjay Sahu to area managing director, Naos India (Bioderma), recognising his sharp strategic mind, dynamic leadership, and knack for driving stellar growth. With over two decades of industry experience, Sahu has been the force behind Bioderma’s impressive rise in India’s booming dermo-cosmetic market.

    Sahu’s promotion isn’t just a pat on the back—it’s a mandate to make waves across south Asia, including Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. His mission? To unlock new growth, expand market access, and supercharge Bioderma’s doctor-led and digital-first models.

    “I’m honoured to step into this role at such a transformative time,” Sahu said. “With our commitment to ecobiology and innovation, we’re set to redefine skincare for consumers while scaling accessibility and digital engagement.”

    Under Sahu’s watch, Bioderma has become a star performer for Naos India, recording strong sales growth and market share gains. His playbook? Smart strategy, disciplined execution, and a relentless focus on innovation. Now, with his eyes on south Asia, Sahu will tap into new markets while staying true to Bioderma’s roots in ecobiology—a science-meets-skincare philosophy that respects the skin’s natural balance.

    Naos, a pioneer in active cosmetics, is more than just a skincare brand. Founded in 1977 by pharmacist-biologist Jean-Noël Thorel, the company’s mantra—ecobiology—views skin as a living ecosystem, not a problem to be fixed. With its global footprint across 100 countries, including powerhouse brands Bioderma, Institut Esthederm, and Etat Pur, Naos continues to redefine skincare with science-backed solutions.

    For Sahu, the challenge now is clear—scale new heights while staying true to the brand’s roots. With his track record, the future looks bright for Bioderma in South Asia.

  • Fanta fizzles with flavour: Coca-Cola India’s orange star rules the carbonated sof drinks scene

    Fanta fizzles with flavour: Coca-Cola India’s orange star rules the carbonated sof drinks scene

    MUMBAI: Fanta, Coca-Cola India’s iconic orange-flavoured fizz, has taken a big, bubbly lead in the carbonated soft drink (CSD) category, commanding over 50 per cent of the market. The brand’s playful spirit and tangy taste have made it a go-to thirst-quencher for young Indians, seamlessly mixing nostalgia with a digital twist.

    First sipped in 1940, Fanta has evolved into a cultural phenomenon across 180 markets worldwide, but it’s India where the brand has really popped. From Rs 10 for a 200ml pack to 2.25L family-sized bottles, Fanta is everywhere—across two million retail outlets nationwide.

    Coca-Cola India developing markets and southwest Asia vice-president, franchise operations  Vinay Nair said:  “Fanta’s success is a testament to our flavour-first strategy, portfolio agility, and ability to stay culturally relevant. We’ve tapped into the youth’s digital DNA with campaigns like Fanta Mangta, turning a simple phrase into a fun cultural cue.”

    The latest Fanta Mangta campaign, featuring youth icon Kartik Aaryan, has hit all the right notes. With high view-through rates, creator collaborations, and meme-worthy moments, it’s made Fanta a digital darling.

    Whether it’s adding a burst of joy to Holi celebrations or being the perfect sidekick for everyday cravings, Fanta has become more than a drink—it’s a pop of happiness. As India’s young and restless sip on Fanta, Coca-Cola India’s zesty star shows no signs of losing its sparkle.

  • Ray-Ban Meta AI smart glasses land in India: Titan Eye+ brings smart style into focus

    Ray-Ban Meta AI smart glasses land in India: Titan Eye+ brings smart style into focus

    MUMBAI: Titan Eye+ has dialled up the smart quotient with the launch of Ray-Ban Meta AI smart glasses, now available at 50+ select stores across India. This slick new eyewear, merging Meta’s artificial intelligence with Ray-Ban’s iconic style, puts hands-free functionality right in your frame.

    For those who love to stay connected without missing a beat, the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses pack a punch—voice-activated Meta AI assistance, hands-free photo and video capture with a 12MP camera, open-ear speakers for immersive audio, and instant connectivity for calls, messages, music, and even live streaming. Style has officially gone high-tech.

    Titan Co Ltd eyecare division CEO NS Raghavan called the launch a game-changer. “We are thrilled to bring the Ray-Ban Meta AI smart glasses to India. As pioneers in smart eyewear, we aim to offer globally acclaimed brands that marry technology with fashion.”

    This launch bolsters Titan Eye+’s already-robust smart eyewear portfolio, which includes the feature-packed Titan EyeX and the trendy Fastrack Vibes. Available in-store and online at www.titaneyeplus.com, the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses can also be snagged at a discount using Tata Neu reward points. Prices begin at Rs 29,900-odd for the basic model, and go up to Rs 35,700 for the transition AI glasses. 

    With India’s appetite for smart wearables on the rise, Titan Eye+ is putting the future of connected fashion right before your eyes.

  • Infosys breaks into BrandZ top 100 again, surges 34 per cent in value and earns U.S. trust badge

    Infosys breaks into BrandZ top 100 again, surges 34 per cent in value and earns U.S. trust badge

    MUMBAI: In a market that doesn’t blink twice before dethroning legacy players, Infosys has quietly secured its place at the high table. The Bengaluru-based IT giant has once again featured in Kantar’s BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands list for 2025, clocking a 34 per cent surge in brand value and securing the #73 spot globally.

    This marks Infosys’ fourth consecutive year on the list and its firm footing among the top five per cent of most trusted brands in the United States. The recognition, based on Kantar’s extensive marketing analytics, reinforces Infosys’ growing brand equity amidst a global tech shake-up led by AI, cloud and digital reinvention.

    “Our efforts are relentlessly focused on building Infosys into one of the most respected IT services brands in the world, differentiated by our expertise and innovation in helping our clients navigate an AI-first world. Even as we evolve to remain relevant to the changing needs of our stakeholders, our brand remains unchanging in its commitment to live our purpose – amplifying human potential and creating the next opportunity for all”, said Infosys GCMO Sumit Virmani.

    The company’s AI-driven growth narrative is spearheaded by its sub-brands: Infosys Topaz for enterprise AI, Infosys Cobalt for cloud services, and the newly introduced Infosys Aster for AI-fuelled marketing solutions. Earlier this year, Brand Finance ranked Infosys among the top three IT services brands globally and declared it the fastest-growing brand in the sector over a five-year period.

    “By drawing on the depth of BrandZ’s database over the last quarter of a century, our insights show that with the right level of investment and strategic focus, brands have huge potential to drive growth for their owners”, said Kantar BrandZ head Martin Guerrieria. “The growing demand for AI technologies puts Infosys in a prime position to capitalise on its brand value and the trust it has earned with its growing customer base”.

    Beyond balance sheets, Infosys has maintained its image as a responsible corporate citizen. Through Infosys Foundation, the company supports healthcare, education, sustainability and women empowerment. Its Springboard initiative has offered free digital learning to over 12 million people globally. Infosys continues to remain carbon neutral and was once again recognised in 2025 by Ethisphere as one of the world’s most ethical companies.

  • Fasten your card belts Niyo delivers travel banking at jet speed

    Fasten your card belts Niyo delivers travel banking at jet speed

    MUMBAI: Passport? Check. Luggage? Check. Forex card… still stuck in the mail? Not anymore. India’s travel fintech disruptor Niyo has just rolled out Niyo Express, a 24-hour doorstep delivery service for its international debit card and it’s aimed squarely at last-minute jet-setters. For those who treat travel plans like pop quizzes, this might just be the perfect lifeline.

    Available across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru, Niyo Express promises to swoop in and save the day getting a Niyo DCB Debit Card into travellers’ hands within 24 hours, complete with doorstep KYC, account setup, and card activation. And for now, it’s completely free.

    This rapid-response rollout isn’t random. Niyo dug deep into shifting travel behaviours and found that 48 per cent of flight bookings in 2024 were made just 0–7 days before departure, with over 41 per cent of international travellers leaning toward visa-free destinations to accommodate spontaneous trips. So, in a world of impulsive getaways, delayed cards and sky-high forex rates were becoming all-too-familiar travel tantrums.

    Leisure getaways account for nearly 40 per cent of last-minute trips, while work travel and family emergencies make up a significant chunk too, according to Niyo’s pre-launch survey. The result? Travellers often end up paying steep forex rates or relying on patchy currency fixes from local agents or WhatsApp groups.

    Niyo Co-founder and CEO Vinay Bagri said, “As international travel continues to rise, particularly among first-time travellers, and with the growing accessibility of visa-free destinations, impromptu travel plans have become more common than ever. Coupled with India’s thriving quick-commerce culture, it’s clear that the needs of today’s travellers are evolving rapidly. With Niyo Express, we are redefining travel banking by offering fast, seamless solutions that cater to these changing demands, ensuring our customers have access to the financial tools they need, when they need them.”

    By merging fintech agility with the urgency of travel, Niyo Express is giving travellers one less thing to panic about now you can pack late and swipe early. The brand plans to expand the service beyond its current metros, meaning last-minute might just become the new first-class.
     

  • Glance Digital exec Manish Gupta joins L&T Finance as digital transformation czar

    Glance Digital exec Manish Gupta joins L&T Finance as digital transformation czar

    MUMBAI: L&T Finance has roped in Manish Kumar Gupta as chief executive – urban unsecured assets, payments & digital partnerships as it gears up for a new phase of digital transformation. A fintech veteran, Manish has over 23 years of experience across top financial and technology giants.

    Manish’s impressive CV reads like a masterclass in leadership – from launching India’s first mobile-only digital bank, digibank by DBS, to driving innovation at TransUnion CIBIL as chief product officer, where he developed the latest CIBIL score. He has led digital and business transformations at heavyweight names including ICICI Bank, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, DBS Bank, and TransUnion CIBIL.

    His latest stint was at InMobi Group’s Glance Digital, where he served as senior vice president and general manager, scaling the business globally with AI-powered content and commerce solutions on smart devices.

    Said Manish on Linkedin:  “Last week I completed a wonderful and enriching chapter of my life with InMobi and Glance ! The emotions of leaving Glance were overwhelming! I will miss the culture, my team, my friends that have supported me for the last five plus  years! As I embark on a new journey, I will cherish every moment I spent at Glance!  Once an InMobian always an InMobian!

    With a robust track record in both traditional and digital-first financial ecosystems, Manish is known for turning ambitious ideas into business wins. A certified financial planner and CertICM holder, he is an alumnus of IIT Delhi and holds an MBA from ISB, Hyderabad.

    Having worked in India, Hong Kong, and Singapore, Manish’s global experience makes him a strategic addition to L&T Finance’s leadership team.

  • Gems that keep on giving as Maharashtra shines bright

    Gems that keep on giving as Maharashtra shines bright

    MUMBAI: They say diamonds are forever and at ET Now Swadesh’s first-ever ‘Gems of Maharashtra’ event, it wasn’t just jewels that dazzled. From green steel to gourmet kitchens, education to EVs, the event lit up Mumbai with stories of grit, growth and game-changing ideas.

    Held in Mumbai and graced by chief guest Mangal Prabhat Lodha, minister of skills, employment, entrepreneurship and innovation, the event celebrated Maharashtra’s meteoric rise across sectors like real estate, technology, wellness, hospitality, and manufacturing. But beyond the applause and awards, it delivered a powerful message Maharashtra is not just moving forward, it’s charging ahead with purpose.

    Speaking at ET Now Swadesh’s ‘Gems of Maharashtra’ event government of Maharashtra minister of skills, employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation chief guest Mangal Prabhat Lodha,  said, “India was once known as the ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’ the Golden Bird not because of external wealth, but because of the unstoppable spirit of our people. Today, with over a billion citizens, having just around one lakh people engaged in startups is not enough to reclaim that title. Every Indian must embrace entrepreneurship, it’s not optional, it’s essential. Maharashtra is standing at the edge of a transformation. In the next 15 days, we will unveil a revolutionary Innovation Policy. Alongside it, a 100-acre Innovation City is being developed with 14 buildings, each dedicated to a key sector like AI, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles.”

    He further added, “We are also launching a startup education programme to train 1 lakh students by March 2026. Our goal is not just to talk about startups we want them to thrive. We will be providing 1,000 days of handholding, low interest working capital loans, and strong support from industry leaders. Our mission is to foster 27,000 startups not just in cities, but in every corner of Maharashtra, right down to the villages. For women entrepreneurs, we’ve introduced the Ahilyabai Holkar Yojana and are building dedicated Industrial Training Institutes. Additionally, our New Innovation Policy which is yet to be launched, will definitely include focused support for women in startups.”

    He also outlined a comprehensive startup support roadmap including 1,000 days of government-backed handholding, low-interest loans, and a new education programme to train one lakh students by March 2026. Special provisions for women founders under the Ahilyabai Holkar Yojana added further weight to his vision of inclusive progress.

    The evening spotlighted 31 stellar achievers the real ‘gems’ whose work is reshaping the state’s socioeconomic fabric. From Manoj and Poonam Jha (Kamakhya Jewels) for jewellery manufacturing to Yashraj Peety (SRJ Peety Steels) for green steel innovation, the awards cut across domains and demographics. Notable honourees also included Gopal Dash Baghel for sports leadership, Bhaskar Tare and Parag Dhurke for digital PR, and Annamrita Foundation for nutrition-based social impact.

    The event concluded with Lodha unveiling a commemorative coffee table book, capping off an evening where inspiration sparkled as brightly as the trophies.

    With this, ET Now Swadesh has firmly planted its flag as not just a chronicler of economic change but a celebrator of the changemakers who fuel it.

  • Godrej’s AI smart fridge rolls out the red velvet carpet for cooling

    Godrej’s AI smart fridge rolls out the red velvet carpet for cooling

    MUMBAI: If your fridge knew your midnight munchies were coming, would you still call it an appliance or a companion? Godrej & Boyce, the flagship of the Godrej Enterprises Group, is turning up the cool factor with the launch of its AI-powered Side-by-Side Eon Velvet refrigerators, a premium offering that’s as intuitive as it is stunning. The campaign, crafted by Creativeland Asia, isn’t just showing off another fridge, it’s showcasing a smart sidekick for your snacks, leftovers and late-night cravings.

    Running across TV, digital, social media, OOH and retail, the campaign taps into the modern Indian’s holy trinity of consumer expectations: convenience, technology, and sleek design. At the heart of the narrative is the fridge’s AI tech, which learns how often the doors are opened, adapts cooling based on what you stuff inside, and even saves energy while doing it.

    Speaking on this campaign Godrej Enterprises Group head of marketing at appliances business Swati Rathi said, “The modern Indian consumers evaluate all their purchases through the lens of convenience, technology and aesthetics and our new launch more than meets the consumer expectations on each of these fronts. With outstanding looks, inbuilt intelligence and convenience, the new Eon Velvet series is already winning consumer hearts at the stores and with the new video campaign, we are unveiling it to a wider audience.”

    The premium series is available in three eye-catching shades Opera Rose, Opera Black and Opera Blue and promises to double as both kitchen showstopper and silent workhorse. A digital touch panel, inverter compressor, and whisper-quiet cooling round out the list of features.

    From eye-level hoardings in top metros to influencer-led peeks inside these luxury coolers, the campaign aims to make a household appliance feel like a lifestyle upgrade.

    So if your fridge can now outsmart your snack habits and still match your kitchen aesthetics maybe it’s time to stop calling it “just a refrigerator.” The Eon Velvet is here, and it’s cool in every sense.

  • AI+ marks the spot Madhav Sheth drops first look of India-first phone

    AI+ marks the spot Madhav Sheth drops first look of India-first phone

     MUMBAI: Looks like India’s smartphone game is about to get a homegrown glow-up. Madhav Sheth, one of India’s most recognisable tech disruptors, has just dropped the official logo for AI+, the upcoming device from his new venture, Nxtquantum Shift Technologies. It’s not just a sleek reveal, it’s a statement of intent.

    With a philosophy rooted in India-first innovation, AI+ aims to redefine how we think about smartphones not just as devices, but as intelligent, secure and purposeful extensions of our lives.

    “For us, AI+ is more than a product; it’s a mindset,” said Nxtquantum Shift Technologies founder & CEO Madhav Sheth. “It reflects our belief that India can not only participate in the global tech ecosystem but lead it, with design and purpose that reflect how people truly live and connect.”

    While the phone and its OS are still under wraps, the logo hints at Sheth’s signature blend of ambition and intuition: futuristic but grounded, sharp but human. And perhaps most importantly built entirely in India.

    The upcoming smartphone will be available on Flipkart, with the e-commerce giant’s reach and customer insights expected to play a key role in AI+’s nationwide rollout. With this partnership, the product promises to meet users right where they are on a platform they already trust, delivering tech they didn’t know they needed.

    The full product reveal is slated for the coming months, but if the logo is anything to go by, AI+ is not just another launch, it’s a quiet disruption, set to make a loud impact.

  • Founders, not fairytales ‘startups uncensored’ gets real in Mumbai

    Founders, not fairytales ‘startups uncensored’ gets real in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Forget the pitch decks and unicorn parades this weekend, Mumbai will hear the stories behind the startup smiles. In a refreshing break from the usual glitz of venture talk, Adgcraft Communications and HIVE8 are launching the first edition of ‘Startups Uncensored’ on Saturday, May 17, at India’s tallest co-working space in Mumbai. This bold new forum invites founders, investors, and startup insiders to talk not about valuations but vulnerabilities.

    At the heart of the session is a stellar panel: Ajinkya Bhasme (Zealopia), Arjun Vaidya (V3 Ventures), and Rahul Adap (Brovibe), with moderation by Yash Gadhade from Break Into VC and Volt VC. The conversation will delve into the psychological grind of entrepreneurship burnout, team conflict, decision fatigue, and the unsaid pressure to always ‘look successful’.

    It’s a necessary pivot. Recent data reveals that 68 per cent of Indian entrepreneurs report high stress, and over 30 per cent of startup failures are attributed not to market fit or funding drought but to co-founder fallouts and founder burnout.

    “In the global startup narrative, storytelling and effective communication are paramount. At Adgcraft, we’ve seen that startups with compelling stories not only attract investors but also build meaningful relationships with their audience. This session is about underlining that narrative,” said Adgcraft Communications founder & MD Abhinay Kumar Singh.

    “Beyond capital, startups need resilience, clarity, and a cohesive team. This session brings those unspoken truths to the surface, helping founders learn from each other’s lived experiences,” added Brovibe founder, Rahul Adap.

    “After working with countless founders, one truth stands out startups don’t fail because of bad ideas alone. They fail in the silence between co-founders, in unspoken stress, and in the pressure to appear successful. ‘Startups Uncensored’ is a space for honesty, vulnerability, and growth,” said Break Into VC founder, Himanshu Jain.

    Through unfiltered dialogue and real-life reflection, ‘Startups Uncensored’ aims to become a rare space one that acknowledges the struggle behind the spotlight, and helps entrepreneurs build not just businesses, but balance.

    No decks. No jargon. Just raw stories from the real startup trenches.