ITV

Category: People

  • Wieden + Kennedy India onboards senior strategists – Tania Dey and Snigdha Bose

    Wieden + Kennedy India onboards senior strategists – Tania Dey and Snigdha Bose

    Mumbai: Over the past year, since Santosh Padhi took over as CCO and Ayesha Ghosh joined as President W+K India, the agency has opened up a Mumbai office and has made hires at the top level. Anirban Roy came on board as strategy head, Kapil Batra as NCD and Shreekant Srinivasan as Head of Delhi. The agency has been selective in signing up clients like Jio 5G, Clove Dental, Casio G Shock; campaigns for all of whom are in the making.

    Famously, the agency puts work above all else and to that end, their selectivity extends beyond the clients they sign-up, to their recruitment criteria.

    After a careful assessment of skills, values and cultural fit, Snigdha Bose and Tania Dey have been welcomed aboard the Delhi and Mumbai offices respectively.

    Dey has always been interested in the intersection of technology and human behaviour. They bring with them skills in customer experience roadmaps and building omnichannel brands.

    Bose has been a qualitative researcher, in which role she honed her understanding of the subconscious motivations that guide people’s decisions and behaviour. As a strategist, she has used these skills to craft brand solutions that people would feel a real need for and resonate with.

    Wieden + Kennedy India head of strategy Anirban Roy commented, “For the past year, we have been working towards onboarding the right kind of people and an eclectic mix of brands that we want to work with – so I am happy to have found Tania Dey & Snigdha Bose. They bring very different skills to the table which will add different colours to the strategic function. I am confident that they will influence both the creative output and the business outcome for our clients.”

    Wieden + Kennedy India president Ayesha Ghosh said, “W+K’s creative prowess is what it is because it is guided by depth. Talented people like Tania and Snigdha are the ones who dig deep while not being afraid to take intuitive leaps. With them on board, we feel further inspired and strengthened.”
     

  • Ethos appoints Vijay Ratnam as India’s managing director

    Ethos appoints Vijay Ratnam as India’s managing director

    Mumbai: Ethos, the number one online life insurance provider in the U.S. today announces the appointment of Vijay Ratnam as the new India managing director. In this role, Vijay will lead the company’s organizational culture, strategic resource management and planning for growth and expansion in India.

    Vijay has over three decades of experience in the tech and IT industry across leading companies in India and overseas. He has been deeply involved in mentoring talent and talent management, as well as collaborating across departments, all with an eye on keeping organizational processes efficient and effective.

    Vijay spent more than a decade operating and managing in the tech sector across companies in the U.S. Prior to joining Ethos, Vijay held leadership positions at Cohesity, Dgraph Labs, ThoughtSpot, Citrix, NetScaler and Oracle among others.

    Ethos CEO Peter Colis said, “Last year Ethos established its India footprint and launched a full-stack office in Bengaluru. We have onboarded a team of high-quality tech talent that is contributing to our overall product innovation, new product launches, and customer experience. The response has been remarkable, and we are excited to see the progress made so far.”

    “Our plan is to continue to grow our world-class Engineering and Product teams in India by leveraging the incredible pool of technical talent available locally, and Vijay will be instrumental in helping us achieve this. Ethos India is a strong component of our global workforce, representing nearly all parts of our business. Together, we are poised to achieve remarkable milestones and contribute to Ethos’ continued success on the global stage.”

    Ethos India managing director Vijay Ratnam said, “I am thrilled to join the team and embark on this exciting journey at Ethos India. What began as a modest team in 2022 has now evolved into a significant force. India hosts one of the world’s largest reservoirs of tech and analytics talent. Our strategic vision involves establishing a significant business delivery team in India and assembling a cadre of specialists. We aim to achieve our mission of making life insurance accessible and affordable for all, positively impacting the lives of millions.”

    Ethos follows a technology-first approach that integrates complex decision flows with a radically simple consumer experience, to get high-quality insurance closer to its customers. In just a short time, the company has become the insurtech leader that continues to transform the life insurance space across the U.S. Headquartered in Austin, it has employees in key technology and startup hubs including Bengaluru, San Francisco, Seattle, Singapore and more.

    With nearly 95 per cent instant approvals, Ethos has been growing at a significant rate and increasing its year-over-year momentum, and now aims to further expand its technology and product offerings by capitalising on the vast tech, IT, and data analytics talent pool available in India.

    As an insurtech company, Ethos has secured significant funding from leading investors in the U.S. and continues to gain customer trust with its unique modern tech approach. Ethos was founded with the goal to simplify estate-related decisions and provide life insurance online in the U.S. Ethos has raised over $400 million from an all-star cast of investors, including – Softbank Vision Fund 2; Sequoia Capital; Accel; GV (formerly Google Ventures); General Catalyst; Jay-Z’s Roc Nation; and the investment vehicles of stars Will Smith and Robert Downey Jr. In 2022, Ethos acquired Tomorrow Ideas and was able to fully integrate its critical financial instruments such as legal wills and trusts, free for its insurance customers, into the Ethos platform. 
     

  • ABP Group appoints Yash Mehta as CEO of Ananda Publishers’ education arm

    ABP Group appoints Yash Mehta as CEO of Ananda Publishers’ education arm

    Mumbai: ABP Group, a prominent media conglomerate, has officially named Yash Mehta as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the education division of Ananda Publishers, the esteemed publishing arm of the group. Yash, a highly experienced professional, brings with him a remarkable track record, unique expertise, and robust skills poised to guide the organisation in establishing a significant presence on the educational landscape of the country. Operating from Delhi, Yash will assume responsibility for overseeing all educational entities within the ABP Group.

    Yash’s professional journey is distinguished by a diverse and rich background in the education sector. Prior to joining the ABP Group, he served as the executive director at Oxford University Press (OUP), where he held the position for an impressive five years, playing a pivotal role in driving substantial growth for the University Press. Before that, Yash served as the country lead at Macmillan Education India, where he spearheaded Macmillan’s education business in India and neighbouring markets such as Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Middle East, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Yash’s career exemplifies extensive experience and leadership in the education industry.

    On the appointment of Yash Mehta, Ananda Publishers director Dhruba Mukherjee expressed, “We were looking for an individual with a rich and diverse industry experience, having a vision for the future and a passion to win. Yash brings on the table all this and more. He leads from the front and under his leadership we expect our education businesses to grow in scale, size and impact.”

    Yash Mehta, displaying great enthusiasm about his new role, stated, “I am greatly looking forward to this important next chapter. This is a critical time for the publishing industry, where the needs are changing at an unprecedented pace. The release of the NEP 2020 and the NCF 2023 coupled with emerging technologies and changing demands in education present new challenges and opportunities that require us to adapt and evolve. Keeping up with the increasingly dynamic needs of education will require decisiveness in planning and implementing strategic initiatives. This platform will provide me an opportunity to realise my potential in delivering educational solutions for an enduring positive impact on society. I will work towards the growth and success of the group and the satisfaction of all the stakeholders.”

    Yash, a management graduate with over two and a half decades of professional experience spanning the banking, telecom, real estate, financial services, and education sectors, has also served as the joint secretary at the Association of Publishers in India (API) for two consecutive terms.

  • South Indian Bank welcomes P R Seshadri as new MD & CEO

    South Indian Bank welcomes P R Seshadri as new MD & CEO

    Mumbai: South Indian Bank (SIB), one of India’s leading private sector banks with over a nine-decade legacy has appointed P R Seshadri as its MD & CEO effective 1 October 2023. He will succeed Murali Ramakrishnan who served a successful tenure from 1 October 2020 till 30 September 2023.

    With nearly 25 years of banking experience spanning domestic and international markets, P R Seshadri has held senior leadership positions at prestigious institutions, including Karur Vysya Bank Ltd and Citigroup. His leadership, marked by scaling, optimizing, growing, and transforming businesses, has earned him respect and acclaim within the industry. His career trajectory underscores his ability to drive sustained growth, emphasizing the adoption of digital operational frameworks and innovative solutions to meet the unique demands of the Indian market. Prior to joining SIB, Seshadri was associated with the Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) in a similar role.  

    Welcoming the incoming MD & CEO, executive vice president and chief business officer Thomas Joseph K, said, “Embracing a new era of leadership, we proudly welcome Mr. Seshadri to lead our institution. With a proven track record and a visionary approach, he embodies the future of banking excellence. His expertise will guide us towards greater heights, paving the way for success and prosperity for our valued clients and stakeholders. Together, we anticipate exploring new frontiers in finance and redefining growth through a customer-centric ethos.”

    Commenting on his appointment,South Indian Bank MD and CEO P R Seshadri said, “Leading South Indian Bank is a privilege as we embark on a growth journey, leveraging technology while upholding our business values and rich heritage. I am enthusiastic about collaborating with the Bank’s talented professionals to build upon the legacy. Together, we will navigate the evolving financial landscape, delivering innovative solutions and unparalleled service to our clients.”

    P R Seshadri is an electrical engineer and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in management from IIM Bangalore. In his new role as MD & CEO, he is poised to lead South Indian Bank into an era of growth and innovation, while upholding its rich legacy and core values, promising an exciting journey ahead for the Bank and its stakeholders.

  • VideoVerse onboards Hemant Agarwal as chief financial officer

    VideoVerse onboards Hemant Agarwal as chief financial officer

    Mumbai: VideoVerse, a leading video technology company dedicated to transforming the landscape of content creation and distribution, is pleased to announce the appointment of Hemant Agarwal as its chief financial officer (CFO). Hemant will be responsible for financial functions, including investments, monitoring acquisitions and overall, worldwide financial planning and analysis, accounting treasury, and internal audit.

    In his two decades of experience, Hemant has led various roles in Finance, Manufacturing & Supply Chain, Controllership roles in India and Internal Audit overseas. He has been credited for leading business transformation and delivering strong business performance whilst establishing robust internal controls.

    As VideoVerse continues to expand its presence on the global stage and accelerate growth, Hemant’s appointment as CFO will help further cement its position as a trailblazer in the video technology industry.

    VideoVerse Chief Financial Officer Hemant Agarwal: “I am delighted to join VideoVerse and be a part of their exciting journey of innovation and growth. VideoVerse’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology in video content creation is truly inspiring, and I look forward to contributing to its continued success. Together, we will drive financial excellence, foster innovation, and unlock new opportunities for the company.”

    VideoVerse co-founder and CEO Vinayak Shrivastav: “We are thrilled to welcome Hemant to the VideoVerse team. His extensive experience and knowledge make him the ideal candidate to lead our financial operations. With Hemant on board, we are confident in our ability to achieve new milestones and elevate our company to even greater heights. His expertise will play a pivotal role in shaping the financial future of VideoVerse.”

    Before joining VideoVerse, Agarwal served as the Chief Financial Officer and chief business officer (New Business) at Sesa Care, where he played a pivotal role in spearheading financial strategies, Raising Funds, setting up new business, fostering growth, and ensuring fiscal excellence. Hemant has been a financial expert for the past 18 years with a Chartered Accountant qualification to his name.

    VideoVerse, founded in 2016, is a pioneering video technology company that encapsulates an ecosystem of smart video editing tools using AI and ML. The company’s mission is to empower content creators, enterprises, and individuals to maximize the impact of video content in real-time. With a focus on innovation and cutting-edge solutions, VideoVerse is at the forefront of reshaping the video technology landscape.

  • Meme Chat ropes in Vivek Satya Mitram as head Of brand strategy & PR

    Meme Chat ropes in Vivek Satya Mitram as head Of brand strategy & PR

    Mumbai: Gurgaon-based leading meme marketing platform Meme Chat has roped in industry veteran and renowned brand communication and PR strategist Vivek Satya Mitram as Head Of Brand Strategy and PR.

    Vivek is a key hire and will be part of the leadership team at Meme Chat. As Head Of Brand Strategy and PR, he will be spearheading the brand marketing, consumer connects, investor relations and public relations (PR) initiatives for the startup that is redefining the digital marketing space by channelising the proven virality quotient and humour connect of memes, to secure unimaginable awareness and unique recall for brands organically.  

    Speaking on the appointment, Meme Chat co-founder and chief executive officer Kyle Fernandes said, “We are truly elated to work with Vivek. His decades of experience in the media and brand communication space, along with a proven track record of shaping multiple successful startups into trustworthy brands, will surely be a value addition at Meme Chat. He will be working on crafting strategies for brand communication, marketing, PR and investor communications. Vivek’s association with the company also reiterates our commitment to build a great team at Meme Chat roping in veterans from industry that can help us accelerate our growth plans and achieve our goals.”

    For over a decade, former journalist, serial entrepreneur and independent brand consultant Vivek has been instrumental in shaping the unique brand identity and hyper-growth for scores of fast-paced startups including WittyFeed, MyOperator, Bobble AI, Winni, Vitto, and Oye! Rickshaw by crafting compelling brand communication strategies. He is known for building impeccable communication strategies that align business goals, the founder’s vision and the growth plans to ensure 360-degree visibility, the right brand positioning, consistent key messaging and the tangible measurable impact on business growth and the brand value.

    Commenting on his latest role Vivek said, “I am thrilled to be part of Meme Chat & its super talented team that has envisioned an innovative brand marketing solution for ensuring massive organic visibility, awareness & connect for the brands among GenZies & millennials by using the enormous creative potential of memes. I am truly moved by the amazing work they have done for so many marquee brands, including Prime Video, Share Chat, McDonald’s, OnePlus, PVR Cinemas, Marvel etc.“

    He adds, “I have always been excited to work with passionate young founders who want to translate their crazy ideas into reality and build something that can redefine the existing norms of the industry. Meme Chat is one such idea that has the potential to bring a paradigm shift in the digital marketing industry. I am looking forward to adding value in their growth journey as a brand custodian, mentor and co-learner.”

    Meme Chat, founded by Kyle Fernandes & and Taaran Chanana has a humongous 5 million base of creators on it’s main app. Besides the main app where users are incentivised to create and distribute memes, the startup offers two other products — MemeChat Keyboard, an integrated keyboard for Android and iOS users to share memes on other messaging platforms, and MemeChat Studio, a fully automated solution for brands and corporates to commission memes en masse and distribute them. Meme Chat is emerging as the fastest-growing meme marketing platform and an obvious choice for brands looking to leverage viral marketing.

  • JSW Group elevates Divyanshu Singh as JSW Sports’ COO

    JSW Group elevates Divyanshu Singh as JSW Sports’ COO

    Mumbai: The $23 billion JSW Group has elevated Divyanshu Singh as chief operating officer of JSW Sports. This is part of JSW Group’s strategic direction to create a strong leadership bench by providing growth opportunities to high-performing employees.

    Divyanshu, a former professional tennis player comes with a decade of experience across sports sponsorships and marketing, talent management, new business development, and specializing in unlocking commercial value in sport.

    In 2014, he completed his MBA in Marketing and Strategy from ISB – India’s top-ranked B- School as per Financial Times. He then secured a scholarship to study Sports Management at Leipzig University in Germany in 2016-17 where he gained a global perspective and learned best practices in sports governance.

    Prior to joining JSW Sports in 2017 to set up the sales and marketing function at India’s largest pure-play sports management company, he had worked at IMG Reliance and Cornerstone Sport & Entertainment.

    JSW Sports founder Parth Jindal said, “Divyanshu’s elevation is in line with our Group’s strategy to scale-up high high-performing employees to enable them to contribute to business strategies at scale. Our Sports business is at a pivotal point as we continue to scale up our sports investments in Indian and international leagues and focus on new business avenues including talent management, consulting, licensing, and merchandise. I am confident that Divyanshu’s extensive experience and understanding of the Sports avenues will enable us to scale new horizons.”

    JSW Sports – the sports business of JSW Group has always had a holistic approach to athlete development as well as ensuring their commercial success in a rich and diverse ecosystem.  Along with fostering a culture of excellence and nurturing talent, JSW Sports also believes in contributing to the overall growth of sports in the country. The last few years has been a phase of immense growth from franchise ownership in multiple leagues to running India’s largest Olympic Sports Development Program.

    On his new responsibility, Singh said, “As I continue my journey at JSW Sports, I am really excited to be leading an organisation which has made such a massive impact on professionalising and developing Indian sport, which is currently at an inflexion point.. I am grateful to be working under such vision and leadership along with a team whose singular mission is to realise the sporting potential of India from both from a development and commercial lens.

  • Jahangeer Khan joins Garage Group as AVP – new business and client servicing

    Jahangeer Khan joins Garage Group as AVP – new business and client servicing

    Mumbai: Garage Group, a full-service digital creative agency, has appointed Jahangeer Khan as assistant vice president (AVP) for new business and client servicing. Before joining Garage Group, he held notable positions at POKKT, Network18 Digital, HT Media, Sify, and Times Internet bringing a wealth of experience in business sales and revenue management.

    In his newly assumed position, Khan will assume a significant responsibility in fostering prospects across Garage Group’s diverse verticals, encompassing the Corporate, Government, and E-Content sectors. Furthermore, he will assume the duty of managing and nurturing the existing client portfolio across multiple markets.

    Khan is enthusiastic about his new position and stated, “As the newly appointed AVP, New Business and Client Servicing at Garage Group, I am honored to take on a pivotal role in driving business growth across all verticals within the company. Garage Group is renowned for its exceptional creativity in crafting emotionally compelling brand concepts that resonate deeply with audiences. I am excited to contribute to our mission and collaborate with a team renowned for its disruptive creativity as we embark on this exciting journey of expansion, making a significant impact on all facets of our business.”

    Garage Group co-founder and managing partner Anjali Chauhan expressed her confidence in Khan’s abilities saying, “It’s with great pleasure that we welcome Jahangeer Khan as our AVP New Business & Client Servicing at Garage Group. His appointment marks an exciting chapter in our journey towards achieving even greater heights. His appointment marks an exciting chapter in our journey towards achieving even greater heights. We have full confidence in Jahangeer’s ability to spearhead our market expansion and new business acquisition and contribute significantly to the growth of our diverse portfolio. His expertise and strategic vision will undoubtedly elevate our creative endeavors and deepen our connections with audiences. We’re eagerly anticipating a future filled with innovation and prosperity under his leadership.”

  • Avinash Pandey re-elected president of India chapter of IAA

    Avinash Pandey re-elected president of India chapter of IAA

    Mumbai: At its Annual General Meeting held on 27 September 2023, the following members were unanimously elected:

    Avinash Pandey (CEO, ABP Network) – President

    Abhishek Karnani (President, Free Press Journal Group)- Vice President

    Nandini Dias (Independent Advisor)- Hon. Secretary

    Jaideep Gandhi (Founder, Another Idea) – Hon. Treasurer

    The following five members were elected as voting members:

    Srinivasan K Swamy (Chairman & Managing Director, R K Swamy Ltd),

    M.V. Shreyams Kumar (Managing Director, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co Ltd)

    Prasanth Kumar (CEO-South Asia, GroupM)

    Anant Goenka (Executive Director, The Indian Express Pvt Ltd)

    Janak Sarda (Director, Blue Logic Systems)

    Cosmos-Maya CEO Megha Tata will continue as an ex-officio office bearer as Immediate past president.

    Apart from this, five more members will be co-opted in the upcoming ManCom meeting along with other special invited members.

    Adds Pandey, “The India Chapter of the IAA is arguably the most active industry Association of its kind in the country. Its initiatives cover a wide spectrum of areas including saluting excellence in Marketing, Creativity and communicating Sustainability. In the year gone by, we also started Tech Pulse to cater to the growing digital market. The IAA has always maintained that what is good, is good for business and in that spirit it has converted its Voice of Change initiative into a nation-wide movement aimed at breaking the gender bias in advertising and the entertainment industry.

    In the year ahead we will also be spear-heading two initiatives where we walk the talk that Communication is a Force for Good, and will also once again lead a group of CEO’s to the USA to study the latest developments in communication.

    I look forward to a very meaningful term ahead.”

  • Ogilvy India announces leadership transition

    Ogilvy India announces leadership transition

    Mumbai: Ogilvy India has announced an important leadership transition that will take effect from 1 January 2024.  The transition will involve a variety of senior Ogilvy India veterans taking the next steps in their long tenure with the agency.

    As chief advisor, Piyush Pandey, currently chairman global creative & executive chairman of Ogilvy India and one of India’s and the global industry’s leading creative figures, will work closely with the leadership team to ensure the impact and richness of the Ogilvy legacy transcends all functions and levels of Ogilvy in India. He is on a mission to make certain Ogilvy’s rich creative heritage continues and makes an impact particularly on the creative product and the digital transformation that has already seamlessly integrated to make Ogilvy India a modern marketing powerhouse.

    In this role, Pandey will continue to work closely with major clients and the agency’s executive team to ensure that Ogilvy India maintains its important leadership role in India.  Along with the leadership team, Pandey will be involved with key Ogilvy clients and new business prospects and the creative product of the agency. He will also continue to participate in various industry bodies and award forums.

    SN Rane, group executive co-chairman India & COO South Asia, will work as business advisor to Ogilvy Asia Pacific.  In his new role, Rane will work closely with Ogilvy Asia-Pacific to ensure that Ogilvy India has a smooth transition under the new management and to advise on various business operations and planning issues.

    Hephzibah Pathak will take on the role of executive chairperson of Ogilvy India. She will be Ogilvy India’s first ever woman in this role.  Hephzibah has been the most trusted partner for many of Ogilvy’s key clients. She has played an integral role in creating iconic, category defining transformative work on many of their brands. Importantly, Hephzibah has been an inspiring mentor to many current leaders and emerging talent in Ogilvy India.  In this role, Hephzibah will lead and drive the strategic direction, growth and transformation agenda of the company.

    VR Rajesh, another stalwart of the agency, will move from his current role as group president of Ogilvy India to chief executive officer (CEO) of the agency.  Rajesh has led the charge in building and growing Ogilvy’s capabilities in modern marketing. In his role, he will partner Pathak in further accelerating the transformation agenda of the company. He will also be responsible for running the operations of the agency across offices in India and all its business units.   He will also work closely with Hufrish Birdy, who will continue in her current role of chief financial officer (CFO), on various financial, commercial, and compliance issues for Ogilvy India. Birdy has been a strong and astute pillar who has partnered the leadership team over years to deliver healthy financial performance.

    Further, Ogilvy India’s leadership transition will also involve important new appointments to the Ogilvy Board.  Joining the Ogilvy India Board will be the agency’s three chief creative officers (CCO’s) – Harshad Rajadhyaksha, Kainaz Karmakar and Sukesh Nayak. The creative trio of Nayak, Karmakar and Rajadhyaksha are amongst the most awarded and celebrated in the country and have led the charge in creating industry defining modern work on many of Ogilvy’s valued clients.

    The agency’s chief strategy officer (CSO), Prem Narayan also joins the board. Narayan has been a strategic partner to many of Ogilvy’s key clients and creative partners. He has championed the effectiveness culture at Ogilvy, making Ogilvy India one of the most effective agencies in the world.

    All four of them will continue in their current, vital roles in the agency, leading the creative and strategic work of the agency.

    These four executives will be joining Pathak, Rajesh and Birdy, who are already on the Board.  All of these executives, working closely as a combined leadership team, will provide important continuity, experience, and commitment to the next phase of growth and Ogilvy India excellence for its clients.

    Ogilvy global chief executive officer Devika Seth Bulchandani adds, “Piyush has done what true legends do. Nurtured and groomed a class of leaders who can assume the day to day running of the Ogilvy machine which will give him time to focus simply on the magic he has been so legendary in creating for our clients.  

    Together I trust the new leadership to take this iconic agency to new heights.”

    Ogilvy chairman global creative & Ogilvy India executive chairman Piyush Pandey said, “Creativity and its impact on our client’s businesses is at the heart of Ogilvy. In keeping with my passion, I will continue to partner and guide the new leadership as always. Our joint purpose is to ensure that we not only maintain but also better our core strengths.”