ITV

Category: People

  • Stylework appoints Vishal Narvekar as CPO

    Stylework appoints Vishal Narvekar as CPO

    Mumbai: India’s fastest-growing coworking space aggregator platform, Stylework Innovation Hub Pvt Ltd recently took a major effort to follow its growth strategy and appointed Vishal Narvekar as the company’s chief product officer. Vishal carries extensive industry experience as he has worked with companies like Honeywell International India Pvt Ltd and Johnson Controls USA. Now he is all set to bring new innovation to Stylework and contribute to the company’s mission of revolutionising the flex space market.

    While sharing his views on the appointment, Stylework CPO Vishal Narvekar shared, “Innovation is the heartbeat of progress, and as the chief product officer, I am driven to revolutionise the coworking industry through cutting-edge solutions. Embracing technology and fostering collaboration, we are building the future of workspaces with Stylework. My vision is to transform the coworking landscape in the world, creating spaces that inspire collaboration and foster growth, all powered by the SaaS platform driven by cutting-edge technology. Through that SaaS product called Corporate Product Suite (CPS), we aim to offer seamless access to the finest coworking spaces and services, revolutionising the way workspaces are utilised.”

    Stylework founder Sparsh Khandelwal announced the addition of Vishal Narvekar and expressed, “We are glad to have Vishal in our Leadership team. His appointment marks an exciting new phase in our journey of expansion. Given his strategic mindset and profound industry knowledge, we are assured that Stylework will soar to greater heights, delivering unparalleled value to enterprises in need of flexible workspaces and coworking space providers. Moreover, we are assured that we will have a lot more new innovations.”

    Having embarked on a commendable 16-year career in product management and design, Vishal Narvekar lends Stylework a distinctive blend of technical prowess and visionary direction. His educational background in BSc Physics and MCA offers a unique standpoint that connects the realms of science and technology. His dedication to fostering a culture of growth and innovation is evident in his strategic contributions to Stylework’s achievements.

    Vishal Narvekar envisions a future for Stylework that harnesses the potential of IoT and smart devices. Through the incorporation of smart sensors and devices, Stylework aims to create workspaces that are tailored to individual preferences, thus optimising lighting, temperature, and other elements for utmost comfort and productivity. Additionally, artificial intelligence and machine learning are set to propel the future of coworking. Thus, by leveraging these technologies, the company intends to offer personalised suggestions, maximise space utilisation, and furnish data-powered insights to companies, empowering them to make informed decisions.

    Furthermore, real-time integration of inventory will be a turning point for Stylework. By providing users with immediate access to coworking space availability, they can optimise bookings, ensure efficient space utilisation, and accommodate the evolving needs of their clients. With Vishal Narvekar at the helm, Stylework is set to change the dynamics of the coworking landscape in India and beyond, positioning it as a driving force for the next generation of workspace solutions.

  • Kaizad Pardiwalla joins BBDO India as general manager-Mumbai & chief digital officer

    Kaizad Pardiwalla joins BBDO India as general manager-Mumbai & chief digital officer

    Mumbai: BBDO India has appointed Kaizad Pardiwalla as general manager- Mumbai & chief digital officer. Along with leading the digital transformation, Pardiwalla will head the Mumbai operations, and will report to BBDO India CEO Suraja Kishore.

    Pardiwalla started his advertising journey in 2004, starting at a prestigious agency and eventually rising to leadership roles within the industry. By 2007, his journey had led him to the role of national head at a digital and direct marketing arm, where he drove significant growth alongside major clients including American Express, Cadbury, CISCO, IBM, ICICI Lombard, ITC, The Economist, and Vodafone, among others. In this period, he spearheaded the agency’s digital transformation, leaving an indelible imprint on its trajectory.

    Throughout his extensive two-decade career, Pardiwalla’s expertise has shone across an array of brands, showcasing his impact with notable names such as Amazon, Wipro, Viacom 18, Unilever, Fiat, Ferrero, Virgin Mobile, Colgate-Palmolive, Tang, TVS, Tata AIG, MTV, Pfizer, and ICICI Cards, among others.

    As a marketing communications specialist with over 20 years of experience in advertising, digital, and direct marketing, Pardiwalla has been at the forefront of creating brand value and driving business growth across start-ups, growing brands, and iconic names. He’s a transformation specialist known for jump-starting stagnant companies and propelling them to high double-digit growth.

    Commenting on Pardiwalla’s appointment, Kishore said, “Agencies of the future will be shaped by people who can dig their experience as big data and can use their intuition to latch onto possibilities of tomorrow- Kaizad is one such rare talent that we are delighted to have on board with us. A thorough bred professional who has under his belt over 20 years of big data on building brands and business, with Kaizad on our team we at BBDO India are best geared to reimagine the business of advertising and to offer services across customer journey to our clients.”

    Speaking about his appointment, BBDO India chairman & chief creative officer Josy Paul added, “I’ve known Kaizad from his early days in the industry. He led the digital transformation at some of India’s biggest agencies. His understanding of the digital landscape and the opportunity for brands to leverage data and maximise new media and content is exceptional. We are grateful that he chose us as his next big career move. He could easily have been the new age CMO of a large multinational tech company in India. In our hearts we know it’s going to be a rewarding partnership.

    On joining BBDO India, Pardiwalla said, “It is a privilege to join the agency which has created some of the most memorable work of our times. What’s even more exciting, is that Josy and Suraja refuse to rest on their past accomplishments – they want to shape the future of brands and businesses. Their visionary outlook, candidness and focus on creating a dynamic work culture inspired me to partner with them on this journey. We want to set our clients up for success by delivering strong RoI and fostering positive business impact using a combination of data analytics, technology and creativity combined with tailored Go-to-Market strategies across all digital channels.”

  • Shoppers Stop Ltd announces changes in its leadership positions

    Shoppers Stop Ltd announces changes in its leadership positions

    MUMBAI: Shoppers Stop Ltd. today announced the promotion of Homestop, chief commercial Officer and CEO Kavindra Mishra, as its executive director & CEO,aftero the resignation of its managing director & CEO, Venu Nair.

    Kavindra Mishra has been promoted to executive director & chief executive officer – Based on the recommendation of the nomination, remuneration and corporate governance committee, the board of directors of the company (“the Board”), at its meeting held today, i.e. on 24 August 2023, approved the promotion and appointment of Kavindra Mishra (DIN: 07068041) as an additional director of the company w.e.f.  1 September 2023. He has also been appointed as an executive director & chief executive officer of the company for three years effective  1 September 2023, subject to the approval of shareholders of the Company.

    A brief profile of Mr. Kavindra Mishra is given below :

    The chairman of the company, BS Nagesh said “I am delighted that Kavindra Mishra, has been promoted as the executive director and CEO of the company. In the last five months, he has taken over the charge of Homestop and the commercial part of the Shoppers Stop business. His skills as a Business Leader, strategic expertise and overall understanding of the retail industry are an excellent fit for leading the Company as its CEO and setting high standards. Under his leadership and guidance, I am confident about the future growth of the company”

    Managing director and chief executive officer Venu Nair has tendered his resignation from his position, effective from the close of business hours of August 31, 2023, due to personal reasons, to enable him to spend more time with his family and explore other options.

    The board of directors of the company at its meeting held today has accepted his resignation and placed on record their appreciation for the contribution made by him during his tenure. He has been instrumental in strengthening the business in the post-Covid era, by growing its strategic pillars of fashion, and beauty and expanding the company’s retail network. He leaves a much-strengthened Shoppers Stop. To ensure a seamless transition, he will continue to guide and advise the CEO over the next 6 months, in his capacity as a Company official.

    B.S.Nagesh non-executive chairman of the company will handhold during the transition period. He will also mentor and coach the executive director & chief executive officer of the company.

  • Castrol India ropes in Rohit Talwar as vice president & head of marketing

    Castrol India ropes in Rohit Talwar as vice president & head of marketing

    Mumbai: Castrol, India’s premier lubricant manufacturer, has onboarded Rohit Talwar as vice president and head of marketing, effective 1 November 2023. Talwar will succeed Jaya Jamrani in this role, who has decided to take a one-year sabbatical.

    Talwar will be responsible for steering Castrol’s comprehensive marketing strategies to deliver growth and value for our customers and shareholders. He will also join the Castrol India Leadership Team.

    Talwar brings with him a wealth of experience, possessing 21 years of proficiency in leading high-performance multicultural teams across various levels and assignments, locally and globally. His distinguished career spans both developed and growth markets within the Castrol group.

    Talwar’s journey with Castrol India commenced in June 2004 when he joined as a management trainee. Over the years, he has made significant contributions to the brand’s growth in diverse roles, including sales manager, bikes brand manager, and cricket sponsorship activation manager. Talwar notably served as the global brand manager in the commercial vehicles category, where he played a pivotal role in the development and launch of the internationally acclaimed Castrol VECTON brand.

    In 2017, Talwar returned to Castrol India Limited, where he held prominent positions such as head of brand and communication and deputy vice president of marketing for India.

    Since 2019, Talwar has been leading marketing for Castrol Vietnam. In this capacity, he has overseen both B2C and B2B marketing initiatives, driving innovation and delivering substantial business growth in the Vietnamese market.

    Castrol India wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude to Jaya Jamrani for her invaluable contributions during her tenure as vice president and head of marketing. Jamrani has decided to take a well-deserved sabbatical in line with bp’s flexible working policy.

    Castrol India managing director Sandeep Sangwan states, “Rohit’s wealth of experience, unwavering commitment, and exemplary track record within the Castrol family perfectly align with the demands of this role. We are assured that his leadership will further elevate our marketing endeavors and contribute significantly to our continued success.”

    Talwar conveyed his enthusiasm for his new role, saying, “I am deeply honored to accept this appointment and eagerly anticipate rejoining the Castrol India team. I look forward to collaborating closely with our exceptionally talented team to propel our marketing initiatives to new heights and further uphold Castrol’s legacy of excellence.”

    Talwar holds a Science degree from the University of Mumbai and an MBA in marketing from ISB, Hyderabad.
     

  • CaratLane elevates Avnish Anand as new CEO

    CaratLane elevates Avnish Anand as new CEO

    Mumbai: CaratLane has elevated Avnish Anand, currently chief operating officer of CaratLane, as its new chief executive officer (CEO) with immediate effect. Anand, an alumnus of ISI Kolkata and IIM Lucknow, was employee No.1 at CaratLane and an integral part of the founding team. He has played a stellar role in building CaratLane into what it is today.

    Gurukeerthi Gurunathan, another veteran of CaratLane and the person who has built the technology infrastructure that powers CaratLane’s omni channel business and digital experiences, will continue to play an important role as the chief technology officer of CaratLane. Gurunathan is a seasoned technology leader who holds a master’s degree from IIM Bangalore and has worked with some marquee Fortune 500 companies including a stint in Silicon Valley.

    Titan, on 19 August 2023, announced the acquisition of the full stake held by the founder Mithun Sacheti and his family members subject to the completion of customary regulatory approvals.

    Commenting on the announcement, Titan managing director C K Venkataraman said, “We are delighted to appoint Avnish as CaratLane’s new Chief Executive Officer. Avnish comes with exceptional strategic and people leadership capabilities and has been instrumental in making CaratLane the true omni channel brand. As CaratLane and CaratLaners look to the future with great excitement and confidence, I am sure Avnish will provide the right leadership that will enable the creation of the highest standards of excellence in everything we do and reach for the stars through those standards.”

    Anand on his appointment as the CEO of CaratLane said, “Being a part of the founding team here at CaratLane, I’ve seen the brand’s evolution up close and it’s been such a remarkable journey. Mithun has been a pillar of support and a sounding board for all my ideas these past years, so of course it’s sad to see him go. But I’m really excited for this new chapter as we have a great opportunity to build a bigger and more remarkable business in front of us.  It’s definitely a moment of pride for all of us and we look forward to working more closely with the Titan leadership on this exciting journey.”

  • Uber appoints Arnab Kumar as director of business development for India and South Asia

    Uber appoints Arnab Kumar as director of business development for India and South Asia

    Mumbai: Uber, India’s leading ridesharing app, has onboarded Arnab Kumar as director of business development for India and South Asia.

    Kumar joins Uber with over 17 years of experience across technology and financial services  sectors. Kumar’s professional journey includes building the India operations for Coinbase and leading India fintech investments and strategic initiatives for Prosus (formerly known as Naspers). Kumar has previously served as program director at NITI Aayog where he contributed to the development of emerging technology initiatives including Aarogya Setu, India’s COVID contact tracing app. Kumar has also worked as an investment banker for Deutsche Bank in Singapore and New York. He is an alumnus of Birla Institute of Technology Mesra and Indian School of Business Hyderabad and is a CFA charterholder.

    Commenting on the appointment, Uber India and South Asia president Prabhjeet Singh said, “We are delighted to have Arnab join our leadership team to strengthen Uber’s presence and ensure Uber’s ongoing success in India and South Asia. He has a strong track record of working across financial services and technology sectors. During his work at NITI Aayog he delivered impact and change at scale. Under his leadership, our business development team will continue to be a key accelerant for our partnerships and new growth opportunities.”

    “I am excited to join Uber, which has transformed the way people move while creating earning opportunities for millions of people in India and across the region. India and South Asia present tremendous growth potential and I look forward to joining forces with the incredibly talented team at Uber and supporting the company’s growth ambitions in this important region,” said Kumar.

    Kumar’s appointment comes as the company completes a decade of operations in India and is focused on growing sustainable mobility options. With a partnership approach to different stakeholders in the value chain like EV fleets, financiers, EV infrastructure providers and government bodies, Uber has been at the forefront of EV transition in India. Earlier this year, in the largest EV commitment yet between an automaker and a ridesharing platform in India, Tata Motors agreed to supply 25,000 EVs to fleets on the Uber platform.

  • OMD grows APAC leadership team with Dileep Raj Singh as new head of digital

    OMD grows APAC leadership team with Dileep Raj Singh as new head of digital

    Mumbai: OMD has added a head of digital (HOD) to its Asia Pacific (APAC) regional leadership team with the hiring of Dileep Raj Singh.  Singh is a digital native and brings with him a wealth of experience across product, media agency and client side in APAC, North America and the United Kingdom.  His last 10 years have been spent building diverse digital marketing teams covering areas like performance marketing, digital media planning, ad/martech, product marketing, branding and measurement.

    As head of digital, he will accelerate OMD’s digital leadership agenda, rooted in helping clients address their business challenges and digital ambitions.  He will be supporting OMD’s local teams in APAC on operational excellence, and digital transformation frameworks and roadmaps; and the development and implementation of our digital leadership agenda.  He will also be working hand in hand with both our regional and global networks to initiate complementary workstreams for our clients in APAC.

    “We will continue to invest and win in digital as part of our wider goal to be our clients’ most trusted business transformation partner,” said OMD APAC CEO Charlotte Lee.

    “It is our global ambition to continue our leadership position in digital, data and technology.  In line with this ambition, we are excited to have Singh come on board the OMD APAC leadership team.  His background of agency, in-house and start-up experience position him perfectly to understand and address our clients’ business needs,” added Lee.

    “Digital media and access to our audience, as we know it, is changing quite rapidly around us.  This puts most of us in a delicate but remarkable position, a position from which we can shape and contribute to conversations about the next evolution of digital media.  As we embark on this journey, I want to leverage the strength of the OMD network – people, technology, data, tools and platforms – to help our clients pivot and navigate through all the new and evolved possibilities in digital media.  With this, I aim to position OMD as an unrivaled partner for our current and future clients; to dominate and succeed in this incredibly competitive and multifarious digital realm,” said Singh.

    Singh will report to Lee, and work closely with the team including chief strategy officer (CSO) David McCallen, and chief client officer (CCO) Sadhan Mishra, to drive and support APAC local markets as well as regional clients on digital, data and technology needs.

    Mishra was promoted to chief client officer of OMD APAC recently in June 2023.  He will continue to be CEO of OMD Singapore, a position he was promoted into last August.  Mishra has been with OMD for over 13 years and in his concurrent new role as chief client officer, he will focus on key client relationships, understanding their business needs and ensuring we remain a critical partner on their transformation journeys.

    McCallen was elevated to the role of chief strategy officer of OMD APAC in April 2022, and was previously the chief strategy officer of OMD New Zealand for five years where he helped the agency to attain the top place in the market for new business, overall billings and award wins.  Since starting in the APAC role, his focus has been on connecting and elevating strategic best practices across the region, building capabilities across a range of strategic outputs, and supporting new business growth both regionally and locally.

  • Sanket Kulkarni joins Ormax Media as head – business development (theatrical)

    Sanket Kulkarni joins Ormax Media as head – business development (theatrical)

    Mumbai: Media insights firm Ormax Media has appointed Sanket Kulkarni as head – business development (theatrical). In this role, Kulkarni will be spearheading the company’s business development and account servicing initiatives for the Indian film industry. He and his team will work closely with leading film studios, production houses and marketing agencies in the areas of content, marketing, and business strategy.

    Ormax Media has been working actively with the Indian film industry for 15 years now, and has developed several tools that are used widely across the industry, such as Ormax Cinematix (campaign tracking), Ormax Moviescope (film testing), Ormax First Draft (script testing), Ormax Cine Sense (cinema audience profiling), Ormax Campaign Testing, etc. Ormax Media works closely with more than 35 business partners in the theatrical sector, including Disney, Sony Pictures, Viacom 18 Studios, Dharma Productions, Zee Studios, PVR, Yash Raj Films, etc.

    Kulkarni joins Ormax Media’s formidable and experienced leadership team, which is headed by founder-CEO Shailesh Kapoor. Keerat Grewal heads Business Development for Streaming, TV & Brands domains. Amit Bhatia heads Audience Tracking, Mitesh Thakkar heads Content & Campaign Testing, and Khushroo Dumasia heads Operations & Technology.

    Kulkarni started his career at Ormax Media itself, in 2014, as a part of the Film Insights team. After spending four years in the organisation, he moved on to ZEE5, followed by Sony LIV, where he specialized in content strategy and viewership maximization, respectively. He brings with him a strong understanding of the Indian entertainment industry landscape, and will be leading Ormax Media’s efforts to collaborate with the Indian film industry in an exciting yet challenging phase that the industry currently finds itself in.

    Speaking about Kulkarni’s appointment, Ormax Media founder-CEO Shailesh Kapoor said, “We are excited to have Sanket on board as a part of our leadership team. His varied experience across the Indian media industry, combined with his passion for cinema, will help us further strengthen our relationships in the Indian film industry”.

    Speaking about his new role, Kulkarni said, “Post the pandemic, the theatrical business in India has been in a constant state of flux, which has resulted in recalibration across the value chain. The evolving nature of the film business in India makes audience insights and analytics more relevant than ever before. Given its repository of data and audience understanding, Ormax Media is poised to play a crucial role in the growth of the Indian film business over the next decade. I am looking forward to collaborating with the best minds in the industry, in their pursuit to take more informed and audience-centric business decisions.”

  • Vikash Jalan is the new chair of IAMAI’s TravelTech Committee

    Vikash Jalan is the new chair of IAMAI’s TravelTech Committee

    Mumbai: The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has appointed Paytm Travel chief business officer Vikash Jalan as the new chair of its TravelTech Committee.

    Jalan brings with him a wealth of experience and a passion for cultivating and nurturing innovative ideas into successful ventures. With a deep-rooted entrepreneurial spirit, he has consistently demonstrated his ability to transform ideas into reality, embodying the concept of moving from ‘Zero to One’ with remarkable zeal. He has extensive experience in working across global roles and consumer domains which has helped build his diverse leadership and business perspective.  At Paytm, he leads the travel business.

    Expressing his excitement about his new role, Jalan stated, “The travel industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation, powered by technological innovations that are reshaping the way we explore the world. At this juncture, I am thrilled to take on the role of Chair for IAMAI’s TravelTech Committee and I’m eagerly looking forward to collaborating with fellow industry leaders, pooling our expertise to fuel innovation, drive sustainable growth, and collectively chart the course for the future of travel.”

    IAMAI’s TravelTech Committee is set to benefit immensely from Jalan’s wealth of experience and leadership acumen. His appointment promises to catalyse innovation, drive growth, and steer the travel industry toward a dynamic and promising future.

  • MiQ appoints Rohit Monga as the head of product and partnerships for India

    MiQ appoints Rohit Monga as the head of product and partnerships for India

    Mumbai: MiQ, a global advertising technology company, has appointed Rohit Monga as the head of product, partnerships, and marketing in India. He will be responsible for expanding MiQ’s commercial business and build partnerships in India. With more than 10 years of industry experience, Monga brings an extensive understanding of advertising products and services with a global market exposure.

    Monga comes with a demonstrated history of working with the new age business and internet industry and has a deep understanding of multiple business formats in digital commerce including retail media. Monga has built successful go-to-market and sustainable businesses strategies across technology and digital businesses. In his last role, Monga headed the sales team at Criteo, where he led the new business acquisition for the India market.

    In the past, he has worked with brands like Oracle and EY and closely engaged with founders and entrepreneurs to build strategies aligned with the company’s growth plans, focusing on short- and long-term goals, and boosting the product portfolio and partnerships for the brand.

    Commenting on the appointment, MiQ global commercial board member and managing director Siddharth Dabhade said, “India is a key growth market for MiQ, and we are focused on bringing exceptional talent to our team to bolster our solutions, strengthen our partnerships, and deliver data-driven programmatic advertising solutions to brands and digital media agencies. Rohit has the right balance of technology and media acumen. I welcome Rohit to our India team and look forward to partnering with him in our growth journey ahead.”

    Monga said “I am excited to join MiQ to shape the future of programmatic advertising in India. In a fast-evolving digital marketing landscape, we bring our technology and data analytics expertise to drive results for our clients. My focus will be on building solutions for India and engaging with new clients and partners to drive our business goals. I look forward to building strong relations further strengthening the brand’s upcoming retail expansion.”

    Monga has a bachelor’s degree in engineering in information technology from Rajasthan University and has won various accolades. Monga is an industry thought leader who has spoken at several AdTech conferences and events.