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Category: People

  • Puma India appoints Smita Balram as head of corporate communications

    Puma India appoints Smita Balram as head of corporate communications

    Mumbai: Global sports brand Puma has appointed Smita Balram as head of corporate communications for the India business. 

    In her new role, Balram will further build Puma’s communication strategy and efforts while driving the PR narrative for the brand, said the statement.

    “Smita brings with her a wealth of rich and diverse experience in the field of media,” said Puma India and Southeast Asia managing director Abhishek Ganguly. “Her creative vision and strategic bent of mind coupled with her strong background in business and lifestyle journalism will add a fresh perspective to Puma India’s brand story.”

    Balram comes with over 16 years of deep and extensive experience across print and broadcast journalism. In her previous role, she was associated with The Economic Times, where she covered the retail eco-system and tracked multinationals and large Indian conglomerates. In the past, she has contributed to prominent media houses such as TV Today Network, Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd, and Deccan Herald where she primarily reported on fashion and lifestyle.

    “As a former journalist with experience in tracking lifestyle consumption, Puma is the perfect brand fit for me with its narrative around fashion and sports,” said Balram. “The team has laid a strong foundation for the company in India which I hope to build on and deliver on our business objectives. I look forward to working with the teams, our business partners, stakeholders, and the media to strategise and tap into the growth opportunities in order to strengthen our presence in India, which has emerged as a key market for our company globally.”

  • TCNS Clothing appoints Puneet Sewra as CMO

    TCNS Clothing appoints Puneet Sewra as CMO

    Mumbai: Homegrown women’s branded apparel company and the name behind brands like W, Aurelia, and Wishful, TCNS Clothing has announced the appointment of Puneet Sewra as chief marketing officer.

    In his new role, Sewra will spearhead the overall brand management and strategy for the organisation. He will create a stronger brand identity for each brand to ensure that it becomes the most loved brand by the consumer, said the company in a statement.

    An alumnus of IIM Calcutta, Sewra is a seasoned marketer who commands more than 17 years of marketing experience to lead consumer-driven brands like Reebok (adidas Group), TAG Heuer (LVMH swiss manufactures), and Lodha Group. He has witnessed and contributed to the growth of various retail businesses in the country and is responsible for many breakthrough marketing innovations.

  • Himanshu Shekhar to lead in Vietnam at GroupM

    Himanshu Shekhar to lead in Vietnam at GroupM

    Mumbai: GroupM has announced that Himanshu Shekhar, currently CEO of GroupM Indonesia, will lead the organisation’s Vietnam business.

    He succeeds Neil Hardwick, who is returning to the UK to take up a new role outside WPP, said the company in a statement.

    “Himanshu is an exceptional leader with a phenomenal track record,” stated GroupM’s APAC CEO Ashutosh Srivastava. “He is a hands-on leader who is passionate about this business, builds trusted relationships with clients, and always puts people and culture first.”

    Shekhar has been based in Indonesia since March 2010 when he joined as the managing director for Mindshare’s business with Unilever. He was later promoted to CEO of Mindshare Indonesia in December 2011. Whilst at the helm of Mindshare Indonesia, he delivered consistently strong growth for the agency and positioned Mindshare as the market leader in digital transformation. In 2018, he was promoted to his current position, GroupM Indonesia CEO.

    Shekhar said he is excited to take up the role and looks forward to working closely with clients, teams, and media partners in Vietnam to unlock strong and sustainable growth.

  • Sundar Raman elevated to global CEO of P&G’s fabric and home care division

    Sundar Raman elevated to global CEO of P&G’s fabric and home care division

    Mumbai: Procter & Gamble (P&G) has announced the appointment of Sundar Raman as global CEO of the company’s fabric and home care division which includes P&G brands like Ariel, Tide, Ambipur and Downy. He steps into the role subsequent to Shailesh Jejurikar’s elevation to chief operating officer.

     

    Raman began his career as a market analyst in India in 1998 straight from campus and soon moved to the US where he worked in a variety of roles from business intelligence to marketing in P&G Beauty. A visionary leader with broad expertise and a passion for innovation, he was involved in the launch of new products such as Tide Pods and Downy Unstoppables, said the company in a statement. He also leads equality inclusion for Fabric Home Care reflecting his passion for diversity, inclusion, and the company’s citizenship agenda.

     

    He has earned his degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (1996), and a post-graduate diploma from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (1998).

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    India has been a talent factory for P&G worldwide and one of the largest exporters of top talent to P&G globally, shared the company. The company has approximately 350 Indian expats in roles across the company with the recent being Shailesh Jejurikar becoming the first Indian to be elevated to COO of the company.

  • CredAvenue names Niren Yadav as communications and PR head

    CredAvenue names Niren Yadav as communications and PR head

    Mumbai: Debt markets platform CredAvenue on Thursday announced the appointment of Niren Yadav as head of communications and public relations.

    Yadav will report to CMO Karanpreet Bindra and work closely with the founder/CEO and leadership team. He will be based out of the firm’s Bengaluru office, which will also double up as the upcoming technology hub and marketing HQ of CredAvenue, said the company in a statement.

    In his new role, Yadav will play an instrumental role in setting up and leading the corporate and integrated communications vertical and build the profile of the company in line with the firm’s vision, values, and brand story, it added.

    “We are excited to have Niren on board as he brings in deep and wide expertise in the field of marketing communications and reputation management,” said Karanpreet Bindra. “He has a clear vision for building and scaling a robust communications function. I am excited to welcome him to the team and partner with him to further our strategy.”

    Yadav brings with him over 11 years of experience in successfully strategising, implementing, and strengthening corporate narratives for businesses across multiple sectors such as fintech, technology, skill development, education, HR, infrastructure, and smart lighting.

    Prior to joining CredAvenue, he worked at 20:20 MSL as a group head. Previously, he was associated with companies such as Mastercard (South Asia Comms team), Cohn & Wolfe, and Ogilvy & Mather.

    “The sheer magnitude of the addressable market coupled with the quality of talent, the company’s vision, global mandate, long-term investor confidence and CredAvenue pioneering the concept of ‘startup 2.0’ is a terrific combination,” said Yadav. “I am excited to work with a capable team to contribute to and enhance our brand love by driving strategic and impactful communications and experiences for all our stakeholders.”

  • Xaxis elevates Dimpy Yadav to general manager, India

    Xaxis elevates Dimpy Yadav to general manager, India

    Mumbai: Xaxis, GroupM’s outcome media specialist, on Thursday announced the elevation of Dimpy Yadav as general manager of Xaxis India. She will be based out of Gurugram and will report to GroupM India president of data, performance, and digital products Atique Kazi.

    In this new role, Yadav will be responsible for leading the agency and its clients through India’s rapidly growing digital media landscape. This includes an online retail market that is expected to triple its volume over the next five years, stated the agency.

    According to a statement, she will focus on three main areas of strategic development: Integration, Intelligence, and Innovation. This will include the continued development of advanced, omnichannel digital media solutions optimised with data and artificial intelligence technology to help brands earn valuable business outcomes.

    “In line with global trends, we are dedicated to driving cutting-edge omnichannel solutions powered by seamless integration of data-driven creative solutions that will help brands extract the maximum value from their media investments,” said Yadav. “I’d like to thank Xaxis for having the faith in me and I look forward to helping our clients address the growing complexity of the media landscape and earn real business outcomes.”

    Yadav’s journey with Xaxis began in 2017 as an engagement manager and evolved through several roles; her most recent position was national head for client engagement.

    “Dimpy has a first-rate knowledge of data, integration, and new age media. She has been leading client engagement for Xaxis India proficiently and has driven impactful solutions for our clients,” stated Atique Kazi. “She has always stayed ahead of the curve with her expertise and continuous innovation in client solutions. We are confident that she will play a pivotal role as the lead for Xaxis India.”

  • Polycab India appoints Vivek Sharma as deputy managing director

    Polycab India appoints Vivek Sharma as deputy managing director

    Mumbai: Polycab India Ltd has appointed Vivek Sharma as deputy managing director, effective 4 October.

    Sharma brings with him more than 35 years of rich corporate work experience having led large teams, for global and national brands of repute. He has strengthened businesses and brands across diverse sectors like FMEG, ECM, lighting and consumer durables, which saw accelerated industry-leading growth in both revenues and profits.  

    Prior to joining Polycab India, he was with Panasonic Life Solutions India as managing director for the electricals arm.

    “Vivek brings with him an extensive work experience and diverse capabilities to contribute to our continue growth leadership,” said Polycab India chairman and MD Inder T Jaisinghani. “On behalf of the entire organization, I welcome him to Polycab India Ltd. and wish him unprecedented success.”

    An alumnus of Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Sharma has also done advanced management courses from IIM’s (Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Bangalore). He is a TEDx speaker, acknowledged trainer, and ICF-trained coach.

    “I am excited to be part of this outstanding Polycab team. We shall be bolstering the industry domain expertise and manufacturing capabilities that have now made Polycab India Ltd the growth leader across sectors,” said Sharma on his new role.

  • GalaxyCard appoints Vinod Arya as head of marketing

    GalaxyCard appoints Vinod Arya as head of marketing

    Mumbai: FinTech startup GalaxyCard has announced the appointment of Vinod Arya as head of marketing.

    Arya will be responsible for overseeing marketing operations and formulating disruptive strategies to make GalaxyCard a game-changing brand in the digital lending market, said the company in a statement.

    He is a serial entrepreneur who has founded two startups – the KachchaChittha and Baggies India. With over 10 years of experience, Arya possesses knowledge and expertise in digital marketing.

    “Coming from an entrepreneurial background, Vinod always knew the way to crack a company’s success is to fill the minds of people with the brand vision. He has already spearheaded two big giants, particularly in driving business growth and revenue,” said GalaxyCard CEO and founder Amit Kumar. “At GalaxyCard, we have complete faith that he will revolutionize the concept of marketing and take the business growth to new heights.”

    Arya is a self-motivated entrepreneur who is consistent with innovating and taking existing marketing to new levels. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer application, well-versed in digital marketing.

    “I am excited to be a part of a company that has already disrupted traditional lending processes,” Arya said. “I look forward to leveraging my experience and reach more target audiences with innovative ideas to drive the company’s growth ambitions.”

  • Lendingkart brings Ram Deshpande on board as head of marketing

    Lendingkart brings Ram Deshpande on board as head of marketing

    Mumbai: Fintech company Lendingkart Technologies Pvt Ltd on Tuesday brought Ram Deshpande on board as senior vice president and head of marketing.

    In his new role, Deshpande will be responsible for varied brand-building activities across traditional and digital marketing communications for Lendingkart Group as well as campaigns around its vast product portfolio targeting a wide range of customers and partners, said the statement.

    “We are excited to welcome Ram to head Lendingkart marketing function, contributing to the company’s vision of financial inclusion of MSMEs segment by building a digital E2E financial ecosystem collaboration through ‘2gthr’ platform,” said Lendingkart co-founder and CEO Harshvardhan Lunia. “Ram brings deep insights, vast experience and an excellent track record in brand building and marketing communications which will enhance Lendingkart’s unique position amongst customers and partners through its marketing campaigns.”

    A seasoned marketing professional, Deshpande brings nearly 20 years of experience in varied industries such as advertising, marketing, digital, e-commerce, and technology research services. Till recently, he was leading digital services for Cheil Worldwide (Samsung Group) wherein he worked on multiple advertising and communication campaigns for mobile phones, consumer electronics, and other product categories of Samsung India.

    “In a short span of time, Lendingkart has made strong strides to improve access to working capital for millions of entrepreneurs across the country,” said Deshpande on his new role. “As the company readies for its next phase of tech-driven growth, I am delighted to play a part in shaping the brand journey of the company addressing new and existing customers, MSMEs, and partners.”

  • Pankaj Poddar elevated as group CEO at Cosmo Films

    Pankaj Poddar elevated as group CEO at Cosmo Films

    Mumbai: Cosmo Films has elevated Pankaj Poddar as group CEO to head its newly launched consumer business Zigly, alongside trade verticals including films, labelling and packaging, specialty chemicals, ferrites, masterbatches, and textile chemicals. The development came into effect immediately and in recognition of the growth the company witnessed under Poddar’s leadership as CEO of the business.

    With a career spanning over 26 years, Poddar has held key leadership positions in the company across business units and verticals. As the chief financial officer at Cosmo Films in 2011, he was responsible for managing the financial operations in India as well as overseas. Since his appointment as CEO in the year 2013, all verticals of Cosmo have witnessed year-on-year growth.  

    “Poddar’s contribution is immense for the success of Cosmo as is visible in the last few years. R&D, sales and marketing competencies, expanded product range, and focus on specialty films have led to the achievement of record EBITDA and an all-time high market capitalisation,” said Cosmo Films chairman and managing director Ashok Jaipuria. “All of these will make a significant addition to all the parameters of the company – top line, bottom line, and market valuations. He is a great asset to Cosmo with his focus, drive, and implementation bringing in benefits to the company and its stakeholders.”

    Poddar started his career with a seven-year stint at Ernst and Young before joining Reckitt Benckiser, Delphi Automotive, and Avon Beauty in senior financial positions. He is a regular speaker at packaging industry forums and sits on the board of Organisation of Plastic Processors of India, Plast India, and IFCA.

    “At this point of time, Cosmo Films is at the pivotal state of its growth with diversification into different sectors,” remarked Poddar. “Being a global leader in the films and packaging sector, we aim to be the preferred brand for specialty chemicals, ferrites, polymers, and pet care.”