ITV

Category: People

  • Project Worldwide taps Rasheed Sait and Neha Lobo for top roles

    Project Worldwide taps Rasheed Sait and Neha Lobo for top roles

    MUMBAI: Project Worldwide is getting serious about India’s marketing boom. In a move designed to fire up its growth engines across South Asia, the company has appointed Rasheed Sait as chief growth officer, India/South Asia, and brought in Neha Lobo as managing director of GPJ India, its flagship experiential agency.

    The double announcement signals a renewed focus on scale, strategy and storytelling in one of the world’s most dynamic consumer markets.

    A name synonymous with George P. Johnson (GPJ) India, Sait now steps into a broader role across Project Worldwide’s South Asia operations. As chief growth officer, he will oversee new business development, M&A, and the expansion of a Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, while continuing to advise GPJ India and sit on its board.

    “Rasheed’s ability to build high performance teams, his entrepreneurial spirit, combined with a unique ability to straddle strategy with creativity, has been instrumental in GPJ India establishing itself as a trusted advisor to a number of our global and local clients. His deep knowledge of the India/South Asia market makes him the ideal candidate to bring our vision to life,” said Project Worldwide CEO Chris Meyer.

    Replacing Sait at the helm of GPJ India is seasoned marketing pro Neha Lobo, whose 25-year career spans leadership roles at IBM, including APAC stints in digital marketing and sales development. Known for building high-performing teams and client-centric growth models, Lobo is now tasked with scaling GPJ India’s offering and cementing its spot at the top of the experiential food chain.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Neha Lobo to the GPJ India family,” said George P. Johnson CEO Fiona Burder. “Her transformational leadership, deep industry knowledge, and passion for creating engaging experiences make her the ideal person to lead GPJ India into its next phase of growth. We are confident that under her guidance, GPJ India will continue to push the boundaries of experiential marketing and deliver exceptional value to our clients.”

    Together, Sait and Lobo form a high-powered duo primed to steer Project Worldwide’s next wave in India. As the market heats up, the agency is betting big on local know-how and global ambition—with zero plans to play it safe.

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  • Ashutosh Gupta appointed Coursera MD for India and Asia Pacific region

    Ashutosh Gupta appointed Coursera MD for India and Asia Pacific region

    MUMBAI: From scaling up social networks to leading the charge in online learning, Ashutosh Gupta is now scripting a new chapter at the intersection of tech and education. Veteran tech executive Ashutosh Gupta has been appointed managing director for India & Asia Pacific at Coursera, taking the reins in July 2025 as the edtech giant strengthens its footprint across the region.

    Gupta’s move to Coursera comes after a prolific career spanning over two decades, including a 10-year stint at Linkedin, where he most recently served as country manager for India. Under his leadership, Linkedin’s India user base crossed 105 million, making it the platform’s fastest-growing region globally. He also championed vernacular accessibility, launching features in Hindi to widen the platform’s appeal.

    Prior to Linkedin, Gupta held senior leadership roles at Google, Cognizant, Covansys, and Infosys, focusing on sales, operations, and strategic partnerships across North America and India. Most recently, he served as Operating Partner at Avataar Venture Partners, advising portfolio companies on scaling sustainably and navigating IPO-readiness.

    Armed with degrees from IIT-BHU (Chemical Engineering) and IIM Lucknow (PGDM in Finance & Marketing), Gupta brings a rare blend of technical rigour and market acumen. At Coursera, he’s expected to drive growth, forge regional alliances, and champion lifelong learning across India and the Asia Pacific, a market witnessing a sharp surge in demand for upskilling and remote education.

    Commenting on his new role, Gupta has emphasised the need for “technology that respects intelligence and drives real impact”, signalling a shift from platform-centric models to learner-first strategies in edtech.

    With education becoming the next frontier of digital disruption, Coursera has made a strategic bet on a leader who knows how to scale with purpose. From connecting professionals on Linkedin to helping them upskill on Coursera, Gupta’s journey is now a full circle in empowerment.

  • Nivea India names Sreerangarajan Srinivasan as production centre head

    Nivea India names Sreerangarajan Srinivasan as production centre head

    MUMBAI: Nivea India Pvt Ltd, the Indian arm of German skincare giant Beiersdorf, has appointed Sreerangarajan Srinivasan as production centre director for its manufacturing operations in Sanand, Gujarat, effective 1 July 2025.

    Previously heading logistics and customer service at Nivea India, Srinivasan brings deep expertise in manufacturing, planning, procurement and digital transformation. In his new role, he will oversee end-to-end operations at the company’s flagship factory, with a focus on scaling production, advancing sustainability goals, and strengthening safety and future-readiness.

    The appointment comes as the Sanand plant clocks a major milestone- one billion units produced since operations began just seven years ago. Dubbed a cornerstone of Beiersdorf’s global supply chain, the facility has rapidly scaled up since 2018, undergoing multiple expansions and embracing automation and digitalisation to meet rising demand across India.

    Nivea India Pvt. Ltd. managing director Geetika Mehta shared, “Sreerangarajan’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for our operations in India. His deep understanding of supply chain dynamics and passion for building high-performing teams will be instrumental in taking our manufacturing excellence to the next level. Additionally, the recent milestone of producing our 1 billionth unit at the Sanand facility is a proud moment for all of us – and a reflection of what our teams can achieve with the right leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence. What makes this truly special is that Sreerangarajan’s journey is a strong example of how we continue to grow and promote talent from within the organization – a value we deeply believe in at NIVEA.”

    Commenting on his appointment, Sreerangarajan said, “This move is both a privilege and a responsibility- to lead a site that lies at the heart of our supply chain ambitions. The recent milestone of producing our 1 billionth unit makes this moment even more special and reinforces the team’s dedication and the site’s growing impact. I’m excited to work with our passionate teams to shape the next chapter of sustainable growth and meaningful impact for Beiersdorf in India.

    With Srinivasan at the helm, the factory is expected to continue its trajectory of growth and innovation, delivering smooth operations for a brand known for keeping things soft.

  • Dentsu Creative welcomes back Sheeraj Sengupta as VP

    Dentsu Creative welcomes back Sheeraj Sengupta as VP

    MUMBAI: Sheeraj Sengupta is back where the ideas fly fast. He’s been appointed vice president at Dentsu Creative India, with previous stints at Dentsu Impact Pvt Ltd and JWT.

    Known for his agility, strategic flair, and knack for brand building, Sengupta has carved a name for himself in the world of marketing, advertising and consumer behaviour. Add to that a strong instinct for crisis management and creative problem-solving, and you’ve got a VP who doesn’t just thrive on deadlines, he delivers under pressure.

    A diploma holder in marketing from the Delhi School of Communication, Sengupta has built a reputation for adaptability and collaboration, bridging the gap between clients, colleagues, and partners with equal finesse.

    In his new avatar at Dentsu Creative, Sengupta is expected to steer strategic brand narratives while riding the ever-changing wave of consumer dynamics. The agency just added another sharp mind to its war room.
     

  • Parag Milk Foods elevates Nitin Kanodia to lead the brand’s growth sprint

    Parag Milk Foods elevates Nitin Kanodia to lead the brand’s growth sprint

    MUMBAI: Parag Milk Foods has flexed some serious in-house muscle by elevating Nitin Kanodia as business head of Avvatar, its homegrown sports and active nutrition brand. The move signals the dairy major’s commitment to backing internal talent as it doubles down on India’s protein boom.

    A chartered accountant by training, Kanodia switched lanes from finance to marketing with impressive flair. Over the past few years, he has played a pivotal role in transforming Avvatar from a niche product into a heavyweight challenger to global protein brands, without compromising on desi pride or performance.

    Reflecting on his appointment, Kanodia shared, “It has been an incredible journey — from decoding balance sheets to decoding the minds of modern consumers. Avvatar is not just a product; it’s a mission to bridge India’s protein gap with clean, effective, and trusted nutrition. I look forward to scaling this brand, strengthening consumer trust, and innovating across product formats.”

    Parag Milk Foods executive director Akshali Shah added, “At Parag, we believe individual growth drives organisational success. Our culture values performance, empowers potential, and encourages cross-functional evolution. Nitin’s progression from finance to marketing to leading Avvatar exemplifies this. We remain committed to balancing external talent with nurturing internal leaders, building a future-ready organization driven by entrepreneurship, agility, and accountability.”

    With a rising appetite for clean-label, high-protein products, Avvatar is well-placed to ride the next wave of India’s wellness movement. Under Kanodia, expect the brand to go full throttle and muscling into more shelves, gyms, and breakfast routines nationwide.
     

  • Santosh Krishnamoorthy logs into LinkedIn as head of global strategic accounts, India

    Santosh Krishnamoorthy logs into LinkedIn as head of global strategic accounts, India

    MUMBAI: LinkedIn has roped in Santosh Krishnamoorthy as the new head of global strategic accounts, India, as the professional networking giant sharpens its focus on enterprise engagement and premium partnerships in the region.

    Krishnamoorthy brings with him a rich and textured career spanning over 20 years, having held leadership roles at marquee names like Times Network, BBC Worldwide, and ESPN. His career has traverpsed the worlds of media, luxury, and hospitality – giving him a front-row seat to evolving consumer cultures and brand storytelling.

    Known for his ability to build category-defining narratives and forge high-impact partnerships, Krishnamoorthy is expected to spearhead LinkedIn India’s outreach to its most strategic B2B clients, as the platform continues to grow its clout beyond job listings – into content, commerce, and community.

    For a man who’s helped craft brand stories across continents, the next story he writes may just be LinkedIn’s most powerful one yet.

  • Wired for Success as Namrata Mehra Joins Sterlite Group’s Power Play

    Wired for Success as Namrata Mehra Joins Sterlite Group’s Power Play

    MUMBAI: When it comes to powering up brands as well as grids, Sterlite is pulling no punches. The diversified energy and infrastructure group has roped in marketing veteran Namrata Mehra as head of brand, Marketing & Communication Strategy for its key businesses, Sterlite Electric, Resonia Ltd. and Serentica Renewables.

    With nearly 25 years of experience under her belt, Mehra is expected to drive brand positioning, storytelling, performance marketing, and internal communications across all three arms of the group. From media relations to digital strategy, she will now be at the helm of shaping the strategic narrative for a group that’s fast becoming a critical cog in India’s energy transformation.

    Mehra, who previously led brand and sustainability efforts at Godrej Properties, brings a multidisciplinary edge to the table. Her career spans communications, ESG, project execution, design thinking, and customer-centric strategy tools now being deployed to energise Sterlite’s presence across the power and renewables ecosystem.

    “We’re happy to have Namrata on board,” said Sterlite Group group CHRO and group chief of marketing & communications Ruhie Pande. “Her diverse expertise will help us enhance our overall corporate reputation and bring sharper focus to our brand-building efforts.”

    Thrilled to take charge, Mehra said, “Sterlite Group’s commitment to shaping India’s power infrastructure is both inspiring and ambitious. I look forward to crafting distinct positioning and impactful communication for each of our brands as we grow.”

    Armed with a master’s degree in Marketing & Strategy from the Indian School of Business (ISB), Mehra steps into a role that spans sectors traditional power transmission through Resonia, product innovation via Sterlite Electric, and clean energy growth with Serentica.

    From cables to conversations, and grids to brand grids, it looks like Mehra’s next chapter will be anything but static.

  • P&G India rejigs tech leadership as Nikunj Jain exits, Jai Pankaj steps in

    P&G India rejigs tech leadership as Nikunj Jain exits, Jai Pankaj steps in

    MUMBAI — Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care has announced a top-level shuffle in its technology leadership. Nikunj Jain, the current head of information technology, will step down from his role at the close of business on 30 June 2025, as he prepares to relocate overseas for a new assignment within the P&G group.

    Replacing him is Jai Pankaj, a P&G veteran with over 15 years at the company. He will assume the role of head of IT effective 1 September 2025, and relocate back to India.

    Pankaj, a B.E. in chemical engineering from NIT Karnataka and an MBA from IIM Lucknow, is currently based in Indonesia. He serves as the chief information officer for P&G’s Indonesian business as well as its e-commerce operations across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Over the years, he has spearheaded critical IT initiatives, including Martech and data science for P&G India, and managed tech strategy across 15 markets, including Japan and Korea.

    The leadership transition was formally communicated to the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange in accordance with regulatory disclosure norms.

    With Jain’s departure and Pankaj’s homecoming, the FMCG major appears to be tightening its digital strategy amid an increasingly tech-driven consumer landscape.

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  • Amit Kumar steps in as South City Mall’s executive director amid Blackstone-led revamp

    Amit Kumar steps in as South City Mall’s executive director amid Blackstone-led revamp

    MUMBAI: It’s not just the retail footfall that’s picking up speed at South City Mall—the boardroom is getting busier too. In a fresh power move after Blackstone’s acquisition of Kolkata’s flagship shopping destination, the mall has roped in seasoned real estate leader Amit Kumar as executive director.

    Kumar will oversee leasing, marketing and operations at South City Mall, bringing with him over 20 years of hands-on experience in retail leasing, commercial real estate and mall strategy. Known for steering large-format retail assets into high-performing zones, he has previously held leadership roles across some of India’s top retail portfolios.

    “South City Mall has always been synonymous to retail and lifestyle experiences in Kolkata. I am excited to be part of this new chapter as we work towards elevating the mall’s offerings, strengthening partnerships with retailers, and enhancing customer experiences. With the backing from Blackstone, the expertise of the team at Nexus Malls and South City Mall’s strong foundation, I look forward to contributing to its continued success and growth”, Kumar said.

    His appointment is part of the ongoing overhaul under Nexus Select Trust, the retail arm of Blackstone in India, which now owns South City Mall. Nexus Select Trust president, operations, Jayen Naik welcomed the move, “South City Mall represents a significant part of Blackstone’s growing retail footprint in India. We welcome Amit to the Blackstone and Nexus Select Trust team, and we are confident that Amit’s leadership will further enhance its potential. His extensive experience in Indian Retail will help drive long-term value for both our retail partners and the shoppers of Kolkata”.

    With Kumar now leading the charge, all eyes are on South City Mall’s next phase. Industry watchers expect a sharper focus on category diversification, tenant curation, and omni-channel retail experiences tailored to Kolkata’s evolving customer base.

    The move also highlights Blackstone’s strategy of not just acquiring marquee retail assets, but doubling down on leadership and execution to unlock long-term value. As footfalls grow and competition stiffens, South City Mall appears to be gearing up for a retail playbook upgrade—with Kumar on the frontlines.

  • Sanjay Prasad joins Webengage as VP to drive global channel alliances and enterprise partnerships

    Sanjay Prasad joins Webengage as VP to drive global channel alliances and enterprise partnerships

    MUMBAI: Webengage has put a seasoned hand on the wheel as it pushes deeper into global waters. On June 27, the Mumbai-based SaaS player named Sanjay Prasad as its new vice president, global head of channels and alliances. In his new role, Prasad will take charge of building a high-impact ecosystem of global consulting firms, technology partners and digital agencies to accelerate Webengage’s reach across geographies and verticals.

    Prasad comes armed with more than 20 years of experience in enterprise sales, business development, and alliance management across BFSI and tech. His resume spans some of the biggest names in the business—IBM, HP, Oracle, Red Hat, LeadSquared, and MoEngage. With a mechanical engineering degree from Pune University and an MBA from IBMR, he has led strategic partner growth across MEA and APAC.

    “Sanjay’s deep understanding of the enterprise landscape and proven track record in building high-impact alliances makes him the ideal leader to drive this mission forward”, said Webengage co-founder & CEO Avlesh Singh. “His vision aligns perfectly with our goal to make Webengage the preferred customer engagement partner for global enterprises”.

    The appointment reflects Webengage’s larger pivot towards ecosystem-led expansion and a value-first approach. Instead of just pushing products, the company wants to co-build solutions with partners that deliver transformation at scale.

    “It’s an exciting time to join Webengage”, said Prasad. “The platform’s growth route, product maturity, and customer-first culture offer immense potential to co-create value with leading consulting firms. I’m looking forward to strengthening our alliances and building a robust partner ecosystem that helps enterprises bring forth better engagement, retention, and revenue outcomes”.

    With Prasad at the helm of partnerships, Webengage plans to institutionalise deeper collaboration models with system integrators, enabling smoother enterprise implementation and faster time-to-value.

    The company’s partnership strategy already seems to be bearing fruit. KPMG India partner & head, technology enablement – financial services and office managing partner, Kochi, Vishnu Sri Pillai said, “Customer focused digital transformation is one of the key priorities for enterprises today. Our collaboration with Webengage should aid in bringing integrated, insight-led solutions to market that address real business challenges and drive long-term value”.

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