ITV

Category: People

  • Brand new innings! Abhik Chakraborti joins Ileseum as marketing head

    Brand new innings! Abhik Chakraborti joins Ileseum as marketing head

     MUMBAI: From Hungama to Ileseum marketing maverick Abhik Chakraborti is back in the spotlight, this time with a brand playbook that’s as bold as it is brilliant. Ileseum Clubs has roped in seasoned marketing strategist Abhik Chakraborti as its new head of marketing, signalling a high-impact move as the lifestyle and leisure brand gears up for its next growth sprint. With a career spanning over 19 years, Abhik brings to the table a powerful blend of branding finesse, content vision, and campaign muscle.

    From orchestrating big-ticket IPs like IIFA at Wizcraft International to crafting luxury narratives at Shazé, his stints read like a marketing masterclass. He’s also held top roles at Percept Ltd, Rhiti Group, Hungama, and even steered digital-first strategies as CMO at Bedbathmore making him well-versed in the art of blending entertainment with enterprise.

    At Ileseum, his mandate is clear: supercharge brand visibility, build cultural capital, and drive marketing innovation across physical and digital touchpoints.

    “We’re thrilled to welcome Abhik to the Ileseum family,” the team announced, describing his arrival as pivotal to the brand’s journey into uncharted territories of consumer experience and storytelling.

    A Mumbai native and marketer by instinct, Abhik is known for balancing the boardroom and the backstage building brands that not only perform but perform with flair. Whether it’s managing strategic alliances at Promo Sapiens or crafting content ecosystems, his career is a showcase in adaptability and narrative-driven growth.

    As Ileseum Clubs expands its footprint, expect Abhik to spin more than just campaigns, this one’s all set to script a brand renaissance.

  • Amitabh M. takes the sales reins at Punjab Kesari Delhi Group

    Amitabh M. takes the sales reins at Punjab Kesari Delhi Group

    MUMBAI: Punjab Kesari Delhi Group has roped in Amitabh M. as its new national sales manager — a move that signals serious intent in the ever-competitive media sales space. With nearly three decades of navigating the media maze, Amitabh steps in armed with a résumé packed with big names, bigger targets, and a reputation for delivering results.

    Before this, he was AVP – business development at Picta Solutionz, and has clocked stints at top-tier players like Times Internet, ABP Digital, Hindustan Times, Outlook Publishing, Indian Express, and more. From digital wizardry to old-school ad hustle, Amitabh has sold it all — display, programmatic, native, sponsorship IPs, and brand solutions.

    Known for his knack for building lean, mean revenue machines, he also brings deep expertise in team management, forecasting, and concept selling. For Punjab Kesari, it’s a clear signal: it’s not just about selling space — it’s about owning the marketplace.

  • Pooja Sondhi gets HR handle at Adomantra to drive growth playbook

    Pooja Sondhi gets HR handle at Adomantra to drive growth playbook

    MUMBAI: She’s not just hiring, she’s here to rewire. In a strategic move to anchor its growth plans with a strong people backbone, Adomantra Digital India Pvt. Ltd has roped in Pooja Sondhi as its new chief human resources officer (CHRO). The appointment signals the company’s intent to double down on its talent-first philosophy while expanding operations across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

    Armed with over 20 years of HR experience, Pooja is no stranger to driving scale. A certified POSH trainer and two-time HR award winner “HR Professional of the Year” (HR+L&D Innovation Summit 2024) and one of the “50 HR Innovators” (World HRD Congress 2023) she’s known for her sharp people insights, strategic acumen, and change-making credentials. Her resume spans stints at Dainik Jagran, JCDecaux, Vcommission Media, and Aargus Global Logistics, giving her a ringside view into both legacy and new-age organisations.

    At Adomantra, she’ll steer HR across its growing business hubs, with a focus on building a high-performance, inclusive, and agile culture. As part of the company’s FY 2026 roadmap, Adomantra aims to onboard new hires and expand its business footprint placing Sondhi at the centre of this scale-up engine.

    “We are thrilled to have Pooja on board,” said Adomantra Digital India and Adotrip Group founder & CEO Vikas Katoch. “Her people-first mindset and strategic sharpness are exactly what we need as we grow across verticals. She brings both depth and direction to our HR vision.”

    Sondhi, for her part, is already rolling up her sleeves. “This is an exciting moment in Adomantra’s journey,” she said. “Together, we’ll build a workplace where growth and empathy go hand in hand because a great business starts with great people.”

    With her at the helm, Adomantra seems ready to not just chase targets, but to truly humanise hypergrowth, one hire, one culture shift, one strategy at a time.

  • Bold Care hits the pleasure button, launches massager line

    Bold Care hits the pleasure button, launches massager line

    MUMBAI: India’s numero uno sexual wellness disruptor, Bold Care, is going full throttle into the pleasure lane. The Ranveer Singh-backed brand has launched a brand-new lineup of intimate massagers — five under its booming women’s vertical, Bloom by Bold Care, and two for men — in a move that repositions the massager not as a secret indulgence, but as a daily dose of joyful self-care.

    The new drop isn’t just a product launch — it’s a cultural shft. Branded under the philosophy of “Big Pleasure,” Bold Care is flipping the script on self-pleasure from shame to self-empowerment.

    Launched just five months ago, Bloom by Bold Care has clocked over 1.5 lakh orders across Amazon, Flipkart, Nykaa, Myntra, and its own D2C platform. It’s already 4x ahead of Bold Care’s initial growth curve — and what’s more, it’s profitable. That’s pleasure, powered by science.

    The new line-up blends medical-grade silicone with sleek, ergonomic designs, long-lasting rechargeable batteries, and whisper-quiet tech. A 360-degree rotating head, a 365-day free replacement warranty (best-in-class, the brand claims), and affordable pricing give this range serious mass appeal. Products are available via Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and leading e-tailers.

    The woman’s pleasure-giver range is as follows:

    * Rush (Rs 1,599): Compact bullet massager
    * Tempt (Rs 1,799): Classic wand with powerful vibes
    * Arouse (Rs 1,899): Dual-ended delight
    * Rhythm (Rs 899): Full-body wand for everyday ease
    * Sparkle (Rs 1,499): Travel-sized mini bullet

    And men have two varieties  in the Bold Care range to opt for, making the choice easier:

    * Masterstroke Stroker (Rs 1,499): Textured grip stroker
    * Stroke of Genius (Rs 1,899): Vibrating stroker with 10 custom modes
     

    “It is time we start recognising personal pleasure as an essential part of our health. With this launch, we are not just introducing products — we are opening a new chapter in how India approaches intimacy,” says Bold Care co-fouunder & CEO Rajat Jadhav. “Massagers should no longer be hidden or stigmatised, but embraced as essential tools of self-care. At Bold Care and Bloom, we are not just responding to demand, we are leading a shift in culture.”

    Since launching in July 2020, Bold Care has been rewriting the rulebook on men’s sexual health — offering science-backed treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED)  and premature ejaculation (PE), alongside India’s fastest-growing condoms and lubes. Bloom extends that same science-meets-sensibility playbook to women’s health, tackling root-cause issues from PCOS to menopause.

    Massagers are no longer hush-hush. With this bold new range, Bold Care is inviting Indians to indulge in their own pleasure –  guilt-free. 

  • Ferzad Palia takes charge of upGrad’s new D2C play to build mass skilling into a daily habit

    Ferzad Palia takes charge of upGrad’s new D2C play to build mass skilling into a daily habit

    MUMBAI: Skilling just got serious, and perhaps even a little snackable. Edtech major upGrad has roped in Ferzad Palia to lead its freshly minted direct-to-consumer (D2C) vertical as the company bets big on always-on learning to serve India’s digital-first, byte-sized learning generation.

    With a legacy in university-led programs, industry certifications and study abroad pathways, upGrad is now gearing up to make skilling a habit — not just a career intervention. The move signals the company’s next phase of growth: a high-octane, AI-fuelled ecosystem of micro-learning, personalisation, and scalable access.

    “It strengthens our mission to own the entire learning journey and turns skilling into a household habit, not just a job-switch trigger. Ferzad’s deep expertise in building high-scale, high-engagement content-driven platforms will help us unlock a wider segment – combined with tech that appeals to their fast-learning patterns”, said Upgrad co-founder & chairperson Ronnie Screwvala.

    In his new role, Palia will lead upGrad’s efforts to serve a new wave of learners seeking flexibility, speed and relevance. He brings more than 25 years of experience across consumer tech, media and advertising, most recently as senior EVP at JioStar (formerly Viacom18), where he played a pivotal role in scaling JioCinema. Before that, he spearheaded multiple divisions at Viacom18 including international distribution, youth media and the D2C business.

    Palia, who began his career at J Walter Thompson managing Unilever’s personal care portfolio, also had a stint at CNBC-TV18.

    “The opportunity to transform India’s upskilling and learning landscape at scale, is an exciting mandate. upGrad’s solid foundation and commitment to outcome-led learning provides the perfect springboard”, he said.

    With the new D2C push, upGrad is looking to turn binge-watching into binge-learning— minus the guilt, and with outcomes attached.

  • Kaur power drives WSO2’s APAC ambitions with digital push

    Kaur power drives WSO2’s APAC ambitions with digital push

    MUMBAI: She’s got the code to scale. In a strategic play to fuel its digital dominance across Asia-Pacific, Wso2 has appointed Navneet Kaur as vice president and general manager for the region. From India to Japan, and from SAARC to Southeast Asia and ANZ, Kaur’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on enterprise transformation in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets.

    Armed with over 20 years of experience at tech giants like Salesforce, Mulesoft, and Capgemini (Aricent), Kaur has made a career out of scaling businesses and building high-performing teams across APAC. Now, she’s steering Wso2’s vision for the region at a time when cloud-native innovation and digital infrastructure modernisation are hitting a major inflection point.

    “There’s a wave of innovation and opportunity in the region,” Kaur said, adding that Wso2’s platform is uniquely poised to help businesses “modernise and compete in a cloud-first world.” Her leadership will be central to advancing the company’s open-source and SaaS offerings ranging from API management and integration to identity and access management for sectors like BFSI, telecom, and government.

    WSO2 already enjoys strong traction in India, and the company is doubling down on customer-centric strategies, strategic partnerships, and value delivery across APAC. With enterprises increasingly seeking secure and scalable digital experiences, the Sri Lanka-headquartered firm is betting big on Kaur’s deep domain knowledge and transformative vision.

    By investing in strong regional leadership, WSO2 hopes to unlock meaningful business outcomes in the region, one digital experience at a time.

  • Ketan K Bharati joins The House of Abhinandan Lodha to lead media

    Ketan K Bharati joins The House of Abhinandan Lodha to lead media

    MUMBAI: Ketan K Bharati, the marketing maverick who has shaped campaigns across telecom, FMCG, tech, and media giants, has now planted his flag at The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) as head – media strategy & performance marketing.

    With a career spanning nearly two decades and marquee brands like Truecaller, Reckitt, Vodafone, Disney Star, and GroupM in his rearview mirror, Bharati’s next chapter promises to blend data muscle, storytelling flair, and go-to-market wizardry for one of India’s most ambitious real estate disruptors.

    Bharati, was most recently VP – global marketing ops at Truecaller, where he steered GTM rollouts, global launches, and even lit up Times Square.

    Backed by stints managing Rs 500 crore media portfolios, landing Gold at Spikes Asia, and anchoring revenue surges at Fox International and Reckitt, Bharati is no stranger to performance-led growth. His Vodafone days saw him turn cricket carnivals into brand goldmines with the IPL and World Cup. At GroupM, he cracked efficiency gains for brands like Dove and PepsiCo with data-first media buying.

    At HoABL, he’s expected to fuse full-funnel performance with digital-first thinking, supporting the brand’s audacious land-tokenisation push and national expansion.

    In a world where land is being reimagined as a lifestyle asset, HoABL’s latest hire signals it’s not just playing the game. It’s rewriting the script.

  • Venu Takes the Wheel as TVS Shifts Gears at the Top

    Venu Takes the Wheel as TVS Shifts Gears at the Top

    MUMBAI: TVS Motor’s leadership engine just got a new ignition, Sudarshan Venu is in the driver’s seat now. In a landmark move signalling the next chapter in its leadership journey, TVS Motor Company has announced that Sudarshan Venu will take over as chairman and managing director effective August 25, 2025. The company’s board of directors made the decision unanimously, underscoring Venu’s instrumental role in shaping TVS Motor’s strategy and global ambitions over recent years.

    Venu, currently serving as managing director, will succeed Ralf Speth, who has opted not to seek reappointment as director at the company’s Annual General Meeting on August 22, 2025. Ralf, the former CEO of Jaguar Land Rover and a seasoned automotive veteran, will officially step down as Chairman at the conclusion of the AGM.

    However, this isn’t a full stop, it’s a strategic shift. Ralf will continue his association with TVS as its chief mentor for a three-year term starting 23, August  2025, offering strategic counsel and drawing on his vast experience in automotive leadership.

    Expressing his gratitude, Venu said, “I am really honoured and excited for the future. TVS has been built on a foundation of customer centricity, quality, and technology values we must preserve as we reimagine our future. I’m deeply thankful to our chairman emeritus for his vision, and to Ralf for pushing us to think global and act bold.”

    The leadership change comes at a time when TVS Motor is expanding aggressively across global markets and investing in next-gen technologies, including electric mobility and connected vehicles. Venu has been central to this transformation, overseeing strategic acquisitions, international collaborations, and product innovations that have given the company new momentum.

    Ralf Speth’s stint as chairman was marked by a greater global orientation for TVS, including talent onboarding, enhanced R&D processes, and bold investments in future-ready technologies. In his new role as chief mentor, he is expected to help guide the company’s long-term vision and innovation roadmap.

    With this transition, TVS isn’t just changing drivers, it’s fine-tuning for the next lap of growth. And with Venu at the helm and Speth still in the pit lane, the company seems all set to accelerate into its next evolution.

  • Sam lands the real deal as Exp Realty names him India head

    Sam lands the real deal as Exp Realty names him India head

    MUMBAI: The cloud just got a new address and Sam Chopra is at the helm. In a move set to reshape India’s real estate skyline, Exp Realty, the world’s fastest-growing cloud-based brokerage has appointed industry trailblazer Sam Chopra as president and country leader for India. With the 250 billion dollars Indian real estate sector projected to quadruple by 2030, this isn’t just a leadership update; it’s a strategic land grab.

    Exp Realty, which operates in more than 25 countries and boasts nearly 87,000 agents worldwide, is betting big on India’s digital-first, post-RERA real estate evolution. And Chopra is no stranger to breaking ground quite literally. As the former founder of RE/MAX India and a long-time champion of professionalising the property space, he’s been instrumental in ushering credibility, global best practices, and regulatory alignment into an often-chaotic market.

    “India’s real estate industry is undergoing a tectonic shift. Transparency, technology, and trust are no longer optional, they’re expected,” said Chopra. “eXp’s agent-first, borderless model fits perfectly into this new era. It’s not just about closing deals; it’s about opening up possibilities.”

    This isn’t Chopra’s first rodeo. His three-decade career reads like a masterclass in market transformation from his role as founding chairman of the Association of Property Professionals to his leadership at International Real Estate Partners and India Accelerator. His voice has echoed through boardrooms and policy circles alike, from FIABCI to FICCI, as he’s pushed for an industry grounded in innovation, accountability, and growth.

    “Sam is more than a real estate veteran, he’s a visionary,” said Exp Realty international expansion leader Adam Day. “With his leadership, we’re not just expanding into India. We’re helping rewrite the future of the market.”

    Exp Realty’s India play isn’t just about adding another pin on the global map. It’s about redefining what real estate careers can look like. With its fully digital, agent-owned platform, the company offers agents ownership, training, tech, and freedom tools rarely found together in India’s fragmented landscape.

    And as Indian homebuyers become savvier, developers more transparent, and agents more entrepreneurial, Chopra’s appointment signals a serious bid to lead the next era of real estate.

    From legacy to leverage, from metro markets to Tier II towns with Sam Chopra steering the ship, Exp’s Indian innings may just become the model for global real estate reinvention.

  • Bipin R. Pandit pens his passion in new biography, ‘Impassioned’

    Bipin R. Pandit pens his passion in new biography, ‘Impassioned’

    MUMBAI: Goafest 2025 witnessed more than just gold metals — it saw the unveiling of ‘Bipin R. Pandit – Impassioned’, a vibrant biography celebrating the Advertising Club’s spirited COO & founder of the soulful live music IP, Khumaar. The book was launched by Havas India group CEO SEA & North Asia, and Ad Club president  Rana Barua  during the 58th Abby Awards in front of an industry-packed house.

    The biography captures Pandit’s 28-year rollercoaster with the Ad Club, where he’s been the behind-the-scenes heartbeat of events like the Abbys, Effies and Emvies — awards that have since become institutionally iconic. From his early days at Baroda Rayon and Castrol India to being the anchor of over 1,000 stage shows, Impassioned weaves the personal with the professional — with equal notes of nostalgia, humour and humility.

    The book features:
    * Reflections from all 13 Ad Club presidents Pandit has worked with
    * Insights from 30 managing committee members, with a back-and-forth of perspectives
    * A tribute to Khumaar, now in its 20th year
    * A peek into the Pandits’ love story — a romance that began in school and blossomed into 40 years of marriage
    * And plenty of anecdotes that spotlight Bipin’s love for cricket, music and people

    With a foreword by Padma Shri Piyush Pandey and a special note by Padma Shri Prasoon Joshi, Impassioned isn’t just a biography — it’s a masterclass in loyalty, legacy and leading with heart.

    “I just wrote a LinkedIn blog after last year’s Abbys. Rana called, said this should be a book — and the rest is literally history,” said Pandit, thanking Gour Gupta and the team at Tribes for their support, and co-author-curator Gokul Krishnamoorthy for shaping the narrative.

    “Bipin has been the pulse of The Ad Club,” said Rana Barua. “His journey is a reminder that true leadership doesn’t always wear the loudest hat — sometimes, it sings from backstage.”

    Ad Club past president Ramesh Narayan added, “Bipin has always had that reassuring smile and an enviable ability to juggle committees, concerts, and cricket scores with ease.”

    The biography is priced at Rs 750 and available on www.bipinpandit.com. Ten per cent of the proceeds will go to Light of Life Foundation, supporting marginalised communities — yet another testament to Pandit’s impassioned legacy, both on and off stage.

    Credits
    Publisher & co-author: Bipin R. Pandit
    Curator & co-author: Gokul Krishnamoorthy
    Cover design: Vikram Gaikwad
    Book design: Mediaedge
    Cover photo: Himanshu Mestry
    Supported by: Tribes