ITV

Category: People

  • Pallavi Patil rejoins Madison Media as VP – insights & strategy

    Pallavi Patil rejoins Madison Media as VP – insights & strategy

    Mumbai: Madison Media, a unit of Madison World, is delighted to announce the return of Pallavi Patil as vice president – Insights & Strategy. In her new role, Pallavi will report to Madison Media & OOH group CEO Vikram Sakhuja.

    With over 19 years of experience in data science, insights, and strategic planning, Pallavi brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise. She previously spent six years at Madison and has also worked with leading companies such as Kinetic Worldwide, Nielsen, and Kantar TNS. Before rejoining Madison, Pallavi was associated with Dentsu – Posterscope. Her impressive portfolio includes handling renowned brands like Heinz, UTI Mutual Fund, Citibank, Vodafone Idea, MTS, Cadbury, Tata Motors, Audi, Levi’s, Samsung, Diageo and Google.

    Madison Media & OOH group CEO Vikram Sakhuja said, “We are thrilled to welcome Pallavi back to the Madison family. Her extensive experience and strategic expertise will be instrumental in driving innovation and delivering exceptional value to our clients.”

    Pallavi remarked, “I am excited to rejoin Madison Media and look forward to contributing to our clients’ growth and success through data-driven strategies and insights. It feels wonderful to be back and collaborate with such a talented and dedicated team.

    In the past year, Madison Media has seen a remarkable trend with nearly 50 ex-Madisonites rejoining the company. This surge of returning talent reflects Madison’s nurturing work culture, strong leadership, and exciting opportunities for professional growth. The agency’s ability to attract back former employees speaks volumes about the positive experiences and impactful work environment Madison provides.

  • Dreame India appoints Manu Sharma as managing director to lead its India operations

    Dreame India appoints Manu Sharma as managing director to lead its India operations

    Mumbai: Dreame Technology, a global smart home appliance brand, announced the appointment of Manu Sharma as managing director for its India operations. In this leadership role, Manu will be responsible for developing and executing strategic initiatives to drive Dreame’s growth and establish a strong brand presence in the Indian market. He will also oversee Dreame’s regional product strategy, marketing and sales operations as well as building a team in India.

    Manu Sharma brings over 25 plus years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. Previously, he held key leadership positions at Nothing India (vice president and general manager) and Samsung India (vice president and gead of product strategy), where he played a crucial role in developing and implementing successful go-to-market strategies. Prior to that, he also had a successful 12-year stint at Hewlett-Packard across key business roles.

    Expressing his enthusiasm for his new role, Sharma said, “I am excited to lead Dreame’s India business and I look forward to working with the team to build Dreame’s brand presence, operational capabilities and deliver innovative products that resonate with our consumers.”

    Under Manu’s leadership, Dreame India is committed to delivering exceptional products and services while maintaining its position as an innovator of customer centric solutions and smart home appliances.

  • Alok Varman rejoins Pepperfry as head of supply chain

    Alok Varman rejoins Pepperfry as head of supply chain

    Mumbai: Pepperfry, an e-commerce furniture and home decor company, has announced the return of Alok Varman as head of supply chain. Alok will be instrumental in further strengthening Pepperfry’s position as India’s leading furniture and home decor company. In his new role, he will focus on optimising the supply chain to ensure a seamless customer experience across all channels. His deep understanding of Pepperfry’s business, supply chain and a proven track record will be crucial in driving Pepperfry’s continued growth by ensuring a seamless customer experience across all channels.

    Alok brings over 23 years of experience in strategic business management, supply chain, omnichannel business and customer experience spanning across sectors ranging from retail, e-commerce to B2B & B2C wholesale marketplace. As a founding team member of Pepperfry, Alok played a critical role in building its strong logistics and warehousing infrastructure. His decade-long association with the brand saw him lead the expansion of the company’s experience stores, making it an integral part of the omnichannel strategy.

    Before rejoining Pepperfry, Alok was the COO at Isho.com, a D2C eCommerce furniture startup in Bangladesh, where he enhanced customer experiences and led the brand’s entry into the Indian market. He has also held notable positions such as VP at Wydr.in, senior manager at Carnation Auto India, and manager of consumer operations at Guthy-Renker LLC.

    Speaking on the new appointment, Pepperfry co-founder & CEO Ashish Shah said, “We are excited to welcome Alok back to Pepperfry. His deep understanding of the business operations and passion for the category will be invaluable as we continue to optimise our operations towards delivering a superlative experience to our customers through our proprietary big box supply chain that reaches 300 cities across the country.”

    Expressing his enthusiasm about his new role, Varman added, “I am thrilled to rejoin Pepperfry at this exciting time and to work under the leadership of Ashish Shah. I look forward to working with the team to further optimise our supply chain, deliver an exceptional customer experience, and continue to drive the growth of Pepperfry with excellence and innovation.”

    Since Alok’s expertise spans across diverse industries, he is known for his ability to identify opportunities, build people-driven and technology-enabled processes, and cultivate value-based businesses. Pepperfry is confident that the newly-appointed head of supply chain’s leadership will drive the company to new heights, reinforcing its commitment to providing exceptional furniture and home goods to customers across India.

  • Anuj Poddar to step down from Bajaj Electricals

    Anuj Poddar to step down from Bajaj Electricals

    Mumbai: Bajaj Electricals Ltd announced on 17 July that managing director & CEO Anuj Poddar will step down from his position, effective 30 September 2024. Poddar has decided to leave the company to pursue an external opportunity. During the transition period, chairman Shekhar Bajaj will assume his responsibilities.

    “The Board has accepted his resignation, recognizing Anuj’s outstanding contributions in steering the company’s transformation and growth over the past five and a half years,” the company stated.

    Poddar played a pivotal role in guiding Bajaj Electricals through a challenging period, orchestrating its overhaul and turnaround. Under his leadership, the company became net-debt-free for the first time in March 2022, relaunched its flagship brand ‘BAJAJ’, developed the ‘House of Brands’ strategy, and secured a long-term licensing agreement for the ‘Morphy Richards’ brand, among other accomplishments.

  • FCB Kinnect elevates Elstan Rebello to executive vice president – South (branch head)

    FCB Kinnect elevates Elstan Rebello to executive vice president – South (branch head)

    Mumbai: FCB Kinnect has announced the elevation of Elstan Rebello as executive vice president – South (branch head).  

    Elstan will now lead the South market, overseeing the creative, strategy, media, and account management departments, as well as manage P&L for this high-growth region.  

    Over his 4-year journey, Elstan has been instrumental in securing major clients such as TVS Motor Group, Titan, Intel, ITC Foods and Murugappa Group, among others. His exceptional client relationship skills have expanded the agency’s services by deepening and growing relationships with existing clients and adding new marquee clients to its portfolio.  

    Since joining FCB Kinnect in June 2020 as AVP – Account Management, Elstan has significantly contributed to building the culture of the Bengaluru-based office and growing the team to almost 100 Kinnectors.  

    With 16 years of industry experience, including roles at Network 18 and Condé Nast, Elstan’s strategic vision continues to drive FCB Kinnect’s success in the South market.  

    Speaking on the elevation, FCB Kinnect COO Chandni Mehta said, “As a truly integrated full-funnel agency, it is imperative for us to have an ambitious team leader to drive our momentum forward. Elstan’s ability to lead brands, deeply understand client requirements, and keep creativity at the core, aligns perfectly with our commitment to #OwnTheBrand. With his well-deserved elevation, we are excited to spearhead our market expansion and strengthen our relationships with existing clients in the South.”

    FCB Kinnect EVP – South (branch head) Elstan Rebello added, “At Kinnect, the past 4 years have been defined by a relentless pursuit of excellence in communication integration. Leading initiatives across auto, luxury, FMCG, and technology sectors has been both challenging and immensely rewarding. As I step into this new role, my commitment remains steadfast: to propel us towards greater heights and amplify our impact through innovative and creative solutions.” 

  • IndiGo Airlines appoints Ishha Bawa as lead – strategic initiatives, digital

    IndiGo Airlines appoints Ishha Bawa as lead – strategic initiatives, digital

    Mumbai: Ishha Bawa has recently been appointed as the lead for strategic initiatives, digital at IndiGo Airlines. Prior to this, she served as the head of marketing at the ad tech company Tyroo. According to her LinkedIn profile, she started her new position earlier this month.

    In her current role, Bawa will report directly to IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation Ltd)  chief digital and information officer Neetan Chopra. Additionally, she will take on the role of chief of staff to aid in the digital transformation initiatives spearheaded by Chopra.

    Bawa’s career includes previous positions at HCL Technologies and advertising agencies such as FCB Ulka and McCann Erickson.

  • LIXIL appoints Priya Rustogi as the leader for LWT- India & subcontinent

    LIXIL appoints Priya Rustogi as the leader for LWT- India & subcontinent

    Mumbai: LIXIL, the maker of water and housing products, recently appointed Priya Rustogi as the leader for LIXIL Water Technologies (LWT)—India and subcontinent. LIXIL has been in the Indian market for over a decade through its American Standard and GROHE brands. In this pivotal role, Priya will oversee the operations of these sanitaryware brands in India and the Subcontinent.

    With a sharp focus on leveraging innovation and disruptive business models, Priya aims to realize LIXIL’s goal of transforming end-to-end bathroom solutions in India. As a visionary leader, Priya will drive regional growth and development while ensuring the company’s strategy aligns with its plans. She is deeply committed to the organization’s growth through its extensive channel network.

    With over two decades of industry experience, Priya brings extensive knowledge of sales and distribution and a proven track record of successfully implementing product marketing strategies. Before taking over her current position, she led the consumer business for LIXIL India for over five years. Prior to joining LIXIL, Priya held prominent positions with brands such as Plantronics and Ranbaxy. During her stint with Plantronics, Priya led the launch of Plantronics Retail Products in India. She established it as the leader in the mid-premium headset segment.

    LIXIL, India & subcontinent leader Priya Rustogi said,” I am pleased to take on this new role. I am thankful to the management team for trusting me with this responsibility. Leading LWT and driving growth for our flagship brands, GROHE and American Standard, is an absolute honour. I look forward to leveraging my expertise to scale the business, promote innovation, and achieve new heights for LWT. I want to contribute towards strengthening our presence in the country and exploring new partnership opportunities to expand our reach further.”

  • IdeateLab appoints Ravi Bhaya as CEO

    IdeateLab appoints Ravi Bhaya as CEO

    Mumbai: IdeateLab has announced the appointment of Ravi Bhaya as its new chief executive officer. This comes on the back of the company recently repositioning itself as “The Outcome People” and marks a strategic chapter for the company with Ravi possessing a wealth of experience in digital acceleration, marketing transformation and driving business growth spanning multiple continents including Europe, Africa and Asia.

    Ravi brings to his role as CEO, a distinguished career at global marketing services organisations including Publicis Groupe and Serviceplan Group holding responsibilities across various management functions. These include client leadership roles, revenue growth, spearheading business restructuring initiatives and managing cross-functional teams. In 2020, leveraging his wide industry knowledge including that of diverse markets and cultures, Ravi co-founded RSquared Global Ventures (R2GV) providing strategic consulting to scale-ups within the martech, content, commerce and data space on growth, innovation and ROI. He holds an MBA from the University of San Francisco and spent his formative years as an ex-professional tennis player.

    “IdeateLab has established itself as a leader in the digital-first marcom solutions space. My objective is to build on this foundation fostering innovation and expanding our digital capabilities to deliver measurable business outcomes for our clients, powered by creative excellence” said Bhaya. “Our focus is on integrating cutting-edge solutions and data-driven strategies to stay ahead of market trends and further strengthen IdeateLab’s position in the industry. I am excited at the opportunity and grateful for the faith the IdeateLab management and teams have entrusted upon me” Bhaya added.

    Welcoming Ravi Bhaya to the team, director Vrutika Dawda said “We are delighted to welcome Ravi Bhaya to IdeateLab as our new CEO. Ravi’s extensive experience and proven track record make him a perfect fit to lead IdeateLab into its next phase of growth. We are confident that under his leadership, IdeateLab will continue to set benchmarks in the industry and propel the company into a new era of innovation and success.

    With Ravi at the helm, IdeateLab is set to further solidify its position as a leader in the digital-first marcom solutions space, committed to pioneering new capabilities and strategies that meet the evolving needs of businesses amid their digital transformation journey.”

  • Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages announces appointment of Harsh Bhutani as chief financial officer

    Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages announces appointment of Harsh Bhutani as chief financial officer

    Mumbai– Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd. (HCCB) today announced the appointment of Mr. Harsh Bhutani as its chief financial officer. Bhutani will be responsible for leading HCCB’s financial operations, including Business Transformation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Tax, Treasury, Audit, Accounting & Controls, Reporting and Analysis, and Risk Management. Mr. Bhutani is currently serving as the Vice President of Finance for the India & Southwest Asia Operating Unit of The Coca-Cola Company.

    “I am pleased to welcome Mr. Harsh Bhutani as CFO. With his deep financial and business experience, strategic acumen, inspirational leadership, and proven track record of driving strong financial results, his presence will strengthen HCCB’s financial health, steer strategic decision making and further bolster stakeholder confidence. His relentless work in making finance a strategic enabler of growth and being future-ready is well recognized in the industry. We know he will continue to drive the business forward and will be a great addition to the executive team. I wish him all the best in his new, well-deserved role,” said HCCB CEO Juan Pablo Rodriguez.  

    With over 25 years of experience as a seasoned financial professional, Mr. Bhutani will be returning to HCCB after a highly successful tenure in Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia, where he played a key role in achieving double-digit growth on a year-on-year basis. He was responsible for the transformation of several key projects with system bottling partners across various parts of India & Southwest Asia. His relentless focus on supporting the sustainability priorities of the company and taking meaningful steps towards creating a circular economy, including introducing rPET, yielded positive results.

  • Federation of India Fantasy Sports welcomes Maj. Neil Castelino as its new CEO

    Federation of India Fantasy Sports welcomes Maj. Neil Castelino as its new CEO

    Mumbai: The Federation of India Fantasy Sports (FIFS), India’s first and only self-regulatory industry body for fantasy sports, is pleased to announce the appointment of Maj. Neil Christopher Castelino as its new CEO.

    A distinguished armed forces veteran, Maj. Neil Castelino brings a wealth of experience to FIFS. In his long career spanning over 20 years, he has worked in leadership roles across corporate affairs, public policy, stakeholder engagement & operations.

    Maj. Castelino has successfully managed National, State and Regional operations & engagements at reputed organisations including the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Flipkart, and Bharti Infratel Ltd. He has played a key role in creating & influencing Public policies, driving partnerships in logistics and warehousing and developing the e-commerce industry as well. His detailed understanding of solving complex issues in compliance and regulatory matters has made it easier for businesses to operate in different sectors. Now, Maj. Castelino is prepared to guide FIFS in promoting the Online Fantasy sports industry in India.

    As the new CEO of FIFS, he looks forward to creating collaborations, promoting partnership opportunities and working on the Policy & Regulatory framework for the Fantasy Sports industry working with the leaders of Online Fantasy Sports in India, Central, State governments and other important stakeholders.

    Commenting on his appointment, Maj Neil Castelino said, “I am honoured and excited to lead the Federation of India Fantasy Sports (FIFS). The Fantasy sports industry is a Sunrise and burgeoning sector, I look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to promote innovation, a fair and transparent regulatory framework to ensure sustainable development in the sector.”

    With Major Neil Castelino at the helm, the FIFS aims to strengthen its position as the premier industry body for fantasy sports in India, fostering a suitable ecosystem for all members and stakeholders.