ITV

Category: People

  • HiveMinds appoints Srinath Kotamaraju as regional director-South

    HiveMinds appoints Srinath Kotamaraju as regional director-South

    Mumbai: HiveMinds, India’s premier digital marketing agency, part of Madison group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Srinath Kotamaraju as Regional Director, South. An accomplished professional with over two decades of experience driving growth and digital transformation, Srinath brings a wealth of expertise in brand marketing, leadership, client management, and process optimization. Srinath will lead delivery excellence and existing business growth for the south-based clients.

    Before joining HiveMinds, Srinath was the managing director at Reprise Digital, Indonesia. Before that, he served at Interactive Avenues for nearly a decade, steering large clients and building teams. He has also held business roles at Mindshare, Yahoo India, De Beers and Times of India.

    What further drew Srinath to the company was HiveMinds’ unwavering commitment to both people and performance. He states, “HiveMinds’ dedication to fostering a culture where excellence thrives alongside employee well-being resonated deeply with my values. This synergy was the driving force behind my decision to join this dynamic team at HiveMinds. I am eager to start my journey with talented teams to deliver impactful solutions for our clients.”

    HiveMinds CEO and founder Jyothirmayee JT comments, “Srinath’s experience in handling integrated accounts and his passion for organisation building make him a valuable addition to our leadership team. His interest in delivering business impact with a deep understanding of the medley across content, communication and media will contribute to HiveMinds’ continued upward trajectory.”

    Madison World chairman Sam Balsara commented, “HiveMinds is growing both in size and stature with clients. In this stage of our journey, we need leaders like Srinath to enhance delivery excellence further. With his experience in client management and business growth, I am sure he will add much value to our clients in South India”. 

  • Wing Communications bags integrated PR mandate for DaveAI

    Wing Communications bags integrated PR mandate for DaveAI

    Mumbai: Wing Communications, the Hyderabad-based digital, PR and social media agency has won the PR mandate for DaveAI, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to bridge the product discovery gap for consumers while purchasing products, leveraging real-time data. Wing Communications will be responsible for creating and executing innovative PR strategies for DaveAI. The objective of the collaboration is to showcase DaveAI as the leading provider of immersive and personalised product discovery experiences powered by AI sales avatars.

    Commenting on the partnership, DaveAI co-founder & chief evangelist Sriram P H said, “We are delighted to partner with Wing Communications. They have an understanding of the AI and digital space and a proven track record of delivering impactful PR campaigns. We believe that they will play a crucial role in amplifying our brand story and positioning us as the best customer-preferred AI solution provider in the market. Together, we aim to create a strong brand recall and awareness for DaveAI among our target audience and stakeholders.”

    Speaking of the association, Wing Communications CEO & co-founder Shiva Bhavani said, “We are thrilled to work with DaveAI, one of the most innovative and disruptive AI platforms in the country. They have a unique value proposition and a vision to transform the sales experience for both brands and consumers. We are confident that with our PR expertise and creative approach, we will be able to position DaveAI as the game-changer in the AI and digital domain. In this collaboration, we will be crafting and executing cutting-edge PR campaigns that will help in driving more engagement, conversions and loyalty for DaveAI.”

  • Bacardi India announces Mahesh Kanchan as marketing director for India & Neighboring Countries

    Bacardi India announces Mahesh Kanchan as marketing director for India & Neighboring Countries

    Mumbai: Bacardi India Private Limited, the world’s largest privately held spirits company, today announced the appointment of Mahesh Kanchan as the company’s new Bacardi India & Neighboring Countries marketing director. With a wealth of experience in leadership roles where he drove marketing for international brands across categories in South Asia, he will now spearhead marketing strategies for Bacardi’s portfolio of brands across India and surrounding markets, from the company’s office in Gurgaon.

    Kanchan has built a distinguished career spanning over two decades, with expertise in growing brands through executional excellence, and steering companies towards profitable growth. Previously serving as the CEO of Del Monte Foods India, Kanchan played a key role in transforming Del Monte Foods’ market strategies to boost brand profitability and long-term growth.

    Prior to his tenure at Del Monte, Mr. Kanchan led marketing efforts in the Indian alcobev sector in his role as Vice President – Marketing & Revenue Growth Management at Carlsberg India. Preceding this, he also helped shape Hershey India’s innovation blueprint and approach to growth as Vice President – Marketing & Sales; and led multiple verticals within Sales & Marketing during his time at Unilever India as Regional Marketing Director – South Asia, driving consistent growth for brands like Kissan & Knorr (in India), Blue Band & Flora (Pakistan) and Astra, Flora & Marmite (Sri Lanka).

    “We are thrilled to have Mr. Mahesh Kanchan join Bacardi India’s leadership team,” said Bacardi India & Neighboring Countries managing director Vinay Golikeri. “His strategic expertise and proven ability to drive brand growth align with Bacardi’s vision for the Indian market. With India’s alcobev market continuing to grow into one of the largest globally across categories, we will look to his expertise and guidance to lead our strategic marketing in a direction that meaningfully connects and resonates with our audiences across the country.”

    Commenting on his newly appointed role, Kanchan said, “I am thrilled to embrace the opportunity to enhance both the established and new age brands within the Bacardi portfolio across India and neighboring markets. I look forward to amplifying Bacardi’s consumer-first marketing efforts to bring fresh and meaningful experiences that resonate with our audiences and drive meaningful growth to continue elevating our brand presence.”

  • Yatra Online Ltd appoints Gaurav Luthra as chief business officer – new business development

    Yatra Online Ltd appoints Gaurav Luthra as chief business officer – new business development

    Mumbai: Yatra Online (NASDAQ: YTRA), through its Indian subsidiary, Yatra Online Ltd (“Yatra”), India’s largest corporate travel services provider (Source: CRISIL Report) and a leading online travel company in India among OTA players in terms of gross booking revenue and operating revenue, for fiscal year 2023, has announced the appointment of Gaurav Luthra as chief business officer – new business development.

    As a seasoned professional with over 28 years of experience, Gaurav brings extensive industry expertise to the table. He will lend his strategic leadership to drive the company’s corporate travel proposition focused on Mid-market customers and will play an instrumental role..

    As a chief business officer at Yatra, Gaurav will leverage his extensive experience and proven track record, for building and further enhancing Yatra’s mid-market and SME corporate travel proposition, and developing new products such as visa facilitation and car rentals for business travelers, thereby delivering financial growth for the company. Gaurav’s appointment further strengthens Yatra’s commitment to excellence and its vision of providing exceptional travel experiences to customers.

    In his previous role as managing director of FCM Travel, Gaurav showcased his prowess in overseeing Indian interests for Australia’s Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG). During his 25-year tenure at FCTG India, Gaurav emerged as a revered industry veteran, renowned for pioneering product innovations, leading technological advancements, and fostering fruitful supplier relationships to drive revenue growth.

    Commenting on his appointment, Gaurav Luthra said, “I’m excited to embark on this new chapter with Yatra, and contribute to its continued success in the travel industry. Yatra’s current trajectory is incredibly promising, and I look forward to collaborating with the team to further fortify this growth. As the newly appointed Chief Business Officer at Yatra, my immediate focus will be on meticulous strategic planning to unlock the full potential of the brand, surpassing the expectations of both our customers and stakeholders alike. With innovative strategies, I’m confident we’ll lead Yatra to even greater success, delighting customers every step of the way.”

    Yatra Online Ltd CEO & whole-time director Dhruv Shringi said, “Gaurav brings with him a wealth of knowledge, the right expertise, and capabilities that will be fundamental to help accelerate Yatra’s presence in the online travel aggregator space. I’m thrilled to have him come onboard as he will play a pivotal role in executing the many exciting opportunities we have on the horizon as we enter our next growth phase.”

  • Sportz Interactive welcomes Alex Chamberlen as head of UK & EU operations

    Sportz Interactive welcomes Alex Chamberlen as head of UK & EU operations

    Mumbai: Sportz Interactive (SI), a leading sports technology and content solutions company and a part of the Sportz Solutions Group, continues to expand its global footprint by strengthening its UK and EU lperations. To further strengthen its commitment to the region, SI announced the appointment of Alex Chamberlen as director – head of UK & EU operations. This marks another significant milestone in its journey towards becoming the world’s foremost provider of sports technology and content solutions, following its successful venture into Singapore.

    Alex Chamberlen brings a wealth of experience in business development and operations across renowned organisations such as Cricinfo, Omnigon, Engage Digital Partners, and Trippant Communications. His profound understanding of the sports business sector across diverse regions including the UK, Europe, India, and North America will be instrumental in driving Sportz Interactive’s growth trajectory in the UK and European markets. Chamberlen will be based out of London, UK.

    Commenting on his appointment, Alex Chamberlen expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am honoured to join Sportz Interactive at this pivotal moment in our journey. With a strong foundation built on 20 plus years of experience, SI is already making a significant impact on the global sports technology landscape. I am eager to leverage my experience and expertise to lead the company’s expansion into the UK and EU markets.”

    Sportz Interactive chairman Arvind Iyengar remarked, “We are delighted to welcome Alex Chamberlen to Team SI. His proven track record and deep industry knowledge make him the ideal candidate to spearhead our global expansion efforts and further strengthen our existing relationships with 15 plus customers in Europe. This will help us drive our global growth as we look to help sports organisations maximise their fan affinity and supercharge commercial outcomes.”

    With existing customers that include the likes of the International Olympic Committee, NBA, UEFA, Disney, Google and Formula One, Sportz Interactive’s continued expansion into the UK and EU markets reinforces its commitment to providing fanalytics offerings and digital transformation capabilities for sports organisations around the world.

  • Srikanth Subramanian joins Angel One Wealth Ltd as co-founder & CEO

    Srikanth Subramanian joins Angel One Wealth Ltd as co-founder & CEO

    Mumbai: A group of seasoned wealth managers, collaborate with Angel One as co-founders to lead its private wealth management foray. Srikanth Subramanian has joined as co-founder & CEO of Angel One Wealth Ltd; he comes with more than twenty years of experience in investment and wealth management business. He joins from Kotak Cherry, the digital wealth management arm run by Kotak Mahindra Bank. Other co-founders include Shobhit Mathur and Dharmendra Jain. Shobhit will lead the wealth-tech and customer excellence teams and Dharmendra will bring his strategic expertise in investment solutions and products. The new business leaders will collaborate with Angel One in tapping opportunities in the wealth management space, catering to the growing needs of emerging HNIs and Ultra HNIs.

    Angel One Ltd chairman and MD Dinesh Thakkar said, “The wealth management business has witnessed significant growth over the last decade with rising affluents in our country. We believe this space is ripe for a digital disruption. With the addition of such accomplished leaders to our team, we aim to not only accelerate this growth but also enhance our presence in the full-stack financial services space. The expertise of Srikanth and his team aligns seamlessly with this vision of ours. As we navigate the dynamic financial landscape, their strategic contributions will be pivotal in propelling Angel One to new heights.”

    Angel One Wealth Ltd co-founder & CEO Srikanth Subramanian said, “I am thrilled to be a part of the Angel One Group and build a tech-led omnichannel wealth management business. The innovative digital approach and established market position perfectly complements our goal of providing comprehensive financial solutions that cater to the evolving landscape of India. We are primed to democratize access to wealth management.”

    Angel One Wealth Ltd has an experienced founding team comprising seasoned wealth managers and domain experts in technology, advisory and client engagement. Leveraging our expertise in technology, our platform aims to enhance decision-making on investments. With each of the co-founders having a domain expertise of about two decades and a strong foundation in technology, having built a platform catering to millions of users, the company aims to grow in the wealthtech space.

  • Aakash Mishra joins Donear Group as AVP-group brand marketing

    Aakash Mishra joins Donear Group as AVP-group brand marketing

    Mumbai: Lifestyle and fashion house Donear group has appointed Aakash Mishra as AVP of group brand marketing.

    Sharing the news on LinkedIn, Aakash Mishra said, “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new mandate as AVP – group brand marketing at Donear Group- India’s Leading Lifestyle and Fashion house where I’ll be leading Group Marketing Efforts for three Group companies – Donear, Grasim BTL, OCM.”

    Akash will look at the day-to-day marketing across the group. He will be in charge of brands like NeoStretch, Donear Suitings, Grado (formerly known as Grasim Suitings), OCM, Mayur, Graviera, Ferrara Italian Luxury, Ferrino Mizzoni, Moda Biella Italy, Lanificio Corleone, Eurico and Dcot Retail.

    Mishra has earlier worked with World Wide Media, Times Group, for over 16 years.

    In his career of over 20 years, he has also worked with Euro Vitrified & Wall Tiles and Tex Co.

  • Rayomand J. Patell joins Laqshya Group as group chief creative officer

    Rayomand J. Patell joins Laqshya Group as group chief creative officer

    Mumbai: The Laqshya Group proudly welcomes Rayomand J. Patell as its group chief creative officer. Rayomand’s wealth of experience and innovative mindset will drive creativity, efficacy, and integrated synergies across the Group’s diverse portfolio. Laqshya Group, a renowned independent Indian conglomerate known for its comprehensive Media, Creative, Technology, and Experiences offerings, is on a determined growth path across all verticals.

    Rayomand has previously been a creative leader at creatively-led agencies such as SSC&B Lintas (home to India’s first Cannes Gold Lion), Contract Advertising, Havas; and then he plunged into the world of Technology at Idealake. His dream is to create a homegrown Accenture Song or R/GA. In the Laqshya Group, he finds the scale and ambitious thinking needed to fulfil it both within India and abroad.

    Laqshya Group Chairman Alok Jalan said, “With Rayomand on board, Laqshya Group is sure to create work that is deeply differentiated and effective across media.”

    Rayomand will partner with DigitaLabs CEO Manas Mohan as the arrowhead of the Laqshya Group’s Creative offering. Manas Mohan said, “Clients look very carefully at the creative multiplier for campaigns across media. Rayo’s expertise and experience in combining creativity and brand insights, especially in the digital space, will enable Digitalabs to create unique brands in the marketplace.” DigitaLabs has been making headway with a clutch of new clients across hospitality, architectural products, industrial adhesives, education, government and media.

  • Driver Logistics hires global logistics veteran Naveen Kolathur as COO

    Driver Logistics hires global logistics veteran Naveen Kolathur as COO

    Mumbai:  Driver Logistics, a logistics company in India, announced that Naveen Kolathur has been appointed as its chief operating officer.Kolathur has over 28 years of leadership experience in the logistics and supply chain industries of which over 22 years have been with DHL in senior roles in the US, Singapore and India. His last assignment at DHL was as VP and Head of Service Quality. Mr. Kolathur has immense experience in building the 4PL/LLP businesses for DHL across Asia.

    Announcing Kolathur’s appointment, Driver Logistics  CEO Aqil Ashique said, “We are happy to have Naveen Kolathur on board. His customer-centric approach incorporating technology and his experience in building 4PL operations will greatly help Driver Logistics. Mr. Kolathur’s years of experience in Singapore will also be invaluable as we expand operations to South East Asia, beginning with Thailand.”

    Naveen Kolathur added, “I am truly excited to join a young and dynamic company like Driver Logistics. The Company’s spectacular growth over the last 4 years points to a strong leadership and perfectly aligned business plans. India’s logistics sector is at the cusp of a high growth phase and Driver Logistics is sure to play a big part in it.”

    Kolathur has an MBA from Baldwin Wallace University, USA and is a graduate of the PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore.

  • NOFILTR.Group elects Hitarth Dadia as partner & CEO

    NOFILTR.Group elects Hitarth Dadia as partner & CEO

    Mumbai: NOFILTR.Group, a leading influencer incubator and social media services agency, is pleased to announce the appointment of Hitarth Dadia as partner & CEO. Hitarth, who previously served as the partner & chief marketing officer (CMO) at NOFILTR.Group, brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record of success to his new role.

    In his role as partner & CEO, Hitarth will be responsible for optimising business collaborations,  and creating a profitable entrepreneurial blueprint for the influencers associated with NOFILTR.Group. He will work closely with the creative departments to chart out detailed insights in public relations and branding for the influencers enforcing authenticity and intentional creation, further strengthening NOFILTR.Group’s position in the market.

    Hitarth joined NOFILTR.Group as a sales intern and quickly advanced to the role of business development head before taking on the role of CMO. During his time at NOFILTR.Group, Hitarth has successfully collaborated with international brands such as Cadbury and Amazon Pay, creatively coupling his insights in sales and marketing to garner traction for these brands on social media platforms.

    “I’m thrilled to step into the role of Partner & CEO at NOFILTR.Group. Excited and ready to push our team to even greater heights.” said Hitarth Dadia.

    In addition to Hitarth’s appointment, Mihir Surana, who previously served as partner & CEO, will now take on the role of partner and advisor at NOFILTR.Group. Mihir’s strategic insights and leadership have been instrumental in guiding the company to where it is today. Having him onboard as an advisor will continue to play an important role in shaping the future. He’ll also be keeping a close eye on any other projects from any other domains he finds interesting outside of Nofiltr.

    “We are excited about the future with Hitarth stepping into the role of Partner & CEO. His strategic vision and leadership skills will be pivotal in driving NOFILTR.Group’s growth and success,” said NOFILTR.Group partner and advisor Mihir Surana. “I look forward to my journey with NOFILTR.Group in my new role, leveraging my experience to support Hitarth and the team in achieving their goals.”

    NOFILTR.Group believes that this shift will be invaluable as they continue to grow and innovate in the influencer marketing industry.