Category: People

  • Amit Gupta assumes leadership at Milagrow

    Amit Gupta assumes leadership at Milagrow

    Mumbai: Milagrow Humantech, a leader in consumer robotics, has announced that Amit Gupta is formally heading the organisation. Milagrow is at the forefront of robotics product development in India, with an installation base of more than 1.5 lac products. Under Amit’s leadership, the company is set to enhance operations and offer consumers cost-effective yet high-quality products. To drive this mission forward, he is ensuring the implementation of innovative marketing strategies while developing India-specific products, software, processes, and services.

    With nearly three decades of experience, Amit began his entrepreneurial journey in 2020 when he entered semi-entrepreneurship with Milagrow. As he takes the helm, Amit is pledging to carry forward the visionary legacy established by Rajeev Karwal.

    Amit is working towards revolutionizing the daily interactions in Indian households by integrating advanced robotics. His skill set is playing a key role in strengthening the company’s position as a leader in the robotics industry. He believes in a customer-centric approach and personalization of services by prioritizing products’ easy usability. The seamless integration of a mobile-friendly app is enhancing the overall user experience.

    Expressing his enthusiasm, Milagrow HumanTech VP Amit Gupta said, “Leading Milagrow Humantech is an honor. Inspired by Mr. Rajeev Karwal’s legacy of excellence and innovation, I am committed to furthering his vision. We are spearheading the robotic revolution in India, empowering automation, and freeing humans from mundane tasks so that they can focus on other more important and productive things. At Milagrow, we are dedicated to making the company synonymous with robotics and innovation. We are actively going above and beyond our capabilities and forging strategic collaborations to bring the best technologies to India for redefining the future of the sector.

    Besides scaling in international markets, Milagrow Humantech also plans to set up a manufacturing base in India and cooperate with International companies mainly from Europe and USA. Furthermore, the company’s focus on advancing technology in the LIDAR space underscores its commitment to excellence. In an industry-first initiative towards making ownership of robotics products affordable, the company is offering a three-year warranty on suction motors and a three-year warranty on batteries. With a dedication to product, indigenous softwares and component developments,  Milagrow is positioned to lead the future of robotics in India.

  • Toaster India expands leadership team with new appointments

    Toaster India expands leadership team with new appointments

    Mumbai: Toaster, a leading independent creative agency, has announced the expansion of its senior management team with the appointment of two new leaders. Mohini Varma joins Toaster India as chief strategy officer, while Abhishek Deshwal assumes the role of executive creative director. These strategic hirings mark a significant milestone for Toaster India as it grows and expands its creative capabilities.

    Mohini Varma brings over 15 years of diverse experience in advertising and journalism to her new role as chief strategy officer at Toaster. With an impressive portfolio that includes leading brands such as Google, the Reckitt stable of brands, GSK, Pepsi Foods, Uber, Domino’s, Pernod Ricard, UNICEF, and The Gates Foundation, Mohini has also been a contributing strategist for award-winning campaigns, including winning a Gold APAC Effie for Positive Change and the Glass Lion for Change at Cannes.

    Mohini Varma said “I couldn’t be more excited to join Toaster at such a great inflection point in their growth story. In a world that is getting increasingly more attention deficit, Toaster is testimony to the power of cut-through, disruptive, digital & culture-first storytelling. I cannot wait to write the next chapter of the Toaster success story in India along with Bhawika, Ira, and the rest of the fantastic team.”

    Abhishek Deshwal, the newly appointed executive creative director at Toaster, brings over 17 years of creative prowess to the agency. With a career spanning renowned agencies like Lowe Lintas, JWT, and Wieden+Kennedy, Abhishek has earned a reputation for pushing creative boundaries and delivering standout campaigns. His work with brands like Google, Jio True 5G, and OLX exemplifies his ability to create memorable and impactful brand experiences.

    “When interesting people get together, interesting stuff happens. It’s this simple belief that I share with Toaster. I’m looking forward to the magic I’ll be a part of, working with this crazy creative gang” said Abhishek Deshwal.

    Commenting upon the team expansion, Toaster India MD Bhawika Chhabra said “Past few years we have built a strong reputation by delivering great creative solutions for Google, YouTube, and new clients like Myntra, OYO, Swiggy, Nykaa, to name a few. With Toaster entering its next phase of growth and diversification, we needed someone who could lead and formulate our vision of brand strategy. Mohini comes with diverse experience across categories. Her curiosity and love for advertising make her a great cultural fit for Toaster. We believe her critical thinking will help us strengthen strategic partnerships with our client partners. This is also in line with our expansion of the Senior Management team this year with another significant hire, Abhishek Deshwal as ECD, who has joined us after his last stint at Wieden+Kennedy.”

    Toaster India chief creative officer Ira G said “Our tribe is growing! It’s fantastic to work with equally crazy and talented people – Toaster has always been extremely curated in its hirings and I am so proud to have Mohini and Abhishek on board who are not just great at what they do but also so amazing as who they are. Abhishek is one of the funniest people I know so looking forward to all the mad stuff he’s gonna be up to here. Also with Mohini heading strategy – so proud to be the only agency in India with three women at the fore. To more, more and more!”

  • Redhill expands presence and services in India

    Redhill expands presence and services in India

    Mumbai: Redhill Communications, a Singapore-headquartered full-service global communications agency with a presence in more than 20 countries, has marked the commencement of its tenth founding anniversary with strategic enhancements to its India presence and structure. In response to evolving market needs, Redhill’s integrated communications offering is expanded with digital, design, content creation & sustainability capabilities through VS Story, which Redhill acquired in 2022.  

    Gaurav Prabhu, a seasoned PR and Communications professional with over 15 years of experience, has been appointed as Redhill’s India Country Head. He will spearhead client counsel, brand positioning, and strategic initiatives, contributing to the growth and success of Redhill in the Indian market. As a result of a regional regrouping initiative, Redhill India will now fold within the newly minted Redhill India-Middle East-Africa (IMEA) region, with Anit Kurian as managing director. Redhill’s impact services such as digital and sustainability communications will be led globally by social entrepreneur and VS Story founder, Jacqui Hocking.

    Redhill president Manisha Seewal said: “With Jacqui, Gaurav, and Anit leading our new India story and growing our reach and offerings in India, we are confident of our 10th year being a landmark one. Our client conversations in India are often ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to the need for an integrated communications solution, and agility and multi-market presence are often the deciding factors. By strengthening our suite of offerings to now include Sustainability and CSR Storytelling, we believe that we have created the right solution as we grow our presence and impact, enabling us to expand on the range of work that we do every day.”

    Redhill country head of India Gaurav Prabhu said: “I am excited to assume the role of country head – of India at Redhill. Leading our exceptionally talented team on this journey is not just a privilege, but a profound responsibility. We are committed to delivering not only innovative strategies but transformative solutions that will redefine the standards of excellence for our clients across India. With our combined expertise, we stand resolute in our mission to ignite impact change and pave the way for unparalleled success.”

    Redhill India (including VS Story) has a staff strength of more than 20 professionals across six cities in India and counts Amazon India, Essilor Luxottica, Emirates Group, Dormer Pramet, Danone, PayPal, LinkedIn, and Builder.ai among its clients. Under Redhill’s ‘One Contract’ model of one-time contracting for multi-geography work, Redhill has also delivered in India for Redhill global clients from multiple international markets. Redhill Studio’s portfolio of offerings includes storyboarding, filming, photography and post-production of various projects such as sustainability reports, authentic documentaries, employee engagement video campaigns, visual graphics and animation, infographics, aerial videography and more. 

  • Ruder Finn India appoints Shivaram Lakshminarayan as the chief operations officer

    Ruder Finn India appoints Shivaram Lakshminarayan as the chief operations officer

    Mumbai: Ruder Finn India, the Integrated Communications Consultancy, announced the appointment of Shivaram Lakshminarayan as the chief operations officer, reinforcing its commitment to strategic growth and operational excellence. Based out of the Bangalore office, Shivaram will play a pivotal role in driving business growth and operational excellence for the organization. This dynamic role involves leading client solutions, spearheading new business development, collaborating closely with the practices, and optimizing operational efficiencies.

    Commenting on the appointment, Ruder Finn India CEO and head of Middle East Atul Sharma, said, “Shiv brings with him extensive experience across technology and corporate communications. With this appointment, we have further solidified our India leadership team to provide effective solutions for our clients and expand our operations in the country. Having witnessed Shiv’s energy and expertise in action before, I am thrilled to have him on board. Together, we’re set to amplify our success story in India and bring forth some exciting new chapters.”

    With a wealth of industry experience spanning over 21 years, Shivaram’s expertise lies in brand reputation, corporate communications, leadership positioning, employee communications, investor relations, issues and crisis management, as well as policy and government relations. In his previous assignment, he successfully built and managed teams nationwide, collaborating with global leadership, and growing practices, while streamlining SOPs and SLAs for clients and teams.

    Reflecting on his new role as the chief operations officer, at Ruder Finn India, Shivaram Lakshminarayan added, “As I step into the shoes of chief operations officer at Ruder Finn India, I’m genuinely excited about being part of this dynamic team. I’ve seen Ruder Finn India growing at a phenomenal pace in the last five years and today, I’m very excited to get an opportunity to be a part of this amazing growth story. In this role, I look forward to taking Ruder Finn India to newer heights with the talented teams here, leveraging their expertise and experience to come up with great solutions for our clients.”

  • BOD Consulting onboards Dr PV Ramana Murthy as an expert advisor

    BOD Consulting onboards Dr PV Ramana Murthy as an expert advisor

    Mumbai: BOD Consulting, one of the leading strategy and design consulting firms, has onboarded Dr PV Ramana Murthy to its team. Dr Murthy, a seasoned HR practitioner, distinguished lawyer, and bestselling author brings over three and a half decades of experience and expertise to BODHI, its knowledge collective.

    BODHI boasts of experts from around the globe, each with niche specializations and decades of rich experience. BOD Consulting collaborates closely with these expert advisors to conduct knowledge-sharing sessions and deliver value to its clients.

    As a renowned leader in his field, Dr Murthy has held pivotal roles across prestigious Fortune 500 and global companies, including EVP at Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) and executive director of human resources at The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC), and has global exposure across Asia, Europe, and the USA.

    Dr Murthy’s diverse background uniquely equips him to counsel clients on various challenges and opportunities in organizational development. His expertise extends beyond conventional HR functions, encompassing leadership development, culture enhancement, and talent management. His guidance will be pivotal in assisting clients to cultivate resilient and future-ready institutions.

    “I am delighted to welcome Dr. PV Ramana Murthy as an Expert Advisor at BOD.  Dr. Murthy’s wealth of experience and innovative approach to problem solving will bring fresh perspective to the cultural transformation initiatives, for both our clients and employees.  We are eagerly looking forward to the transformative impact Dr Murthy will have on BOD’s fast-paced journey ahead.” said BODHI chairman and BOD Consulting senior partner Mukesh Mathur.

    The knowledge collective of BOD Consulting also includes Dr Ajay Kohli, Anil Kejriwal, Bhaskar Pramanik, Manoj Agarwal, J Suresh, Thomas Varghese, and Dr Raman Kumar. Together, they form a formidable team of strategic thinkers dedicated to helping BOD Consulting’s clients build organisations they are truly proud of.

  • FCB India announces new creative leadership for Delhi

    FCB India announces new creative leadership for Delhi

    Mumbai: FCB India, part of the FCB Group agencies in India, today announces new creative leadership for its Delhi office. Udayan Chakravorty and Anusheela Saha, ECDs at FCB India, have been promoted to National Creative Directors. Saha will also take on the additional role of Head of Design at the agency.

    With his exceptional creativity and strategic insight, Chakravorty has delivered work for brands such as Google and Horlicks. Anusheela’s passion for design innovation has shaped FCB India’s design capabilities on brands such as Horlicks, Uber, Bata, Royal Stag and many more. In their new capacity as National Creative Directors, Udayan and Anusheela will be responsible for driving creative strategy and execution, working closely with the senior management team. As Head of Design, Anusheela will also oversee the implementation of design initiatives across all client projects, ensuring a cohesive and visually compelling brand experience.

    In addition to this announcement, Swati Bhattacharya will step down from her role as Creative Chairperson for FCB India to take some personal time. Since joining the agency in 2016, Swati’s tenure at FCB Group India has been marked by significant contributions that have propelled the agency to new heights. She played a crucial role in shaping the agency’s creative reputation and bringing international recognition through path-breaking campaigns, while her keen insights and bold approach to storytelling have left an indelible mark on the organisation, inspiring creativity and pushing boundaries. Swati will remain at the agency until the end of March.

    Commenting on the announcement, FCB Group India and South Asia group CEO Dheeraj Sinha said, “It’s always a pleasure to see our leaders moving up and taking on greater challenges. Udayan and Anusheela are two creative leaders who have amazing talent and energy, and have continually demonstrated a future-thinking approach. With their enthusiasm and passion for creating globally competitive work for our clients, I am convinced they will help write a new future for FCB India and the FCB Group overall.

    “We are grateful to Swati, who has played a pivotal role in shaping FCB India’s creative direction and fostering a culture of creativity and excellence. She helped put the agency on the global creative map, and we wish her the very best in her future endeavours,” Dheeraj continued. 

  • Ajay Shanker joins Ultraviolette as CFO to spearhead global expansion

    Ajay Shanker joins Ultraviolette as CFO to spearhead global expansion

    Mumbai: Ultraviolette Automotive, an innovator in future-ready Electric Vehicle Platforms and battery technology, is excited to announce the strategic induction of Ajay Shanker as its chief Financial Officer (CFO). Ajay comes with a rich background spanning over 25 years in pivotal financial roles at Schneider Electric, IIM Bangalore – NSRCEL, Aricent (Flextronics), Cannon Inc and Yamaha Motors. His last stint as CFO was with Schneider Electric for their international business GSC covering India, the Middle East, Africa & South America, East Asia, Japan & Pacific.

    Speaking on this strategic move, Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & co-founder, Ultraviolette expressed, “Ajay’s unparalleled experience and strategic insight will be crucial as we evolve into a global scale product company with multiple business verticals. His leadership will enhance our capability to execute our vision, pushing the boundaries of electric mobility worldwide.”

    Ajay Shanker, CFO, Ultraviolette expressed his excitement about his new role, “I’m captivated by Ultraviolette’s ambition to lead the electric mobility race with groundbreaking products and a solid business model. The company’s blend of innovation, global talent, strong competitive positioning, and clear vision for the future is what drew me in. I’m thrilled to be part of this journey to redefine electric mobility on a global scale.”

    Ultraviolette CTO & co-founder Niraj Rajmohan shared his perspective, “We are on the brink of revolutionising electric mobility. Ajay’s expertise in financial strategy and growth management will play a central role in this transformation, ensuring Ultraviolette not only leads but defines the future of sustainable transportation.”

    This pivotal appointment comes at a time when Ultraviolette is gearing up for an exciting phase of expansion and innovation, backed by strong business fundamentals and a track record of success, including the F77’s recent accolade as AUTOCAR Awards 2024 – “Electric Two-Wheeler of the Year.”

  • Voice of radio, Ameen Sayani passes on

    Voice of radio, Ameen Sayani passes on

    MUMBAI: When you think of radio, one name that immediately pops up is Ameen Sayani. Well, we will hear his live voice no more. The veteran radio host passed away late last night. He was 91. He hosted the ever so popular Geetmala on Radio Ceylon which gathered Indian masses Later he stepped into the shoes of his brother Hamid Sayani when he passed away to be the voice of Bournvita Quiz Contest.

    Sayani was also the voice behind many a radio jingle and TV commercial. His passing is an irreparable loss to the now challenged world of radio. He is survived by his son Rajil Sayani.

    Indiantelevision.com wishes with all its heart that may his soul rest in peace.

  • JSW Group elevates Kaustubh Kulkarni as group head of banking

    JSW Group elevates Kaustubh Kulkarni as group head of banking

    Mumbai: The JSW Group, a leading diversified conglomerate with interests spanning steel, energy, cement, infrastructure, paints, sports, venture capital, defence and electric vehicles is pleased to announce the elevation of Kaustubh Kulkarni as the group head of banking, with immediate effect. In addition to his existing responsibilities as group head of M&A and strategic financing, Kulkarni will now oversee banking relationships across the group business verticals.

    Kulkarni brings over 27 years of experience in banking and finance to his new role. He joined the Group in 2017 as the group head of M&A and strategic financing and has since been instrumental in executing several large strategic acquisitions. Prior to joining JSW, Kulkarni served as MD – debt capital markets at Standard Chartered Bank, India.

    “We are delighted to appoint Kaustubh Kulkarni as the Group Head of Banking,” said Parth Jindal. “His proven track record in financial management and deep understanding of banking relationships will be invaluable as we navigate our growth trajectory. We are confident that under his leadership, we will optimize our financing strategies to support the Group’s ambitious expansion plans.”

  • Mirasys (India) brings seasoned analytics leader Ashish Nigam on board as COO

    Mirasys (India) brings seasoned analytics leader Ashish Nigam on board as COO

    Mumbai: AI-based video surveillance analytics leader Mirasys (India) has announced the appointment of Ashish Nigam, a notable name in business consulting, transformational analytics, Data and Machine Learning, as the company’s chief operating officer (COO). In his new role, the industry stalwart with nearly two decades of experience would spearhead the overall operations of Mirasys (India) while growing a high-performance AI Video Analytics team as a thought partner and leading with innovation.

    Welcoming the new COO to the fold, Mirasys (India) managing director Arindam Das Sarkar said, “Mirasys (India) is currently fostering an AI video analytics-powered ecosystem across key establishments and verticals across the country, including Ram Mandir, transportation, railway & highway safety etc. Owing to the pioneering role we increasingly play to safeguard, secure and elevate the citizens, we need changemakers and leaders with extensive industry experience on board. We are pleased to welcome Ashish Nigam on board, as he brings a wealth of wisdom and passion to the table. Get ready for some exciting times ahead as we join forces to steer our ship towards even greater heights of success.”

    “I am pleased to come on board Mirasys (India), which has swiftly emerged as a frontrunner in the AI video surveillance analytics space. Drawing from my long-standing experiences across diverse domains like Product Entrepreneurship, Industry Functions, Analytics & Techniques, Proprietary & Predictive Analytics etc, I intend to aid the geo-societal expansion of Mirasys products and services. I am elated to be a part of this phenomenal growth journey,” said Nigam.