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Category: People

  • Prakash Wakankar joined Xynteo India as a director on its board

    Prakash Wakankar joined Xynteo India as a director on its board

    Mumbai: In a strategic move to reinforce its commitment to enhancing the well-being of people and facilitating planet-positive growth, Xynteo India announced the onboarding of industry veteran Prakash Wakankar as a director to its board. With an illustrious 38-year career spanning various industries and geographies, he brings a wealth of experience and enhances the diversity in leadership.

    Prakash’s journey began in Pharmaceuticals with Pfizer & Hoechst (now Aventis), setting the stage for a remarkable professional voyage. Starting with Pharmaceuticals (Pfizer & Hoechst), over the past four decades, Prakash has worked in  FMCG, Packaging, Hospitality, Energy, & Retail Two-wheelers and International Business, He has held leadership and board-level positions, including   president,  Coca-Cola Bottling (CBU) in India, director east Asia & Pacific, Essel Propack Ltd., president & CEO, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts, managing director, Perfetti van Melle, and recently as chief of international operations (FES), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and CEO of Mahindra Two-Wheeler Businesses. He brings extensive domestic and international understanding, spanning India, ASEAN, the Far East, Europe, and parts of Latin America and Africa.

    Post his superannuation in March 2023, Prakash continues to advise the Mahindra Farm Sector.

    Commenting on this significant development, Xynteo India senior partner Vipul Kumar, said, “Having Prakash Wakankar onboard marks a valuable addition to the Xynteo India family. His extensive expertise and unwavering dedication to diversity perfectly resonate with our commitment to purpose-driven initiatives. At Xynteo, we are focused on steering organisations toward addressing global societal and environmental challenges. Prakash’s strategic vision aligns seamlessly with our mission, enhancing the dynamism of our board and playing a pivotal role in propelling Xynteo India towards excellence. Together, we look forward to advancing our common objective of creating positive societal and environmental impact through purposeful transformations.”

    Beyond his corporate achievements, Prakash is an accomplished sports broadcaster for the BBC, ABC, Cricket Radio, and Akashwani, showcasing his ability to balance his passion for Cricket with corporate responsibilities. He is widely recognized as a sought-after speaker and trainer across diverse genres.

    Xynteo director Prakash Wakankar said, “I am excited to contribute my diverse experiences to the dynamic team at Xynteo. Aligned with the organisation’s purpose-driven approach, I am enthusiastic about collaborating with the team to foster innovation and drive planet-positive change in the industry. Together, we aim to advance Xynteo’s vision of a world where businesses thrive by addressing global societal and environmental challenges and guiding leaders through purposeful transformations that fuel sustainable growth.”

    In its pioneering collaborative initiatives with global industry leaders, Xynteo is dedicated to fostering growth that benefits both the planet and human well-being. Embracing the possibilities of achieving net-zero emissions and transitioning to a circular economy, Xynteo enthusiastically develops socially inclusive solutions and reshapes stakeholder ecosystems to promote greater equity. This approach introduces a fresh perspective on how businesses are guided by Xynteo’s leadership, approach thinking, leadership, partnerships, and overall conduct.

  • Bharat Gupta assumes the presidency at INMA’s South Asian Division from Jagran New Media

    Bharat Gupta assumes the presidency at INMA’s South Asian Division from Jagran New Media

    Mumbai: Jagran New Media’s CEO, Bharat Gupta, has been elected as the regional president of the South Asian Division of the International News Media Association (INMA), succeeding the earlier president, Praveen Someshwar, MD & CEO at HT Media Ltd. Jagran New Media is the digital arm of Jagran Prakashan Ltd, which operates businesses in Print, Radio, Outdoor & Digital. This leadership transition was part of the recent election conducted by INMA during its annual business meeting, where new officers and regional directors were appointed for the International board. The team also extends its gratitude to Earl J. Wilkinson, Executive Director and CEO of the International News Media Association (INMA), for his exemplary leadership.

    Other regional presidents on the INMA International Board include Petteri Putkiranta, President, News & Featyre, Sanoma Media Finaland, Helsinki, Finland; Troy Niday, Chief Operations Officer Sonoma Media Investments – The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, California; and Pablo Deluca, Director de Asuntos Institucionales Infobae Buenos Aires, CABA, Argentina (Latin American Division President).

    Ecstatic about the appointment, Jagran New Media CEO Bharat Gupta said, “I am deeply honoured to take on the role of South Asia Division President at the International News Media Association (INMA) and contribute to a global dialogue on the future of news media. My primary focus will be driving scale, impact, and sustainability for digital news media companies, and central to my vision is the creation of a collaborative platform where we can all ideate, collaborate, and innovate. This approach is especially crucial in the context of the ongoing disruption caused by AI and ML technology stacks. There will be a special emphasis on culture building within our organisations, particularly through fostering Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, to ensure a transformative impact across the media landscape. By integrating these elements, I aim to contribute meaningfully to INMA’s mission and support the evolution of the Indian media sector within the global framework.”

    With a wealth of experience and expertise in the media sector, Mr. Bharat Gupta will be responsible for laying down the futuristic vision of the South Asia Division, overseeing all activities and championing INMA’s core values of sustainable journalism, success, innovation, and continuous learning. Before his elevation to president, he served as an integral part of INMA South Asian Division as its Vice President, which showcased his firm dedication to INMA’s

    mission, focusing on fostering growth, revenue, and brand development within the dynamic media universe.

    With a global Board of Directors overseeing the association’s activities, INMA continues to be at the forefront of providing professional training and development opportunities for its 20,000+ members across 94 countries. It leads the news industry with initiatives to understand better digital subscriptions, intelligent data, products, advertising, and the emerging relationship with Big Tech platforms.

    Along with serving as the president of the INMA South Asia Division (International News & Media Association), he is also a governing council member and co-chair at the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI); a founding member of the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA); Executive president of the Misinformation Combat Alliance; a board member of the International Fact Check Network (IFCN); an Advisory Board Member of FT Strategies, London; and a member of the Google Global News Advisory Group and YouTube Global News Advisory Group; and the founding member & president of the Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA), a cross-industry collaborative effort to combat and limit the spread of misinformation. 

  • MudraMax elevates Deleise Ross to senior VP & business head

    MudraMax elevates Deleise Ross to senior VP & business head

    Mumbai: Leading integrated marketing media agency – MudraMax – has announced the promotion of Deleise Ross as the senior vice president and head of business. In her new role, she will be reporting to DDB Mudra Group president – integrated media Rammohan Sundaram and lead business operations for West as well as the South division.

    Her extensive experience and calm demeanour have led MudraMax through unprecedented growth. Deleise has been associated with MudraMax for over five years now and has played a significant role in the agency’s overall success. She has worked on a varied portfolio across categories including brands such as Adani Wilmar, Jazeera Airlines, PNB Housing Finance, Nuvama and Relaxo – Sparx.

    DDB Mudra Group president – integrated media Rammohan Sundaram said, “We are seeing tremendous growth in our media business and so structures become important which only helps teams to focus better and deliver better. It is also about leadership attention that teams require when in hockey stick growth phase. My belief has always been to groom available talent from within and we are excited to have Deleise take on larger responsibility.”

    Speaking on her elevation, Ross said, “I’m excited to start this new chapter, as it will help me broaden my understanding of newer markets and businesses. With the cross-category experience that I bring to the table, I look forward to making clearer and more strategic recommendations for the new set of businesses with the expanded team.”

  • Archita Jasani joins V Hunt Digital Media as a chief operating officer

    Archita Jasani joins V Hunt Digital Media as a chief operating officer

    Mumbai : V Hunt Digital Media announced the recent appointment of Archita Jasani as the chief operating officer (COO). In her role, Archita will spearhead the business and distribution strategies of the ChanaJor app along with key brand functions contributing to the growth and development of the platform.

    Archita brings with her more than 20 years wealth of experience from her extensive career in the media and entertainment industry, a remarkable track record in leading successful initiatives at prominent organizations such as Eros Now, Hungama, and the Times Group. Her proven expertise in international partnerships, cutting edge deals and revenue driven focus aligns seamlessly with the vision and goals of ChanaJor.

    As COO, Archita will work closely with founder Pratap Jain and will play a pivotal role in establishing ChanaJor as a one stop destination for snackable entertainment content. Her leadership skills and strategic acumen are expected to elevate the company’s position in the rapidly evolving digital entertainment space.

    In addition to her professional achievements, Archita holds affiliations with multiple media council organisations, further underscoring her industry insights, extensive network and her belief in elevating women to leadership roles. Her knowledge, leadership, and industry experience are expected to contribute immensely to the continued success and excellence of ChanaJor.

    ChanaJor is a Hindi SVOD channel that has experienced exponential growth, boasting the fastest-growing subscriber base and viewership. The platform offers a diverse range of snackable entertainment titles and content across genres such as comedy, crime, thriller, suspense, and exclusive international drama shows in localised language.

  • TPV Technology appoints Carol Anne Dias as its new managing director

    TPV Technology appoints Carol Anne Dias as its new managing director

    Mumbai:  TPV Technology Ltd, an LCD manufacturer, has announced the appointment of Carol Anne Dias as its new managing director, to spearhead operations of AOC and Philips monitor divisions in India. Under her new strategic role, Carol will be responsible to drive the company’s monitor business to the next level, by aligning the business operations towards growth and aggressively penetrating all major metro cities across India.

    The move comes in line with the company’s goal to meet local market demands and ensure the availability of its innovative portfolio of monitor solutions. Carol will be aggressively promoting Philips and AOC monitors, along with AOC’s sub-brand ‘AGON by AOC’, one of the world’s strongest portfolios of high-performance gaming monitors. She will oversee the channel, retail (organised, micro-retail & e-commerce), network of gaming systems integrators, and overall sales and marketing by leveraging key distribution channels across India.

    Commenting on the appointment, APMEA general manager Kevin Wu, said “We are thrilled to have Carol on board with us to head our Indian operations. She has already played a pivotal role in accelerating the growth of our innovative state-of-the-art monitors portfolio in the Middle East and Africa, thereby capturing a significant market share in the region. Carol in her new role, will help place AOC and Philips at the centre of the digital transformation and gaming monitor business in India. We are confident in her abilities to further strengthen our footprint in India. Under her able leadership, we are looking forward to changing our market strategy as a whole and also focus more on establishing our gaming monitors brand in the Indian market.”

    Currently, the gaming monitors industry is on the rise in the Indian market, expected to reach from US$ 108 million in 2023 to US$ 235.53 by 2033. The popularity of eSports, the increase in gamers, and the accessibility of inexpensive gaming displays are some of the key factors contributing to the growth. TPV Technology looks forward to encashing the opportunity and is eyeing a boost in the growth of AOC’s leading gaming monitor sub-brand, AGON by AOC, which is the world’s number one gaming monitor according to the Q3/2023 IDC Quarterly Gaming Tracker report.

    “As the horizon of 2024 beckons, we stand primed for an era of even grander achievements. The thrust for 100Hz high-speed Thunderbolt 4 in B2B, along with the continued surge of high refresh gaming monitors for B2C clientele, chart our course. We anticipate a dazzling suite of mini-LED and OLED monitors, each affirming our dedication to redefining excellence. Furthermore, as we innovate, we act with responsibility, honouring our pledge to do our part in creating a better world and reducing our carbon footprint,” added Kevin Wu.

    Commenting on her new role and responsibilities, Carol Anne Dias, said, “I am glad to accept my new role to further strengthen both AOC and Philips growth plans in the Indian market. The Indian gaming market is going through a paradigm shift, which has induced demand of high-quality and reliable gaming monitors amongst the end consumers. We will aim to further solidify our position in the Indian market through expanding our gaming monitor portfolio and providing our customers with everything they would want”.

    Carol brings over 22 years of working experience in the technology and IT segment, where she has a proven track record of achieving profitability and market leadership in her previous positions. Before joining AOC, Carol held leadership positions at prominent organizations such as Belkin International and Redington Gulf, where she played a pivotal role in driving sales and market expansion. She holds a degree in Economics from India. 

  • Vivek Gambhir and Kevin Aluwi join Lightspeed as venture partners

    Vivek Gambhir and Kevin Aluwi join Lightspeed as venture partners

    Mumbai: Lightspeed expands its senior team in India and Southeast Asia by welcoming Vivek Gambhir and Kevin Aluwi as venture partners, reaffirming the firm’s long term commitment to the start-up ecosystem in the region.

    Vivek Gambhir is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience as CEO, chief strategy officer, and board member in Consumer Goods (FMCG), consumer technology, management consulting. In India and the US until recently Vivek was the CEO at boAt and has transitioned into a board member role. Previously, Vivek was CEO and managing director of Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) where he spearheaded the transformation and global expansion of the company to become a leading emerging markets home & personal care company. He also was the chief strategy officer of the group responsible for formulating group vision, defining portfolio strategy, mentoring company CEO’s and enhancing strategic capability of group companies. Prior to Godrej, Vivek was a founding member of Bain & Company’s consulting operations in India. He also serves on the boards of Metropolis Healthcare, Honasa Consumer (Mama Earth) and Samast Technologies (Magic Pin).

    Vivek specialises in partnering closely with founding teams to scale up their businesses and accelerate value creation and will lend his rich leadership experience to the next generation of builders in the Lightspeed portfolio.

    Kevin Aluwi was most recently co-founder and CEO at Gojek, one of the Southeast Asia region’s start-ups and Indonesia’s leading ride-hailing, food-delivery, and payments app which went public on the Indonesian stock exchange after merging with local e-commerce giant Tokopedia. His expertise and leadership in the Southeast Asian market are well illustrated through his journey and he is passionate about using his time at Lightspeed to help other founders as a thought partner on all parts of company building, particularly in product, marketing, and scaling organizations. As a fervent believer in the power of technology to advance humanity, he’s excited to work in service to visionary and tenacious founders (believing both in equal measure are necessary) from around the world.

    Lightspeed partner Bejul Somaia shared ” At Lightspeed, the strength of our team and partnerships acts as a force multiplier for the founders we serve. We are thrilled to welcome Vivek and Kevin into our growing teams in India and SEA. In their roles as Venture Partners they will be collaborating with founders, shaping their journeys, and contributing to the growth and development of our portfolio companies in the region”

    Lightspeed continues to focus on foundational sectors such as enterprise software, FinTech, consumer and commerce while leaning into emerging trends across AI, Climate and space-tech recognising the immense potential for growth in the region. The firm has partnered with more than 100 companies in India and Southeast Asia, including OYO, Udaan, Sharechat, Acceldata, Innovaccer, PocketFM, Darwinbox, Razorpay, Aspire and Youtrip, among others.

    Lightspeed’s global platform supports bold founders across sectors, in any geography, and at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey. In addition, the portfolio companies are supported by a platform team of experts across legal, talent, marketing, finance and corporate development.

  • Rahul Vengalil joins tgthr as CEO and co-founder

    Rahul Vengalil joins tgthr as CEO and co-founder

    Mumbai: In a bold and strategic move, Rahul Vengalil is set to lead the charge as the CEO and co-founder of tgthr effective immediately, a visionary ad agency poised to redefine the industry. Positioned as a ‘future-focused, full-funnel ad agency,’ tgthr is already making waves with its headquarters in Mumbai and branches located in Bengaluru and Delhi NCR.

    With a rich background and a proven track record in advertising, Rahul Vengalil is well-equipped to steer tgthr towards new heights. His most recent role as the Executive Director at Everest Brand Solutions, which he successfully revived in 2022, showcased his ability to lead with vision and strategic insight. In the past, he has also held the position of Managing Partner at Isobar and helped grow its presence in India for almost a decade.

    As CEO at tgthr, Rahul Vengalil will lead client relationships and business across the units. He will also take forward the agency’s promise of a full-funnel approach by integrating media services into the agency offerings, bringing to the forefront his decades of experience in handling media.

    Rahul Vengalil’s extensive experience spans across diverse categories, including automobile, fashion, consumer durables, real estate, retail, technology, and FMCG. This broad exposure positions him as a leader capable of navigating the unique challenges posed by different industries, further enhancing tgthr’s versatility and adaptability.

    Remarkably, this venture is not Rahul Vengalil’s first foray into entrepreneurship. In 2017, he co-founded What Clicks, India’s pioneering digital media audit firm. This successful initiative demonstrated his ability to identify gaps in the market and introduce innovative solutions.

    tgthr CCO and co-founder Aalap Desai added, “We don’t become a full-funnel agency by just calling ourselves ‘full-funnel’. We can only achieve it by having people who not just come with that expertise but command that expertise. Rahul is exactly that. Why he belongs at tgthr, more than anywhere else is because he has the head to drive business and has the heart to care about people, too.”

    tgthr  CEO and co-founder Rahul Vengalil added, “tgthr has already earned a reputation as a place where happiness meets creativity to produce extraordinary results, setting the foundation for an exciting journey into the future.  We aim to simplify the complexities of today’s diverse mediums and the ever-changing technology. I intend to guide our clients through the dynamic advertising landscape and not just create compelling brand stories for them but also help distribute them. A rehaul of the old ways of advertising requires radical thinking, ingenuity, and passion, which can only be enabled in an ecosystem like tgthr.”

  • Norwegian Cruise Line appoints Neil Brodie as head of ‘Experiences at sea division’

    Norwegian Cruise Line appoints Neil Brodie as head of ‘Experiences at sea division’

    Mumbai: Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) global cruise travel announced the appointment of Neil Brodie as vice president of ‘Experiences at Sea’, Charters, Meetings and Incentives (“CM&I”) and Events. Brodie succeeds Anthony Diaz, who served as senior vice president since August 2021 and will now stay on with the company as a special advisor through June 2024.

    In his new role, Brodie will lead the sales, growth and business operations for the charter, meetings and incentives department by creating dynamic experiences at sea for a variety of corporate, themed, and affinity-based events across the NCL, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands.  

    Norwegian Cruise Line president David J. Herrera said, “I’m thrilled to have Neil Brodie step into this role as vice president overseeing the development of corporate events, incentive groups and full-ship charter programs for all three brands,”  

    “Neil has proven to be an integral leader within the Company by guiding the team to have its most successful year in 2023, and I have no doubt that he will continue to accelerate the tremendous growth this year.”  he added.

    In 2023, ‘Experiences at Sea’ kicked off the year with 13 back-to-back cruises from January to March, hosting a range of themed, corporate group and affinity events at sea. The year concluded with the CM&I team being responsible for completing 21 charters, a 133 per cent increase from the prior year, including the longest charter in company history at 109 nights.  

    Commenting on his appointment,‘Experiences at Sea,’ CM&I and Events vice president  Neil Brodie,“I’m tremendously honored to have this opportunity to lead our team into the new year following an incredibly outstanding 2023, The future is incredibly bright, and our team is the best in the business as they are extremely passionate about offering one-of-a-kind group events by tailoring our clients’ wants and needs to the right ship, itinerary and experience across all three brands — their dedication is unmatched.”  

    CM&I at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd former senior vice president  Anthony Diaz said, “Neil and I have worked closely together for the last couple of years, and it has been such a pleasure to watch him grow into the leader that he is today. With Neil’s commitment and the proven results, he has fervently displayed to the organisation, he is perfectly well-suited to lead the team into a successful future, and I feel fortunate to be able to maintain my relationship with him in an advisory role.”

  • The Content Lab on boards Sunil Balachandran as chief business officer

    The Content Lab on boards Sunil Balachandran as chief business officer

    Mumbai:  Digital marketing agency and content studio, The Content Lab (TCL) has appointed Sunil Balachandran as chief business officer. Sunil, who was formerly COO at WiseApe, will leverage his experience of over a decade in the world of branding to reinforce the firm’s commitment to fostering inventive and effective marketing solutions for partner brands.

    Having mastered a diverse and valuable skill set through his association with some of India’s top digital agencies and publishers, Sunil will also helm the strategy at TCL to push robust growth and expansion across India and internationally. Among the sectors that Sunil has steered strategies for are brands in the automotive, tourism, FMCG, health and entertainment industries.

    On his new appointment Sunil Balachandran said, “The Content Lab has established itself as a dynamic force in the digital marketing and production landscape, and I am eager to contribute to its continued growth and success. Their commitment to excellence, innovation, and client-centricity aligns perfectly with my own values and aspirations. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team here and leveraging our collective expertise to drive impactful results for our clients,”

    Among the brands that TCL has worked with are Acko, Swiggy, Spotify, Titan, IDFC First Bank, Future Generalli, Amazon MiniTV, Disney, Van Heusen to name a few.

    The Content Lab founder and CEO Vaibhav Mehta said, “Sunil will help shape our future as a fully integrated agency and content studio. We look forward to tapping on his extensive experience and strategic acumen. Sunil’s leadership and vision will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in propelling The Content Lab to new heights in the dynamic world of digital marketing. We are excited to embark on this journey together, and warmly welcome him into the fold.” 

  • The LEGO Group elevates Bhavana Mandon as the country manager, India

    The LEGO Group elevates Bhavana Mandon as the country manager, India

    Mumbai: The LEGO Group has announced the promotion of Bhavana Mandon, marketing director, India, to the role of country manager. Bhavana brings over 17 years of rich experience in sales and marketing across prestigious local and global brands. Her deep understanding of the Indian market, shoppers, and the toy industry, combined with her passion for inspiring creativity in the builders of tomorrow, aligns seamlessly with the company’s commitment to growing local leaders. She is an ideal choice to drive the company’s ambitious growth initiatives in India and create more value for Indian children.

    In this new leadership role, Mandon will spearhead the group’s strategic efforts to put LEGO® Bricks in the hands of more kids, nurturing the creative potential of children in India to help enable 21st-century skills for future generations. Additionally, she will also be responsible for expanding the LEGO® Group’s footprint across India.

    Mandon said, “Being able to inspire and develop children for over 90 years is legendary and I am honored to be a part of this amazing journey of building the Brand Legacy in India. Immensely excited and thrilled with the idea of bringing smiles to the faces of kids and adults, I look forward to building this truly iconic and purpose-driven Brand in India.”

    Mandon will be reporting to Claus Kristensen, the newly appointed senior vice president for the LEGO® Group in Asia Pacific, based out of Singapore. Kristensen takes over from Eric Maugein, who will be stepping down and transitioning to a new chapter in his career. An 11-year veteran of the LEGO® Group, Kristensen will oversee the APAC region, including the creation of newly reshuffled business units of India & Emerging Asia (IEA) and Singapore, Malaysia, and Travel Retail (SMTR).

    Kristensen said, “At the LEGO® Group, we believe in the power of diversity to inspire creativity, and Bhavana brings a wealth of experience that will undoubtedly contribute to our mission of creating joyful moments through play. Her passion, expertise, and commitment align perfectly with the group values and her leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping the imaginative world of possibilities for kids and families across India.”