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Category: People

  • Maserati appoints Hamdy Elshantoury as head of overseas region

    Maserati appoints Hamdy Elshantoury as head of overseas region

    Mumbai: Maserati kicks off 2024 by announcing the creation of the new overseas region, expected to give the Italian luxury manufacturer’s markets a new business configuration. Hamdy Elshantoury is appointed as the new head of the region, starting from 1 January.

    With this latest addition, Maserati’s new market organisation now consists of five regions, namely: US & Canada (North America), Europe, China, Japan & Korea, and the newly created overseas.

    With the new overseas region, Maserati is reshaping the borders of its worldwide organisation. It is redistributing some of markets that were previously part of the former regions and has merged them into a completely new one, with a relevant marketing team ready to act as a gateway for partners and the dealer network in everyday activities and initiatives.

    Alongside with the new head of the overseas region, Hamdy Elshantoury – who is also maintaining ad interim responsibility for MEA – Wong Yi Mui Wallace has been appointed responsible for SEAP & India markets and Marco Spadaro has taken responsibility for the East Europe and Latin American markets.

    The decision to add the new overseas region was made as a result of Maserati’s commitment to serving every market, to implement focus, growth, and expanding relationships with the relevant players; the aim is to seize every opportunity and meet the differing requirements of the various business structures.

    The region head and the regional functions will be based in Italy, at Maserati’s headquarters in Modena, to deeply connect the new Overseas Region leadership team with central management and make the support to markets and decision-making process faster and more effective. Conversely, the market management team will remain in the region with close contacts to their countries.

    Maserati CEO Davide Grasso: “We are pleased to begin the year with the announcement of a new global region and the appointment of Hamdy Elshantoury as its head. Maserati operates in more than 70 markets around the world and the creation of a fifth region confirms the intention to give our business an even more precise and specific configuration at a global level, to better cover and respond to individual market requirements, and to give each area the attention it requires to improve its development and efficiency.” 

  • Juhi Ravindranath is the new chief business officer of Qube Cinema

    Juhi Ravindranath is the new chief business officer of Qube Cinema

    Mumbai: Qube Cinema has appointed Juhi Ravindranath as chief business officer. Juhi Ravindranath has more than two decades of experience in renowned companies like Star India, NDTV, and Tuner International.

    Ravindranath will explore new frontiers in building the category of in-cinema advertising and identifying and developing new avenues for growth in the larger content ecosystem.

    On appointment, Juhi Ravindranath said, “I am extremely excited to join the world of Qube. Being an avid film buff… I see great potential in this business,” Ravindranath said in a press release. “Qube Cinema Network has an impressive roster of theatres and a highly motivated and passionate team of people that I look forward to working with.”

    Qube Cinema Network offers in-cinema advertising inventory across a network of more than 2800 screens (more than 1380 multiplex screens and 1420 single screens) covering 1,100 cities.

    Qube’s CEO Harsh Rohatgi said, “The post-pandemic resurgence of the industry has been phenomenal with record footfalls and box office collections. This has opened up further opportunities for Qube to help our theatre partners to enhance the quality of the cinema experience, while also our production partners look to cater to more audiences with their films,”

    “With Juhi joining the team, we look forward to pushing the envelope across the businesses of cinema advertising and new avenues of content distribution,” he added.

    At Qube, Juhi will be based out of Mumbai and work with the QCN teams across the country.

  • AnyMind Group appoints Gargee Banerjee as associate VP, D2C, India

    AnyMind Group appoints Gargee Banerjee as associate VP, D2C, India

    Mumbai: AnyMind Group [TSE:5027], a technology company for the business supply chain, has appointed Gargee Banerjee as associate vice president, D2C, India. Gargee, who has worked across India in metros and emerging markets brings in her expertise in revenue and operations management and will work towards helping the company capture potential growth opportunities across mid-market segments/companies.

    Currently, Indian mid-market companies hold high valuations and are set to lead M&A in the coming years. Gargee, who holds nearly two decades of experience in digital, radio, and print, will spearhead the new vertical, which aims to support and offer e-commerce and marketing solutions to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This step comes as a part of AnyMind Group’s expansion of offerings globally and in Indian markets.

    Gargee has worked with teams in building and leading verticals with high-performing teams that imbibe a solutions-based approach. In her entire career span, she has worked in leadership positions in DNA, DB Corp Ltd (Radio Div), Big FM, and Saatchi & Saatchi wherein she handled the accounts of Videocon, Ranbaxy, Radio Khaitan, British High Commission, and ONGC amongst others.

    Speaking on her new role at AnyMind Group, Gargee Banerjee commented, “I am excited to be a part of AnyMind Group India. The sector of SMEs is a major benefactor to the social and economic development of the country. In India, this sector has gained prominence due to its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and exports of the country. Initially, the marketing mix of these SMEs revolved around the traditional practices, however, with the introduction of Digital India and the COVID-19 pandemic, a shift towards adopting digital media marketing and e-commerce practices is evident. In my new role as the Leader of the D2C business vertical in India, I look forward to tapping this vast potential with AnyMind offerings and expanding and penetrating the group’s reach further.”

    Speaking on the appointment of Gargee Banerjee, AnyMind Group country manager India & MENA Rubeena Singh said, “We are elated to welcome Gargee onboard at AnyMind India. As we continue our journey towards making every business borderless through our technology, Gargee’s addition brings in the right mix of knowledge and expertise as we continue strengthening our focus on delivering digital transformation to businesses of all sizes and expanding our focus to also serve mid-market clients. We look forward to working with her.”

  • Nissan appoints Saurabh Vatsa as deputy managing director

    Nissan appoints Saurabh Vatsa as deputy managing director

    Mumbai: Nissan Motor India (NMIPL) has announced the appointment of Saurabh Vatsa as deputy managing director effective 15 January. Saurabh will report to managing director Rakesh Srivastava and will support in implementing the ongoing transformation roadmap for India as the company gets ready to deliver on the mid-term plan (MTP) and drive into our ambition 2030 goals. This appointment is reflective of the company’s transformation plan to meet the opportunities and challenges ahead for the automotive industry in India.

    Saurabh has joined Nissan from Stellantis where he was a member of the Stellantis leadership team and was spearheading the Citroen brand since its inception in India and was responsible for all aspects of the business as brand head. Prior to Stellantis, Saurabh worked with general motors (GM) for over two decades including long-term assignments in South Korea among several key leadership roles within the company.

    Saurabh comes with extensive experience across Asian markets along with deep knowledge of the automotive industry having worked within multiple strategic business functions such as product planning, program management, sales planning, marketing, communications and retail/commercial sales. Saurabh is a graduate of Delhi University, with an MBA from the International Management Institute and has completed an executive management program at the London Business School.

    Speaking on the appointment, Nissan India operations president Frank Torres said, “We are excited to onboard Saurabh at Nissan Motor India as deputy managing director at this crucial juncture for the company as we head into 2024. His appointment underpins our commitment to invest $600m (Rs 5300 crores) in India as part of the Alliance and introduce more products for the Indian consumer as part of the transformation plan. We are certain, the next phase of growth for Nissan is going to be exciting for all of us as we build on the success of the Nissan Magnite.”

    In this new role, he will support the leadership for Nissan’s transformation plan and prepare the company for its next phase as outlined by the company in 2023.

     

  • Madison Media strengthens its leadership by appointing Puja Rai as chief strategy officer

    Madison Media strengthens its leadership by appointing Puja Rai as chief strategy officer

    Mumbai: Madison Media, a unit of Madison World is delighted to announce the appointment of Puja Rai as their chief strategy officer. She will be based in the agency’s Mumbai office and will report to Vikram Sakhuja, Partner and Group CEO, Madison Media & OOH. Nagaraj Krishnamurthy continues to mentor the Analytics and Automation space as he transitions into running an MSME Performance business.

    Rai is a seasoned media professional with over 20 years of experience and a wealth of knowledge in marketing, strategy, analytics. In addition to rich experience with  Mindshare as Partner Client Lead, Lodestar, Star TV, INX Media, Quantemplate and IMRB, Puja also has the benefit of delving into a entrepreneurial journey.

    About Rai’s appointment, Vikram Sakhuja commented, “Excited to have Puja join us as Madison’s CSO.  Her skills in Analytics, Brand building, Research, Strategy, Automation combined with experience across both Agency Media Owner and Advertiser organisations  makes her ideally suited to add value to our Clients’ strategic challenges”.

    Speaking about her new role at Madison Media, Rai commented, “Thrilled to embark on this new journey with Madison as it gives me an opportunity to use my expertise to help add value to our wide base of clients. My endeavour will be to maximise effectiveness of the decision-making process with actionable output in the near term.”

  • Mars Wrigley India appoints Nikhil Rao as chief marketing officer

    Mars Wrigley India appoints Nikhil Rao as chief marketing officer

    Mumbai: Mars Wrigley India, the chocolate and confectionary segment of Mars Incorporated in India, announced the appointment of Nikhil Rao as its new chief marketing officer (CMO).

    In this key leadership position, Nikhil will steer the marketing vision, spearhead strategic initiatives, and direct the end-to-end execution of Mars Wrigley’s portfolio strategy in India. He will be based in the Gurgaon corporate office and will report to Mars Wrigley India country general manager Tamer Kadry.

    Announcing the appointment, Mars Wrigley India country general manager Tamer Kadry said, “I am delighted to welcome Nikhil as our Chief Marketing Officer and key member of the India Leadership Team. The India business is on a growth trajectory, and our constant endeavor has been to drive relevance, be consumer-focused and agile. Nikhil will play a pivotal role in ensuring that Mars Wrigley India continues innovating in the face of new and dynamic competition and ever-evolving consumer trends. His wealth of knowledge and experience will be instrumental in shaping and executing our long-term growth plans for India. He will contribute significantly to enhancing experiences with our iconic brands, much loved by our customers and consumers.”

    Incoming Mars Wrigley India CMO Nikhil Rao commented, “I am excited to join Mars, a global leader in snacking, food, and petcare products and services, strongly driven by a powerful purpose – ‘The world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today’ and founded on the Five Principles of Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom. Mars Wrigley India is one of the fastest-growing business units for Mars, presenting an immense opportunity to shape the strategy further and drive the iconic brands and their execution to best-in-class levels. Mars has a unique, cohesive, and vibrant culture. I look forward to embarking on this journey with an incredible team of passionate Associates at a time when both Mars and India are poised for the next phase of growth.”

    Nikhil joins Mars Wrigley India from Mondelez where he was the vice president – marketing for Mondelez Southeast Asia (SEA). With a career spanning nearly 25 years, Nikhil has successfully traversed Global, Regional, and Local BU roles in Sales and Marketing during his tenure across Cadbury/Kraft/Mondelez.

    Nikhil is an alumnus of IIT, Madras, and IIM, Calcutta.

  • Norwegian Cruise Line announces Jeff Cuellar as new CEO of Sixthman

    Norwegian Cruise Line announces Jeff Cuellar as new CEO of Sixthman

    Mumbai:  Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, and Sixthman, one of the global leaders of festival at sea vacation experiences, announced Jeff Cuellar to succeed Anthony Diaz as its new chief executive officer (CEO).  

    As the new CEO of Sixthman, a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line, Cuellar will focus on continuing the company’s upward trajectory of growth by focusing on bringing passionate communities together through diverse and exciting experiences.  He will also be responsible for continuing to position Sixthman as the leader in the entertainment-based cruise space.  

    Norwegian Cruise Line president David J. Herrera said, “Sixthman had an incredible year, welcoming new communities to experience the magic that the team delivers at sea. Much of that success was built upon the foundation laid by Anthony Diaz during his tenure, and we at NCL thank him for all of his efforts over the years. Now, I am excited to welcome the next chapter for Sixthman with Jeff Cuellar as the newly appointed CEO. Given his strong 24-year track record in the entertainment and hospitality industry, I am confident Jeff is the perfect person to lead Sixthman forward into its very bright future and continue to build on its 2023 successes.”  

    Cuellar joined Sixthman in October 2021 in what was then the newly created role of vice president of partnerships and most recently served as vice president of events, marketing and community where he was responsible for overseeing the creative development, marketing outreach and community management for all festivals at sea. Prior to that, he played a major role in the growth of AC entertainment, currently owned by Live Nation under the festivals division of C3, as one of the world’s leading festival operators. As a creative force and director of numerous music events including Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival®, Forecastle, Railbird, High Water and many more, Cuellar came to Sixthman with a deep background in event strategy, immersive brand partnerships, community engagement, business development, experiential design, marketing outreach and event operations.  

    Newly appointed chief executive officer of Sixthman Jeff Cuellar said, “I am honoured and extremely humbled to have been given the opportunity to lead the passionate, hard-working and talented team at Sixthman. Over the last few years, I’ve been able to witness the incredible work the team does to produce the absolute best festivals at sea and bring guests from all over the world together to celebrate a shared passion and enjoy personal fan-to-artist experiences that go beyond what a vacation can be. I look forward to building on the strong momentum and legacy that Anthony Diaz and Andy Levine have created and charting new paths for our team and guests to embrace our ‘Live Loud’ culture.”

    In 2023, Sixthman boasted its most successful year to date. It hosted 18 unique events, welcoming nearly 45,000 guests and over 490 artists throughout 85 days at sea and across three continents, eight countries and five different ships. It also hosted its largest onboard event ever with EDSea, a global electronic music festival, aboard Norwegian Joy, featuring a nearly 3,900 guest capacity. In addition, the immersive experiences at sea organization expanded its repertoire of affinities with the first Broadway voyage and Hallmark Channel cruise at sea, as well as partnered with best-in-class artists in Comedy, Rock, Wrestling, EDM and YouTube.  

    Sixthman former chief executive officer Anthony Diaz said, “In the short time Jeff has been at Sixthman, he’s made a significant impact with the team, and guest and artist experiences. He played an integral role in the success of 2023, leading the strategy and outreach to strengthen and develop new artist relationships and debut first-for-the-brand festival concepts across all genres of music, sports, comedy, film, TV, and more.  Jeff has been an incredible addition to the team and will excel in continuing to grow the brand, fortify its reputation as a leading entertainment vacation experience, and most importantly continue to develop the dynamic team culture at Sixthman.”  

    Diaz will serve as a special advisor for the Company through June 2024.  

    As Sixthman celebrates the success of 2023, enthusiasts still have the opportunity to experience a vacation like no other with a variety of festivals scheduled in 2024, including:

    TruTV Impractical Jokers X Eric Andre Get Ship Faced (Jan. 22 – 26, 2024) Miami, FL to Nassau, Bahamas – The internet’s favorite jokesters join forces with Comedian Eric Andre aboard Norwegian Pearl for an epic array of hilarity on the high seas, featuring stand-up comedy, live music, podcasts, exclusive panels, exclusive panels, karaoke, and non-stop warm weather shenanigans from port to port.

    The Rock Boat XXIII (Jan. 30 – Feb. 4, 2024) Miami, FL to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas & Costa Maya, Mexico – Hosted by Sister Hazel aboard Norwegian Pearl, the thirteenth edition of the world’s greatest floating music festival features five days of live music, fresh collaborations, beautiful beaches, and opportunities to rub elbows with favorite artists.

    Jay & Silent Bob’s Cruise Askew (Feb. 23 – 26, 2024) Miami, FL to Nassau, Bahamas – Hosted by Kevin Smith and featuring Jason Mewes, this totally immersive voyage into the Cruise Askewniverse will offer a variety of activities such as live podcast recordings, musical performances, stand-up comedy show, autograph and photo sessions, and a wide array of enhanced experiences on Norwegian Pearl.

    Emo’s Not Dead Cruise 2024: Sailed on a Sea of Tears (Feb. 26 – March 1, 2024) Miami, FL to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas – The spectacular 2024 edition of the hugely popular alternative music and culture cruise on Norwegian Pearl boasts the event’s strongest lineup thus far, showcasing four days and nights loaded with electrifying live music from punk-pop legends like Yellowcard, Mayday Parade and more.

    The Broadway Cruise 2 (March 13 – 18, 2024) Miami, FL to Key West, FL & Grand Cayman – On Norwegian Pearl, the second sailing of The Broadway Cruise boasts five days of dazzling shows and intimate performances from Broadway’s top talent. Gain tips, tricks and trade secrets through immersive workshops and interactive panel discussions with some of the most inspiring creatives working today.

    Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea IX (March 18 – 22, 2024) Miami, FL to Cozumel, Mexico – Hosted and curated by Joe Bonamassa, the ninth voyage of the world-famous floating celebration of the blues and blues-rock on Norwegian Pearl will feature unique activities geared towards the ultimate blues aficionado, including singular performances, all-star tribute shows, autograph sessions, guest jams, guitar clinics, craft beer and whiskey tastings.

    Midland: The Last Resort Cruise (April 1 – 5, 2024) Miami, FL to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas  – On board Norwegian Pearl, guests will get their boots wet with a jam-packed four-day cruise of unique performances, curated activities, live podcasts and more.

    Bananaland at Sea (Oct. 14 – 18, 2024) Miami, FL to Bahamas – The first cruise of its kind, guests can dive into immersive experiences at sea with the sensational Savannah Bananas, the Party Animals and the entire cast for around-the-clock entertainment, epic activities and player interactions.  

    For complete information, remaining stateroom availability, and additional Sixthman festival cruises, please visit www.sixthman.net/festivals. 

  • Anita Nayyar quits Patanjali Ayurved

    Anita Nayyar quits Patanjali Ayurved

    Mumbai: Anita Nayyar has resigned from her role at Patanjali Ayurved, where she served as the COO for media, branding, and communication since 2021.

    Previously, she held positions such as head of customer strategy & relationships at ZEE5 and CEO for India and South East Asia at Havas Media Group, contributing thirteen years to the organisation.

    With leadership roles at Ogilvy, Lintas-Initiative Media, Mediacom, and Mudra, Nayyar’s next career move is currently undisclosed.

  • Havas announces new leadership appointments

    Havas announces new leadership appointments

    Mumbai: Havas has announced the elevations of two senior leaders. Rana Barua, based in Mumbai, will extend his remit to include Southeast and North Asia. Barua’s career spans nearly three decades, including the last five years spent overseeing Havas’ India operations, comprising over 2,000 people across Havas Creative Network and Havas Media Network. The expansion of Barua’s scope adds nine additional markets under his leadership in his new role as group CEO India, South East & North Asia.

    Speaking about his new role, Barua said, “I am extremely excited and thankful to the global leadership team for entrusting me with this additional responsibility. These nine distinct markets in South East & North Asia, provide multiple and diverse occasions for collaboration for both our global and local clients. I look forward to working closely with the regional teams and each country’s leadership to create more meaningful engagements and opportunities for our talent and clients.”

    In parallel, Alberto Canteli, based in Dubai, will continue as chairman and CEO Havas Nordics, Benelux, Central & Eastern Europe, and Middle East, while taking on new responsibilities driving special projects in coordination with Donna Murphy, Global CEO, Havas Creative Network and Havas Health & You. This new area of focus will include identifying growth levers and developing actionable strategies at the global level, including new client opportunities, services, expansion, and cross-selling. A long-time veteran of Havas, Canteli has been serving as a key pillar in the international expansion of Havas for more than twenty years.

    “During moments like these of continued disruption and transformation, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to combine my regional responsibilities in Europe and the Middle East with a new role that will facilitate a closer collaboration with our global leadership team. AI, Web 3.0 and Blockchain among other advancements, will have a strong impact on our industry and it will be a privilege to contribute to the transformation and turnaround of our business moving forward,” shared Alberto Canteli.

    “I would like to warmly congratulate Alberto and Rana on their new, expanded roles. Their proven leadership skills, vast expertise and innovative thinking will create new synergies and accelerate growth, allowing our teams to further build on Havas’ integrated approach and offer our clients the best possible outcomes,” commented Havas chairman and Global CEO Yannick Bolloré.

  • VML appoints Babita Baruah as CEO of India

    VML appoints Babita Baruah as CEO of India

    Mumbai: VML has announced Babita Baruah will join as chief executive officer of India from March 1, 2024, and will partner with Saurabh Saksena, who has been elevated into the role of president.

    Baruah’s journey began at JWT/Wunderman Thompson India, where she spent two decades leading global and local brands such as PepsiCo, Unilever, Nestlé, Kellogg’s, Godrej, Kotak Mahindra, Reliance, and Aditya Birla.

    In 2017, she joined the GTB business in India as managing partner and moved to Bangkok in 2021 in a dual capacity role as WPP Lead for the Ford business across India, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the Middle East, and South Africa, and executive director, VMLY&R Thailand.