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Category: People

  • SKIL Travel promoted Trishal Rao as chief sales officer

    SKIL Travel promoted Trishal Rao as chief sales officer

    Mumbai: India’s one of the end-to-end corporate travel solutions provider SKIL Travel has recently promoted Trishal Rao to chief sales officer. Currently working as the director of SKIL Travel, Trishal plays an important leadership role and exudes strong business strategies that have helped SKIL Travel to flourish in the growing travel trade market.

    A seasoned executive known for driving businesses to success, Trishal possesses sharp analytical acumen that he has developed over the years through his diverse exposure in the dynamic hospitality sector. He has previously been a part of hospitality brands of repute like Oakwood and Hyatt which have aided in shaping up his strategic business development and execution. Over the years, Trishal’s role as director at SKIL Travel has helped the company in attaining the market-leading position in providing bespoke end-to-end corporate travel solutions. A team player with a strong collaborative aura, he has helped bring in several noteworthy recognitions and accolades for SKIL Travel on the back of providing exceptional services and spotless quality year on year.

    Speaking about the promotion, Trishal Rao said, “It indeed is an honour to take on the new role of chief sales officer at SKIL Travel. While here at SKIL Travel, every day is filled with learnings, the new role will bring more opportunities to make the maximum out of and in turn help the company’s sales strategies to shape up better. Backed by our talented team, I am excited to take on the new role and work together to achieve untapped heights in business objectives.”

    SKIL Travel managing director & founder Shylender Jindal added, “Trishal has brought a lot of development within SKIL Travel which goes beyond measure. While bringing in brilliant results, Trishal’s strong communication skills have only helped nurture good relations within the travel trade fraternity. With our trajectory to grow manifold, we at SKIL Travel are confident that Trishal is the right person to take on the role of chief sales officer. Under his aegis, SKIL Travel will indeed reach newer heights of success.”

  • Ipsos India appoints Unni Hariharan, executive director of tech & e-commerce

    Ipsos India appoints Unni Hariharan, executive director of tech & e-commerce

    Mumbai: Keeping in view the transforming market dynamics and tech focus and digital becoming an essential ingredient for business, eCommerce and engagement, and with many new entrants in this space, Ipsos India has pulled in Unni Hariharan to lead tech and e-commerce, with immediate effect.

    Hariharan is the designated executive director, and his remit is to identify and enhance opportunities with leading players in the tech and e-commerce sector and will work with clients pan India. He reports to Shalini Sinha, country service line leader, brand health tracking (BHT) and creative excellence (CRE).

    Elaborating more on the development, Shalini Sinha, country service line leader, BHT and CRE said, “It is our constant endeavour to hire sectoral experts as they are best placed in providing a strong and strategic counsel to clients for market leading business decisions. Hariharan has domain expertise and has worked extensively with clients in technology, e-commerce and D2C space and we foresee him growing our presence with the roster of clients in these areas and leveraging opportunities.”  

    Ipsos India CEO Amit Adarkar said, “Covid19, hastened adoption of technology with lockdowns and access to brick and motor stores almost unavailable for many months and then the fear of going to public places occupying the mindset of consumers, there was a boom in e-commerce, D2C players and digital adoption for almost bingeing on everything – from shopping to social media browsing and surge in OTT subscriptions etc. Ipsos India views this as a great opportunity area, bringing in Hariharan will help us enhance our quality of work and our client delivery mechanism.”

    Hariharan moved from Nielsen and has about two decades of work experience across leading market research agencies. He is an alumnus of Goa Institute of Management.

     

  • Vector Brand Solutions appoints Nikhil Fernandes as chief creative officer

    Vector Brand Solutions appoints Nikhil Fernandes as chief creative officer

    Mumbai: Vector Brand Solutions, a brand-first full-funnel agency, and part of Quotient Ventures, has announced the appointment of Nikhil Fernandes as its chief creative officer (CCO). With an extensive background in digital marketing, brand communications and design thinking, Nikhil brings a wealth of relevant experience to this role.

    Nikhil has an impressive track record, having worked with agencies such as FCB, Creativeland Asia, MSLGROUP and OgilvyOne; and has won numerous creative and design awards. His experience spans diverse brands, including Airtel, Nestle, ICICI, Samsung, Domino’s, Visa, TATA Motors, Mahindra, Taj Hotels and Mercedes-Benz India, to name a few.

    Speaking of his appointment Nikhil said, “I am excited about joining Vector Brand Solutions and contributing to what is being built out at Vector. Vector has been the first to conceive a brand-first and full-funnel agency model; and I feel both thrilled and privileged to be a part of Vector’s leadership team in leading the fulfilment of this ambition.”

    Nikhil also serves as visiting faculty at the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad. His notable accomplishments include being selected as one of the 60 digital professionals for the Google India and ISB Insider Program and winning the national title at the global Amazon Alexa Cup, a hackathon celebrating the fusion of creativity and technology.

    Nikhil will report to Quotient Ventures co-founder and group chief creative officer Shriram Iyer.

    Shriram added, “Nikhil’s appointment reaffirms our intent to build out Vector’s unique offering. Nikhil’s experience and interests fully complement our vision for our journey ahead. With him on board, our brand-first and full-funnel ambition gets bigger, better and stronger wings.”

  • Nidhi Sinha joins Publicis Worldwide India as VP of planning and strategy

    Nidhi Sinha joins Publicis Worldwide India as VP of planning and strategy

    Mumbai: Publicis Worldwide India has appointed Nidhi Sinha as vice president of planning and  strategy. She will operate from the agency’s Mumbai office and report to Snehasis Bose, chief  strategy officer.

    With a robust background spanning over 13 years in consumer insights, trends and market  intelligence, Nidhi will be instrumental in supporting the strategic direction and growth of all  Publicis Worldwide India clients.

    Sinha joins the agency from McCann Global, where she crafted successful strategies for  brands such as Bajaj Electricals, Asian Paints, Yes Bank, Tata Capital and Complan. Her  advertising journey began at Contract Advertising, where she steered planning and strategy  for brands like Shoppers Stop, HSBC, L&T Realty, among others. Additionally, she possesses  expertise in data analytics and research through her roles at Fractal Analytics, Nielsen, and  Mintel.

    Commenting on Sinha’s appointment, Bose said, “Nidhi’s  multidisciplinary experience and deep sense of ownership is what sets her apart from the  traditional, dyed-in-advertising planners. At a time, when advertising itself is going through  churn/evolution, hers is the kind of experience we need to navigate and deliver impactfully  on the Publicis Worldwide promise of Creativity To Drive Brand Value.”

    Sinha added, “I am thrilled to join Publicis Worldwide India,  an agency driven by the philosophy of ‘Power of One’ and a culture that allows you to grow. Using my expertise in data and tech, I am looking forward to leading strategy conversations  for our clients. I believe that with a strong culture, great leadership and client centricity we  will be able to take the agency to new heights.”

    Sinha has played a pivotal role in successful campaigns for Shoppers Stop, Asian Paints, Kisna,  Yes Bank, among others. 

  • Singapore Tourism Board names Markus Tan as Regional Director India, Middle East, South Asia and Africa (IMESA)

    Singapore Tourism Board names Markus Tan as Regional Director India, Middle East, South Asia and Africa (IMESA)

    Mumbai: The Singapore Tourism Board announced the appointment of Markus Tan as the regional director for India, Middle East, South Asia, and Africa (IMESA) effective January 1, 2024. In his new role based in Mumbai, Tan will spearhead STB’s initiatives in promoting leisure and business travel & meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (BTMICE) in the IMESA region. His responsibilities will include overseeing travel promotions, public relations, marketing and driving developmental efforts to enhance Singapore’s position as a premier travel and business destination.

    Tan is a veteran of STB, having dedicated 18 years to the organisation in various pivotal roles. Prior to this appointment, he served as the director for World Expo and led the whole-of-government efforts to conceptualise, develop, and operate the Singapore Pavilion at Osaka World Expo 2025. From 2015 to 2022 he was based in Tokyo, Japan, as the regional director for North Asia, overseeing STB operations in Japan and the Republic of Korea. His innovative marketing initiatives and collaborations with several brands played a crucial role in showcasing Singapore as an exciting destination, influencing markets beyond the two countries. His international stint includes an impactful role in Guangzhou, China, where he was appointed as area director, Southern China and Hong Kong and Macau. His significant contributions to the tourism industry have left an indelible mark on the China and North Asia markets as they have been instrumental in transforming these dynamic regions into key pillars of Singapore’s global tourism success. One of Tan’s unique strengths is his keen grasp and deep understanding of the BTMICE market through his various roles and projects in the space. Over the years, he has honed his skills and held key positions like deputy director, BTMICE planning & marketing where he played a crucial role in developing strategies for the growth of Singapore’s BTMICE industry, as well as in marketing activities to strengthen Singapore’s position as a global business and MICE destination.

    Tan will be taking over from the current regional director GB Srithar. Speaking on the leadership handover Srithar said, “I am thrilled to pass on the baton to Markus to lead Singapore’s tourism business across the IMESA region. Over the course of my tenure in this role, we have witnessed India’s steady growth into a true global powerhouse, with an outbound tourism market that is brimming with opportunities. With his robust expertise in the industry and building on the strong affinity that Indian travellers have for Singapore, I am confident that he is in good stead to steer the organisation through this new era of travel and tourism.”

    On his appointment Tan said, “I am excited to take on the role of STB’s regional director in IMESA. India is a nation of rich culture, diversity, and, particularly in this historic moment of its explosive global growth, incredible business opportunities. As STB strives to showcase the best of what Singapore has to offer, we remain committed to nurturing our existing relationships and cultivating new ones with the Indian travel industry. With the support of my team, I look forward to embarking on this journey with our partners and friends across India and together encouraging Indians to build even deeper connections with Singapore.”

  • Infectious Advertising appoints Neville Suraliwala as business head

    Infectious Advertising appoints Neville Suraliwala as business head

    Mumbai: Infectious Advertising, one of independent creative hot-shops has appointed Neville Suraliwala as business head.

    With over 15 years of experience and working across reputed agencies such as FCB Ulka, Lowe Lintas, Soho Square (Now 82.5), L&K Saatchi and Saatchi and Makani Creatives. Neville has worked with renowned brands like Indian Oil, Fair & Lovely, Clinic Plus, Head & Shoulders, Piaggio, Bisleri, Franklin Templeton, Yes Bank, Nilkamal, Lee Cooper, Tata Real Estate, and several other respected names.

    Speaking about joining Infectious Advertising, Neville Suraliwala said, ‘I am thrilled to bring my expertise and passion for effective communications to the vibrant and dynamic environment of the Infectious Advertising family. Here, creativity is the solution to every marketing challenge, and I am excited to contribute to this ethos of innovative thinking and collaboration. I genuinely look forward to this new chapter filled with creative opportunities and impactful collaborations that help us achieve bigger milestones and attain mutual success.’

    Infectious Advertising’ chief operating officer Siddhartha Singh commented, “Absolutely delighted to have Neville on board the Infectious family, the few meetings we had with him give us the confidence that his skills and expertise shall contribute significantly to our growing ambition of being an agency that produces work that is contemporary and effective – work that pushes the envelope of ‘virality’. Wish Neville the very best and look forward to working with him closely.”

    Over the last year, Infectious Advertising has made significant additions like Ashish Naik as ECD, Shabbir Motiwala as head of production, Ankit Gandhi as business head and Vinayak Kohli as creative director. Neville’s appointment is yet another move for the agency in strengthening the senior leadership team.

  • ETML expands to the Middle East and appoints Rupesh Mishra for Indian brand expansion.

    ETML expands to the Middle East and appoints Rupesh Mishra for Indian brand expansion.

    Mumbai: ETML, a growth marketing and analytics agency, recently announced the appointment of Rupesh Mishra as director to lead its aggressive expansion plans in the Middle East region. The appointment reinforces ETML’s vision to strengthen its offering in the global market further and to expand in multiple markets across the world. In this role, Rupesh will report to Raghav Kansal, founder & CEO, ETML, and would be instrumental in driving the company’s growth.

    ETML has already seen initial success helping some of the biggest Indian brands successfully scale their presence in the Middle East. With Rupesh’s appointment, ETML is confident to repeat the same with a much bigger number of brands.

    Rupesh Mishra, a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in strategic partnerships and digital business growth, emphasised the alignment of ETML’s offerings with the growth objectives of businesses in the region, citing the company’s strong focus on data, technology, and expertise in performance marketing, brand advertising, SEO, performance creatives, marketing analytics & insights, marketplace advertising  & growth consulting.

    Speaking on his new role, Rupesh Mishra said, “I am really grateful and excited for this opportunity. Considering the Middle East is being predicted to be the fastest growing online commerce market, ETML has the right fitment for brands eyeing to grow business in the region.” Rupesh in the past has led cross-functional teams across leading digital brands and agencies such as Y2CF, Snapdeal, Times Internet, Rediff.com, Infomedia and Just Dial. Rupesh has also founded and has been successfully running a media agency for a decade now before joining hands with ETML.

    Sharing his thoughts, ETML founder and CEO Raghav Kansal expressed enthusiasm for this move and mentioned, “We are thrilled to get Rupesh on board. With his track record and leadership qualities, we are confident to repeat the success that we have seen in the Indian and APAC markets. Having launched & scaled some of the largest Indian brands in the Middle East market already, we deeply understand what works in that market and are confident to repeat that for a much bigger cohort of brands. “

  • Axis My India appoints Vishal Kamath as business head for partnerships & consumer insights

    Axis My India appoints Vishal Kamath as business head for partnerships & consumer insights

    Mumbai: India’s consumer data intelligence company Axis My India announced the appointment of Vishal Kamath as the business head for partnerships & consumer insights. Kamath brings over 18 years of extensive experience in the media industry making him a seasoned business leader.

    In his current role Vishal Kamath will be instrumental in leading the business and delivering invaluable insights to clients across diverse categories. With a dedicated focus on empowering clients through data-driven decisions using Axis My India’s extensive data coverage across India, Kamath will oversee growth strategy, new product development, and PNL management for both Government and Corporate clients. Concurrently he will be actively engaged in cultivating strategic B2B partnerships for ‘a’ the organization’s super app designed as a People Empowerment Platform (PEP). Kamath’s overarching mission is to establish Axis My India as the unparalleled source of trusted and authentic consumer data intelligence contributing daily to the positive transformation of a billion lives.

    Axis My India, super app ‘a,’ leverages Google technology to bring about a significant change in people’s awareness, accessibility, and utilization of various services benefitting up to Rs 250 million Indian households. The platform, utilizing Google Cloud’s generative AI (GenAI) technology aims to provide relevant information about government schemes and desired communication to citizens based on their needs. The app set to launch in early 2024 on both Android and iOS devices, aligns with Axis My India’s Mission Himalaya – Unchi Udaan roadmap initiative representing a transformative step towards a future where data-driven decisions positively impact lives.

    Before Axis My India Kamath spent 12 years at Nielsen ascending from manager to executive director & head – audience measurement. There he oversaw various solutions, including digital ad ratings, digital content ratings, mobile analytics, cross-media reach measurement, and digital ad effectiveness.Before joining Nielsen Kamath contributed significantly to Info Edge India online classifieds company where he worked for six years. Kamath holds a Master’s in Management Studies (Marketing) from the University of Mumbai.

    Sharing his thoughts on the appointment, Axis My India chairman and managing director Pradeep Gupta said, “We are excited to welcome Vishal Kamath to Axis My India. With his wealth of experience and strategic insights, we are confident that he will play a key role in driving our business forward. His expertise in partnerships and consumer insights aligns perfectly with our vision, and we look forward to achieving new milestones under his leadership”

    Commenting on the appointment, business head for partnerships & consumer insights Vishal Kamath stated, “Deeply immersed in the nuances of the consumer insights market, my vision for Axis My India is rooted in authenticity and trust. I see our role as more than just data providers—we’re on a mission to positively impact a billion lives. This journey involves forging meaningful B2B partnerships, especially through ‘a’ our super app—a genuine People Empowerment Platform (PEP). Together, we’re not just collecting data; we’re shaping a future where insights make a difference”

    A Harvard Business School case study, Axis My India has a robust physical presence across India, engaging over 250 million households immediately. The company, rooted in its belief of fuelling data-driven decision-making, annually publishes a Consumer Trust Index covering 45 consumer and product categories and surveying 1 million respondents.

  • Virtue Worldwide appoints Ayushi Saria as associate creative director

    Virtue Worldwide appoints Ayushi Saria as associate creative director

    Mumbai: Virtue Worldwide, the agency powered by VICE Media Group, has appointed Ayushi Saria as associate creative director. This strategic move emphasizes Virtue India’s focus on bolstering their creative leadership with future-focused and culture-forward talent.

    Saria’s professional journey is marked by a diverse background, with contributions ranging from impactful campaigns for COVID vaccinations at Aster Hospitals to the creation of engaging games for the Singapore Tourism Board during her tenure at Wunderman and Hungama. Before joining Virtue, Ayushi dedicated her talents to illustration, where she focused on projects centered around skin and body positivity. Notably, her international experience includes collaborations with esteemed clients such as Vicks, Red Lobster, Metamucil, and Heineken at Publicis New York.

    Saria’s work has garnered widespread recognition and has been featured on prominent platforms like Design Taxi, Ads of the World, AdAge, and Brand Care. She has received accolades from Young Guns, New York Festivals, Art Directors Club, Applied Arts, and Summit Awards.

    Virtue India creative head Hayden Scott shared his thoughts on Ayushi’s appointment, stating, “Ayushi is a great example of the kind of exciting hybrid talent we want to grow at Virtue. She is a passionate advocate for design and a strong leader. I am certain her diverse skill-sets will help bring a wonderfully fresh perspective to our work. And did I mention, she’s also a damn nice person? I can’t wait to see how Ayushi helps shape Virtue India’s next growth phase.”

    In response to her new role, Saria commented, “”I’ve always been fascinated by culture and how brands become a part of this in a progressive and meaningful way. To have the opportunity to work at a place that’s powered by culture – it’s incredibly exciting. To work with some very unique and talented people, even more so.”

  • Pushkaraj Shenai steps down from CEO role at Lakmé Lever

    Pushkaraj Shenai steps down from CEO role at Lakmé Lever

    Mumbai: In a move that’s making waves in the cosmetic realm, Pushkaraj Shenai has bid adieu to his role as the dynamic chief executive officer at Lakmé Lever, leaving behind a legacy that echoes the iconic lyrics of the Eagles’ “Hotel California”. In a LinkedIn post that reads like a lyrical farewell, he teased his upcoming adventure, assuring that while he’s moving forward, the friendships, memories, hustle, disappointments, and victories of the last decade will forever linger. Shenai, who’s no stranger to the game, graciously thanked his stellar team and the powerhouse parent company, Hindustan Unilever Ltd, in a display of gratitude. This marks his second stint with HUL, preceded by his

    noteworthy tenure as the chief operating officer at Piramal Realty. Before diving into the cosmetic cosmos, Shenai showcased his marketing prowess as the head of marketing at Globus. With an illustrious career path resembling a blockbuster script, Shenai’s departure from Lakmé Lever seems more like the closing scene of a gripping chapter, leaving us eagerly anticipating the next captivating chapter in his professional journey.