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Category: People

  • Nalin Mehta has been appointed the managing editor of moneycontrol

    Nalin Mehta has been appointed the managing editor of moneycontrol

    Mumbai: Nalin Mehta has been appointed the managing editor of Moneycontrol. He has been Network 18’s group consulting editor for the past year.

    He has previously held leadership roles like executive editor at The Times of India-Online; managing editor, at India Today (an English TV channel); and consulting editor at The Times of India.

    Prior to Moneycontrol, Nalin was dean and professor at the School of Modern Media, UPES University, where he had conceptualised and conducted courses on digital journalism.

    He has also worked with the UN and international financing institutions like the Global Fund in Geneva, Switzerland; taught and held research positions at various universities and institutions in Australia, Singapore, Switzerland, and India.

    He continues to be a non-resident senior fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore.

    A DFID-Commonwealth scholar, Nalin has done his PhD in Politics from La Trobe University, Melbourne; M.A. International Relations, University of East Anglia, UK, and B.A. Journalism (honours) from University of Delhi.

  • FNP appoints Nitish Saxena as head brand marketing

    FNP appoints Nitish Saxena as head brand marketing

    Mumbai: FNP (formerly Ferns N Petals) India’s leading gifting destination, has announced the appointment of Nitish Saxena as head brand marketing. In his capacity, Nitish will play a key role in driving the brand’s growth and market dominance, implementing a holistic brand strategy as FNP innovates and continues to build on its full range of gifting experiences for users. His appointment coincides with the rapid expansion of the brand, marked by continual evolution in terms of enhanced brand ethos.

    Nitish brings rich expertise to the role, having most recently served as the head of brand at fintech startup CheQ. During his tenure, Nitish was responsible for end-to-end marketing & communications, leading CheQ’s GTM and subsequent growth. Prior to this, he led the social & creative mandate at Paytm, playing a pivotal role in enhancing the brand’s creative identity and social media presence. During his stint at Paytm, Nitish conceptualized and executed some popular campaigns including the viral fraud awareness video, ‘Phone par kaun tha’, the award-winning Women’s Day Film ‘The Divide’, and more recently Paytm’s much loved ‘Dil ke Account se #PaytmKaro’ to name a few. His creative work also saw him winning several industry recognitions.

    Speaking on the appointment FNP Global CEO and director Pawan Gadia said, “We are thrilled to welcome Nitish to our FNP family. His extensive experience in crafting and executing successful marketing strategies, particularly in the digital realm aligns perfectly with our vision for the brand’s future growth. As we embark on the upcoming chapter of expansion- technology, innovation and a personalised retail experience will emerge as pivotal components of our strategic vision. We are confident that his skills and experience will contribute significantly to our continued accomplishment, propelling FNP to new heights in the gifting industry.”

    “I am honored to join FNP, a brand that has demonstrated consistent and explosive growth, while maintaining an incredibly high level of customer satisfaction. I am excited about the opportunity to lead innovative marketing initiatives that will not only strengthen the brand’s presence but also create memorable journeys for our customers.” said Nitish.

  • Gaurav Gupta joins Oplifi as head of performance, data & martech

    Gaurav Gupta joins Oplifi as head of performance, data & martech

    Mumbai: The digital media company Oplifi has appointed Gaurav Gupta as the global head of performance marketing, data and martech of the company. Gaurav will be based out of Oplifi’s Singapore office.

    Gaurav Gupta (known as GG) has over 18 years of experience and his expertise lies in transforming the landscape of performance marketing. His role at Circles.Life and PropertyGuru (industry leading Unicorns of SE Asia) saw him leading the charge of growth marketing, and at Havas Media, he successfully managed a diverse portfolio that included Emirates, Accor Hotels, BNP Paribas, and DBS Bank.

    By establishing a new business stream of Growth Marketing, GG is expected to play a transformative role that aims to redefine the landscape merging Martech tools and data analytics to create marketing solutions that are not only high-performing but also sustainable and customer-centric.

    Talking about his new role at Oplifi, Gupta said “The landscape of growth has irreversibly transformed, pivoting from basic user acquisition to a more nuanced focus on profitability. While this shift puts CAC under interrogation every time, the focus needs to move to increasing conversion rates instead. As informed marketing custodians, it’s our duty to advocate for what’s genuinely beneficial for long-term sustainable growth, rather than just sell what sells.”

    Speaking on the appointment, Oplifi co-founder Anup Kumar said, “Gaurav Gupta’s proven successes span various roles, from transformative positions at Circles.Life and PropertyGuru to leading omnichannel strategies at Havas Media. His journey reflects relentless innovation across diverse markets. I firmly believe Gaurav’s adeptness in team leadership and pioneering 1P data strategies will elevate our clients along the value chain, leveraging his expertise in Performance Marketing and Martech.”

     

  • Satkam Divya joins PolicyBoss as chief business officer, digital

    Satkam Divya joins PolicyBoss as chief business officer, digital

    Mumbai: – PolicyBoss.com, an InsurTech company has appointed Satkam Divya as its chief business officer, digital.

    Satkam will be positioned in PolicyBoss’s office in Delhi. Satkam is an InsurTech professional and passionate business leader with over two decades of experience in building and scaling digital tech-driven consumer businesses. He has previously founded consumertech companies — Rupeetalk and KlinicApp, the latter in the health tech space. He operated as an entrepreneur for over a decade, raising VC capital, scaling, and finally exiting the business. He has also been a part of the leadership team in Policybazaar & NetAmbit and worked with ICICI Bank and Times Internet.

    With a career of more than two decades, Satkam has worked extensively in the insurance-technology space. This was after completing post-graduation from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow. His contribution to the insurance sector has showcased his digital marketing and leadership skills.

    Welcoming the chief business officer, PolicyBoss.com MD & CEO Susheel Tejuja said, “Satkam will be a valuable addition to our leadership team. His vast experience, visionary approach, and advisory skills will help us offer top-notch insurance solutions digitally to our customers.  We are confident that his contribution will boost PolicyBoss to new dimensions, further widen the overall digital presence and help us achieve sustainable profitable growth.”

    Commenting on his appointment, PolicyBoss.com chief business officer Satkam Divya, said, “Over the last few years PolicyBoss has become a reliable new age InsurTech company. It is constantly aiming to revolutionise the Indian customer’s insurance experience with its hands-on consultative approach. We are keen on creating an ecosystem and changing the perception of insurance by providing customers with simple, transparent, and hassle-free interactions backed by a robust technology framework. My key focus will be to advise with a data-driven approach and continue to align PolicyBoss’ operations and offerings with customer needs and industry standards. Our goal at PolicyBoss is aligned with the regulator’s goal of achieving insurance for all by 2047.”

  • BBH India appoints Ashwin Palkar as ECD and head of experience

    BBH India appoints Ashwin Palkar as ECD and head of experience

    Mumbai: BBH India, a leading creative agency within Publicis Groupe India, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ashwin Palkar as the executive creative director (ECD) and head of experience. Palkar’s mandate involves working across brands handled by both offices of the agency and reporting directly to BBH India chief creative officer Parikshit Bhattacharya,

    Welcoming Palkar to the BBH family, Parikshit Bhattacharya stated, “Ashwin’s appointment aligns with our objective of building a high-talent-density team. He is one of the best talents globally, and we are pleased that he will be playing for us. His enviable body of work, boatload of awards, and that easy smile make him an ideal creative leader for us. His ability to craft engaging brand experiences is precisely what we want for our clients. With Ashwin, Swati, and Arvind, we are nearing the formation of an optimally skilled creative leadership team. Here’s to some great Tiki Taka between them and a significant advantage for our clients.”

    A seasoned creative leader with 17 years of experience in advertising, Palkar is among the most awarded professionals in the industry. As a digital-first thinker, he excels at leveraging digital platforms to infuse creativity and technology, creating ideas at the intersection of internet culture and consumer brands. Palkar has led and mentored creative teams, art directors, designers, and animators whose work has been recognized at national and international award shows, including Cannes Lions, One Show, and D&AD. His portfolio includes impactful work for brands such as Flipkart, Google Pay, Vice Media, Uber, Swiggy, IKEA, Google Merchants, WeWork, and Airtel among others.

    For his work on “The Unfiltered History Tour” with VICE World News, he was ranked as the world’s top creative director at Cannes Lions 2022 and the world’s top executive creative director at the One Show Awards. Palkar appreciates brands that embrace bold creativity and marketing.

    His most recent role was on the brand side working at Singapore-based FMCG company Believe Pte Ltd, where he led the Creative & Digital teams for a portfolio of brands including Zayn, Myza, and The Lafz.

    Speaking about his new role, Ashwin Palkar said, “I have always been a fan of BBH’s vast global body of work. It is diverse, culturally rich, and filled with meaningful creativity. After my stint on the brand side, this was exactly what I was looking for. So, when this opportunity presented itself, I was certain I wanted to be part of the team. I am truly grateful to Parikshit for giving me this opportunity, and I am incredibly excited to work with him and the rest of the team at BBH. As Sir John Hegarty says, ‘All roads lead to the work.’”

  • udChalo announces General Manoj Mukund Naravane as newest advisory board member

    udChalo announces General Manoj Mukund Naravane as newest advisory board member

    Mumbai: udChalo, a leading consumer tech firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Gen (Dr) Manoj Mukund Naravane, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd) 28th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) (Former Chief of the Army Staff), to its advisory board. As part of the advisory team, General Naravane will guide the company, playing a pivotal role in making strategic decisions that aligns seamlessly with the needs and preferences of its customer base and beyond. udChalo is the only Online Travel Agency (OTA) to be winning the ‘National Start-Up Award’ by the government of India. The company has recently expanded its platform to be accessed by broader spectrum of users beyond armed forces, after realizing that over 70 per cent of the travel market in India is controlled by Chinese Investors.

    General Naravane, served as the 28th COAS and is a highly decorated officer with over four decades of experience in the Indian Army. Leading from front, he has also held several other prestigious positions, including Vice Chief of Army Staff, and Eastern Army Commander. He is known for his strategic thinking, leadership skills, and commitment to the welfare of the armed forces personnel.

    “We are honoured to welcome General Naravane to the udChalo team,” said udChalo CEO Ravi Kumar. “His extensive experience and profound expertise will prove invaluable as we persist in our journey to expand and enhance our services for the benefit of the armed forces community and now beyond that, serving entire nation. We are confident that General Naravane’s unmatched leadership will play a pivotal role in advancing our mission of delivering seamless and cost-effective travel experiences to the armed forces and beyond.”

    General Naravane said, “I stand resolute in aligning forces with udChalo, a 100% Indian company in the travel industry that has dedicated its services exclusive for the armed forces. Through a range of products and services, udChalo is steadfastly making life easier for our armed forces community, extending its support not only at the national borders but also beyond, ensuring assistance wherever they may be. With over 35 lakh fauji families placing their trust in udChalo, it is poised to become the epitome of ‘Desh Ka Bharosa’ by extending its platform to other users as well”

    He further added, “udChalo’s vision aligns well with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, demonstrating its capacity to revolutionize the online travel technology industry through local innovation and entrepreneurship. Having dedicated my life to defending our borders, I now aspire to contribute to the progress and prosperity of our nation by supporting start-ups like udChalo. Recently, India emerged as the fourth nation globally for tech venture capital investments, reaffirming its start-up ecosystem. I encourage everyone to avail themselves of udChalo’s services, as indirectly, you will be supporting our veterans who find employment opportunities with udChalo.  Together, we all can forge a brighter future for our fauji families and our entire nation.”

    udChalo is committed to providing its customers with the best possible travel experience. The company’s team of experienced travel experts, formed primarily by veterans and veer naris, is always available to help customers plan their trips and get the most out of their travels. 

  • 5paisa onboards Ameya Agnihotri as chief technology officer

    5paisa onboards Ameya Agnihotri as chief technology officer

    Mumbai: 5paisa Capital Ltd, one of India’s largest digital discount brokers, has hired former Uber and Paytm executive Ameya Agnihotri as chief technology officer (CTO).  

    Prior to joining 5paisa, Ameya Agnihotri worked with Paytm (One97 Communications) leading technology at Paytm’s fast-growing travel division, leading a team of 110 engineers. He was instrumental in building digital platforms for various industries across continents successfully in the last seventeen years. Ameya has earlier worked with Berlin headquartered Zeotap as CTO, besides stints at Uber, Pub Matic and Veritas. He completed his Masters in Computer Application from University of Pune.

    Commenting on the appointment, 5paisa Capital MD & CEO Narayan Gangadhar said, “I am very excited to welcome Ameya to the 5paisa team. Ameya is a standout and well respected technology leader with decades of experience building innovative technology products. His stellar background in building teams, large scale digital products and deep understanding of the evolving tech ecosystem will help us attract top talent and greatly accelerate our digitization efforts. Ameya will be based in Bangalore and lead our engineering center where we continue to attract top talent from the tech industry.”

    Commenting on the appointment, Ameya Agnihotri said, “5paisa has already built a fantastic platform and has been among leaders in the digital discount broking space. I am really excited to be a part of this innovative company and offer my experience in building some of the greatest products and platforms in investing space.”

    5paisa Capital is one of India’s largest discount brokers with an overall customer base of over 3.7 million. The 5paisa mobile app is used by over 16 million investors and enjoys a rating of 4.3 stars. 5paisa Capital is backed by marquee global investors Fairfax, Ward Ferry, and RIMCO.

  • Sociowash Mumbai appoints Amisha Gulati as business head

    Sociowash Mumbai appoints Amisha Gulati as business head

    Mumbai: Sociowash, one of India’s leading integrated advertising agencies, has appointed Amisha Gulati as its new business head to lead Mumbai operations. Amisha will be responsible for driving the holistic growth of Sociowash, both from new business and operations perspectives.

    With over 13 years of extensive experience as a seasoned marketing professional, Amisha possesses expertise on both the agency and client sides of the industry. She has previously made significant contributions to the growth of renowned agencies such as Schbang and Glitch, as well as the streaming platform ZEE5.

    In her role as business head at Sociowash, Gulati will report directly to the co-founders, Pranav Agarwal and Raghav Bagai. Her core objective will be to elevate the agency to one of the top integrated advertising agencies in India by producing impactful work that directly addresses business challenges while fostering a positive work environment. Her multifaceted role includes client relationship management, championing award-winning campaigns, P&L management and fostering a collaborative culture within the organization.

    Sociowash co-founder Pranav Agarwal commented on the appointment, “We are strengthening our core team to align with the company’s goal of global expansion. We are thrilled to welcome Amisha to our team of creative and energetic individuals. With her extensive experience and proven track record, we are confident that Amisha will play a pivotal role in shaping the future success of Sociowash Mumbai.”

    Sociowash co-founder Raghav Bagai said, “Amisha’s success and leadership in previous roles underscores her ability to drive growth and innovation within the agency. Her strategic vision and industry insights will undoubtedly elevate our innovative solutions. We’re excited about the positive impact she will bring to the team and look forward to achieving new milestones together.”

    On her appointment, Amisha Gulati said, “As Business Head of Mumbai, I plan to grow the business manifold while building campaigns that the team and clients will be proud of. Consistently achieving creative excellence while transforming business will be my main goal, which ties in with Sociowash’s mission to “Add Value”. We have some very talented people with lots of enthusiasm and passion and I intend to fuel that passion in the right direction.”

    The Sociowash team in Mumbai recently moved to a dedicated office. In less than four years, the team has expanded to a workforce of 100 employees, prompting the move to a bigger office; this strategic shift enables the team to seamlessly manage growing clientele with enhanced efficiency and dedication.

  • WebEngage elevates Ankur Gattani to chief growth officer

    WebEngage elevates Ankur Gattani to chief growth officer

    Mumbai: WebEngage, a full stack retention operating system, today announced the elevation of Ankur Gattani to chief growth officer. Gattani, who has been heading the marketing function for the B2B SaaS leader, will now also take charge of customer growth and success functions in this newly constituted role, to help the company with readiness for its next growth phase.

    WebEngage co-founder & CEO Avlesh Singh said, “As we gear up to enter our next phase of growth, consolidation of leadership will help us leverage emerging opportunities across the spectrum. Ankur’s insights on customer needs, his experience and his unique approach have made an invaluable contribution to streamlining WebEngage’s marketing efforts. We are proud to have him take charge of our Customer Success function as well. Ankur will additionally be instrumental in building our account management and growth consulting practices, while also overlooking Onboarding and Customer Support. I am confident that in the coming months, he will become a guiding light and a force to be reckoned with for our team as well as our customers.”

    India Quotient founding partner Anand Lunia an early investor in WebEngage, said, “Having known Ankur from his previous entrepreneurial pursuits, I was confident that it was just a matter of time that he would become a core member of the WebEngage juggernaut.”

    WebEngage chief growth officer Ankur Gattani said, “It’s always Day 01 of learning new things here at WebEngage and I am super excited to embark on this new charter. As we enter this new era of growth for WebEngage, my focus will remain to continuously improve customer experience and drive growth for our customers.”

    An IIT Bombay and IIM Calcutta graduate, Ankur joined WebEngage in 2021 to streamline the marketing function of the organisation. Under his leadership, while the business has grown immeasurably, WebEngage’s marketing practice has also strengthened multifold. He has also institutionalised several initiatives of the Marketing function such as its flagship education initiative EngageMint, and State of Retention Marketing Podcasts. He has taken charge of the entire growth marketing function at WebEngage to sharpen its positioning as a thought leader in retention marketing and a champion for building enduring businesses. 

  • LS Digital expands to UK with Pawan Wankhede as business head

    LS Digital expands to UK with Pawan Wankhede as business head

    Mumbai: LS Digital, a new-age independent digital marketing transformation group, as part of their global expansion, announced today its foray in the UK market. Pawan  Wankhede has been appointed as the business head of UK operations. He will focus on expanding  LS Digital’s skills and capabilities in Digital Marketing Transformation (DMT) to businesses in the UK  market. Pawan brings over 18 years of expertise in digital marketing strategies and content.

    “We envision LS Digital becoming a global player in the digital marketing transformation (DMT) space. In order to realise this vision, we have appointed an industry veteran like Pawan to take the reins of the  UK operations and replicate the growth we have seen in the MEA region. LS Digital already has a  significant presence in Europe, specifically in UX and CX verticals. Now we will expand our focus, with  UK as the base and Pawan at the helm, to include the entire DMT solution, which comprises Media,  Creative, D&I, Innovation and Tech,” said LS Digital CEO & co-founder Prasad Shejale on the appointment.

    Prior to joining LS Digital Pawan was the CEO of VidRule, a programmatic digital marketing company,  for over 7 years. A seasoned Digital Marketing entrepreneur, Pawan brings strong experience in digital media and OTT content technology, with specialisations in several forms of marketing including  AdTech, Content Production & Monetization, Social Media & Display Marketing, and Mobile  Marketing, to name a few.

    LS Digital COO Rupak Ved said, “I am happy to welcome Pawan to the UK team. His expertise in diverse areas of the digital marketing space, especially in international markets will help accelerate growth in Europe and take it to greater levels. We perceive a great need among UK businesses for digital marketing transformation solutions. LS Digital’s Transformation Framework is perfectly positioned to address the gap in the market. Pawan’s addition will further our growth in Digital  Marketing Space in the UK.”

    Commenting on his new role, Pawan Wankhede said, “The UK stands as the largest digital advertising market in Europe, with expenditures consistently surpassing traditional channels. This surge in spending underscores a significant demand for brands to embrace a more data-driven strategy, aiming to optimise return on advertising Spend (ROAS). I am enthusiastic about joining the LS Digital team,  recognizing the immense opportunity to guide UK brands in harnessing the robust DMT framework crafted by the company. In my role, I will be dedicated to fostering innovation, broadening our European focus, and assisting brands in setting up their Centre of Excellence (CoE).”

    Pawan Wankhede’s appointment for UK operations aligns with LS Digital’s strategic plans to become a global leader in the delivery of DMT solutions. The company endeavours to focus more in Europe and UK by expanding its UX & CX business verticals to include Media, Creative, D&I, Innovation and  Tech, in order to provide the entire range of its ML-based DMT solutions to brands in these markets.