ITV

Category: MAM

  • DSP Mutual Fund snaps up marketing powerhouse Aparna Kulkarni

    DSP Mutual Fund snaps up marketing powerhouse Aparna Kulkarni

    MUMBAI: Aparna Kulkarni has stepped into the role of vice president of consumer marketing at DSP Mutual Fund, leaving behind a glittering six-year stint at the Natural Diamond Council.

    At the Natural Diamond Council, Kulkarni built what she calls “the world’s biggest content publishing platform” for natural diamonds, masterminding celebrity campaigns and driving digital performance.

    Her impressive media background includes key positions at Times Network, where she headed marketing for premium movie channels, and Star India, where she managed high-profile shows including Siya Ke Ram and MasterChef India.

    Kulkarni now takes charge of brand marketing and investor education at DSP, bringing her content expertise and digital savvy to the financial services firm at a time when mutual funds are racing to connect with India’s rapidly expanding retail investor base.

    From entertainment to luxury to finance, Kulkarni’s fast-paced career shows no signs of slowing as she takes on this latest challenge at the respected fund house.

  • Chelliah exits Western Digital, leaves strong marketing legacy

    Chelliah exits Western Digital, leaves strong marketing legacy

    MUMBAI: Jaganathan Chelliah has concluded his 11-year association with Western Digital, ending a period marked by significant marketing achievements. His tenure, including a recent consulting phase, saw him drive substantial growth and innovation within the company.

    Chelliah acknowledged the mentorship he received from senior leaders, including Nigel Edwards and Greg Kwolek, crediting them with empowering his ambitious goals. He highlighted strong partnerships with sales teams across India, the Middle East, Turkey, Israel, and Africa, emphasizing the collaborative success between marketing and sales.

    His leadership of the IMEA regional marketing team delivered consistent brand leadership, innovative campaigns, and strategic growth initiatives. He praised his team’s performance, citing their numerous awards and recognitions, and acknowledged their contributions to setting new industry benchmarks.

    A key achievement was the establishment of the Global Creative Development Hub in India, a project realized after five years of effort. He thanked Ravi Pendekanti, Brian Mallari, and Scott Jackson for their support in bringing the hub to fruition.

    Chelliah also recognized the early career support from Rajesh Gupta and Gopal Swaminathan.
    Looking forward, Chelliah indicated a potential focus on AI, noting the dynamic state of the technology sector. He stated he will take time for reflection before announcing his next steps.

  • Bose doubles down on Noise, pumps in $20 million

    Bose doubles down on Noise, pumps in $20 million

    MUMBAI:  Noise, the Indian gadget and wearables brand, has received a fresh $20 million injection from Bose Corp, marking a significant vote of confidence in its global aspirations. This second investment follows Bose’s initial backing in December 2023, solidifying their partnership and fueling Noise’s ambition to become a global tech powerhouse.

    “When Bose Corp backs you—not once, but twice—you know you’re onto something,” said Noise  CEO & co-founder Gaurav Khatri. “They came on board last year, backing our vision to push boundaries in audio and wearables. That belief gave us the push to level up. Now, they’ve doubled down with another $20 million investment. A clear sign they believe in what we’re building—out of India, for the world.”

    The new funding, structured as compulsory convertible debentures, will support Noise’s operational expenses, expansion plans, brand visibility, and working capital needs. This investment values Noise at approximately $470 million, a slight increase from its previous valuation.

    Noise, which primarily sells smartwatches and audio devices, reported a revenue of Rs 1,431 crore for the fiscal year ended March 2024. Despite a flat revenue compared to the previous year, the company experienced a net loss of Rs 20.1 crore.

    Bose’s continued investment underscores its belief in Noise’s potential to disrupt the global wearables market. Bose, known for its high-end audio products, brings not only capital but also expertise in product development, user experience, and global market strategy. This strategic partnership aims to accelerate Noise’s growth and enhance its product offerings.

    Noise, founded in 2014, has rapidly grown in the Indian market, competing with brands like boAt and Realme. With Bose’s backing, the company is poised to amplify its reach and establish itself as a major player on the international stage.

  • Urvashi Sharma joins Havas Play, bringing digital flair to experiential marketing

    Urvashi Sharma joins Havas Play, bringing digital flair to experiential marketing

    MUMBAI:  Urvashi Sharma has announced her move to Havas Play, taking on the role of associate vice president. This appointment marks a significant step in Sharma’s career, transitioning her extensive digital advertising sales experience into the realm of experiential marketing. 

    Sharma’s career boasts a strong track record in digital advertising sales, with significant tenures at MX Player and Zee5. At MX Player, she held various roles, including LCS lead: north and regional manager, demonstrating her expertise in strategy, account management, and business development. Her time at Zee5 as a business partner: north LCS further solidified her skills in digital brand solutions and strategic partnerships.

    Prior to her digital media roles, Sharma gained experience in brand solutions and events management at Bennett Coleman and Co Ltd. (Times group), askme.com, The Walt Disney Co, BloombergUTV, and Fever FM (HT Media Ltd.). These positions honed her abilities in client relations, negotiation, and large-scale event management. Her foundational experience includes a stint as a relationship specialist at Genpact

  • Kondur climbs to director Times Experiences

    Kondur climbs to director Times Experiences

    MUMBAI: Sundar Kondur has announced his move to Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd. (The Times of India), taking on the role of director – Times Experiences. This appointment marks a significant shift for Kondur, a seasoned sales professional, into the realm of experiential events, where he promises to weave “logic of numbers with magic of ideas,”.

    Kondur’s ascent within the Times group is notable. He previously held senior positions, including senior vice president and regional head – south, where he consistently delivered strong sales performance. 

    Before his tenure at the Times group, Kondur held a vice president – advertising sales role at Kasturi & Sons, Ltd., where he was responsible for national sales at The Hindu. There, he is credited with achieving record revenue growth and recruiting a substantial number of new advertisers, contributing to the company’s turnaround.

    His earlier stint at the Times group included a long tenure as vice president and response head, where he oversaw advertising sales for various publications, including Vijay Karnataka and Bangalore Mirror. He also served as publisher and general manager at Mid Day, launching the Bangalore edition and driving significant revenue growth.

  • Treebo inks Accor and InterGlobe deal, aims for budget hotel expansion

    Treebo inks Accor and InterGlobe deal, aims for budget hotel expansion

    MUMBAI:  Treebo Hospitality Ventures has announced a major strategic partnership with global hospitality giant Accor and travel conglomerate InterGlobe Enterprises. The deal grants Treebo an exclusive master license to expand Accor’s ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget, and Mercure hotel brands across India.

    “Delighted to announce our strategic partnership with global hospitality leader Accor and travel powerhouse InterGlobe Enterprises,” said Treebo  co-founder & CEO Sidharth Gupta. “Growing these brands in India is a huge opportunity and responsibility for us, and we are committed to deliver on the trust that Accor has shown in us.”

    The agreement will see Treebo spearhead the growth of these Accor brands, which collectively represent over 3,500 hotels worldwide. Accor and InterGlobe are also doubling down on their financial commitment, acquiring a “large minority stake” in Treebo.

    Treebo’s core business, Treebo Hotels, focuses on the premium-budget segment, boasting over 600 hotels across 100+ cities in India. The company emphasises technology-driven quality control, aiming to provide affordable and reliable accommodations. This new partnership with Accor and InterGlobe positions Treebo for significant expansion, potentially reshaping the Indian budget hotel landscape.

  • Greaves Electric’s Ampere launches Reo 80, electric scooter aimed at mass market

    Greaves Electric’s Ampere launches Reo 80, electric scooter aimed at mass market

    MUMBAI:  Ampere, the electric two-wheeler division of Greaves Electric Mobility (GEML), has introduced the Reo 80, a new electric scooter designed for widespread accessibility across India. The Reo 80, priced at Rs 59,900, aims to provide an economical and sustainable transportation option for a broad consumer base.

    Greaves Electric Mobility Ltd (GEML) executive director and CEO K. Vijaya Kumar stated, “With the launch of the Ampere Reo 80, we are enhancing the accessibility of electric mobility for customers in India.”

    The Reo 80 features an 80km range on a single charge and operates without the requirement for a license or registration. The scooter includes a colored LCD cluster, LFP battery, front disc brakes, keyless start, dual-tone color options, and alloy wheels. Deliveries are scheduled to commence across India in April 2025.

    GEML  has reported a 52 per cent month-on-month growth in electric two-wheeler sales for March 2025, according to Vahan data. GEML, a subsidiary of Greaves Cotton Ltd  (GCL), focuses on developing and manufacturing electric vehicles. Greaves Cotton, with a history spanning 165 years, is transitioning towards providing comprehensive mobility solutions.

  • Adobe unlocks 1,500+ fonts, adds support for 10 Indian languages

    Adobe unlocks 1,500+ fonts, adds support for 10 Indian languages

    MUMBAI: Adobe has rolled out its most extensive font update in half a decade, adding over 1,500 new fonts to its Adobe Fonts library now with full support for ten major Indian languages Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Oriya, and Urdu.

    Available at no extra cost to all Creative Cloud subscribers, this expansion gives Indian creators more flexibility to work across multiple scripts and platforms without compromising on design quality or linguistic accuracy.

    The update brings globally popular fonts such as Helvetica, Gotham, Avenir, Times New Roman, Arial, and Proxima Nova now available in more language variants, including four additional Indian scripts for Proxima Nova.

    With over 30,000 fonts now available, Adobe Fonts ensures seamless access and integration across tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, and Adobe Express, allowing creators to stay on-brand and friction-free, whether on desktop or mobile.

    Among the key benefits of this upgrade, consistent typography across branding, presentations, and editorial design, instant access to frequently used fonts across all devices and apps, reduced font-missing errors when sharing or opening design files.  

    This move strengthens Adobe’s global type offerings and caters to India’s multilingual design demands, setting the stage for more culturally inclusive and versatile visual storytelling.

  • Magnum launches pistachio flavour, Kareena Kapoor Khan stars in campaign

    Magnum launches pistachio flavour, Kareena Kapoor Khan stars in campaign

    MUMBAI:  Magnum, that purveyor of posh popsicles, has finally unleashed a new flavour after an eight-year drought. The new Magnum Pistachio, a creamy concoction of pistachio ice cream swaddled in thick Belgian chocolate and sprinkled with roasted pistachios, aims to tickle the tastebuds of India’s premium ice cream aficionados. And who better to front this nutty venture than Kareena Kapoor Khan, who’s been sweet on the brand for a decade?

    Kareena Kapoor Khan, brand ambassador for Magnum purred: ” This year marks 10 years of devouring my favourite Magnum ice creams, one irresistible flavour at a time! I have had a great association with the brand and Magnum is everything I love and always a temptation worth giving into. I’m so happy to launch Magnum’s latest creation – the all-new Magnum Pistachio! Rich, pistachio ice cream wrapped in thick Belgian chocolate and roasted pistachios – pure bliss! So, step inside my PleasureStudio and have a taste. I hope you love it as much as I do.”

    HUL ice-cream business head Toloy Tanridagli stated, ” With Magnum Pistachio, we are bringing an ingredient that defines luxury and one of the most trending flavours globally to Indian consumers. Magnum has always been lauded for its expertise in chocolate crafting and sophisticated ice cream credentials, and we are committed to bringing this to India. The premium ice cream market in India is growing steadily, with consumers seeking indulgent and unique experiences. We aim to tap into this market with an exciting line-up in 2025, starting with the biggest – Magnum Pistachio. With the expansion of our portfolio, we remain committed to offering moments of pure pleasure through our innovative new launches.” 

    Lowe Lintas  executive creative director Vishal Bagade said: “ Our aim was to evoke luxury and pleasure through storytelling, which was an enjoyable ride given the fact that industry giants like Kareena Kapoor Khan and Bob (Shashanka Chaturvedi) were involved. We ended up creating ‘Pleasure Studio’, which is not just an ad but an ode to indulgence.”

    The new flavour, a nod to the internet-breaking Dubai chocolate trend, promises a symphony of creaminess and nuttiness. Magnum, known for its opulent partnerships and Cannes shenanigans, is banking on this new launch to keep its crown as the king of indulgent ice cream. 

    Here’s the link to the Kareena Kapoor Khan ad

  • IDfy banks on Malcolm Gomes to drive trust at scale in digital economy

    IDfy banks on Malcolm Gomes to drive trust at scale in digital economy

    MUMBAI: Trust issues? Not on Malcolm Gomes’ watch. Idfy, Asia’s leading identity verification platform, has brought on board Malcolm Gomes as its new chief operating officer, betting big on his two-decade-long expertise in strategy and transformation to power its next phase of growth. In his new role, Gomes will lead Idfy’s Trust and Privacy Platform ‘Privy’, oversee global operations, and spearhead industry-specific propositions as part of the company’s mission to eliminate fraud and scale trust in a fast-growing digital economy.

    A former Partner at McKinsey & Co., Gomes has spent the last 17 years advising financial services clients across India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. His expertise spans digital transformation, AI-led service operations, customer experience, and business-building all of which align seamlessly with Idfy’s ambition to cement itself as the go-to platform for trust-based digital interactions.

    IDfy CEO Ashok Hariharan said, “We are thrilled to welcome Malcolm to the Idfy leadership team. His deep experience in strategy and driving transformation across markets is a perfect match for IDfy’s mission of enabling trust atscale. Malcolm’s strategic vision and operational expertise will be instrumental as we expand our product suite, strengthen our propositions, and scale globally. I look forward to partnering with him as we continue to raise the bar for innovation and impact in this space.”

    Malcolm sharing his excitement about joining Idfy said, “Trust is the fundamental currency of the ever-increasing, transacting world around us as increasingly more people and businesses get formalized; frequency of interactions and transactions increase driven by rising consumption; and interaction touchpoints multiply e.g., AI bots, Home delivery; the need to ensure trust grows manifold. Having worked with multiple institutions on their Board and CEO agendas over several years, I am hugely excited about how IDfy’s current and future ‘Trust’ offerings – can make a significant difference for customers and organisations.”

    With Gomes stepping into this crucial role, Idfy is doubling down on its commitment to helping businesses confidently engage with customers, verify identities, and mitigate risk all without compromising user experience.

    As trust becomes the bedrock of the digital economy, Idfy’s bet on Gomes could be the game-changer that takes the company from a powerful enabler to a category-defining force.