MUMBAI: From corner offices to boardroom briefings, India Inc. is hitting refresh on its leadership roster. As Indian enterprises tighten the screws on performance, governance and risk agility, CXO-level hiring has seen a 9.5 per cent spike in FY25, according to retained executive search firm Venator Search Partners. The leadership shuffle is part of a structural shift, with companies moving away from legacy-driven appointments toward outcome-oriented roles. According to Venator, over 50 per cent of its hires last year were board-level director positions, and business head mandates have risen by more than 30 per cent this fiscal year.
“Leadership is no longer inherited. It’s being sculpted to meet sharper expectations,” said Venator Search Partners founder Deepraditya Datta.
Post-pandemic pressures have forced boards and promoters to rethink how they evaluate leadership no longer by tenure, but by tangible impact. When results fall short, change comes swiftly.
With regulatory scrutiny mounting, especially after the Reserve Bank of India imposed Rs 54.78 crore in penalties on 353 entities in FY25 for compliance failures, companies are seeking leaders who blend execution with governance.
There’s rising demand for CXOs who can steer boardroom conversations, think through risk scenarios, and embed compliance into enterprise culture. Finance, audit, and risk functions are no longer just back-office guardians, they’re becoming frontline strategists.
Inclusivity, too, is taking root at the top. Women now hold 20.6 per cent of CXO roles and 28 per cent of functional head positions, signalling a shift in how leadership pipelines are being built.
Cybersecurity and digital resilience are also shaping boardroom priorities. As reliance on tech grows, so does the need for leaders who can manage digital risk and business continuity, especially across mid-market firms and large conglomerates alike.
“The impulsive hire-and-fire culture is giving way to strategic realignment cycles, structured performance reviews, and impact-led assessments,” Datta added.
In the age of transparency and accountability, Indian companies are rewriting the rulebook on what it means to lead and making sure the boardroom isn’t just where strategy starts, but where results are demanded.
MUMBAI: Prime Video is wearing its heart on its sleeve. In a snazzy new brand campaign titled ‘Every kind of emotion. It’s on Amazon Prime’, the streaming giant is trading in genres for gut punches, spotlighting its diverse catalogue through the lens of pure feeling.
The campaign features two punchy ad films—one with national treasure Manoj Bajpayee and another with South sensation Samantha—each crafted for specific markets. But the message is universal: Prime Video isn’t just about what you watch, it’s about what you feel.
Comedy that’s awkward or absurd, love that’s unspoken or unrequited, thrills that sneak or strike—this is entertainment that sticks. The campaign taps into the viewer insight that when audiences scroll for genres, they’re actually hunting for emotional hits—those little jolts of joy, nostalgia, suspense, or heartbreak.
Gone are the days of slotting stories into neat boxes. Prime Video is throwing open the doors to content that’s as layered as life itself—across languages, formats, and cultures.
“At Prime Video, we believe entertainment isn’t about ticking genre boxes—it’s about delivering experiences that emotionally connect with customers,” said Sonal Kabi, director & head of marketing, Prime Video, India. “This campaign showcases our commitment to delivering a wide range of stories that capture a gamut of feelings that our viewers can relate to. ‘Every kind of emotion. It’s on Amazon Prime’ isn’t just a line—it’s a promise we deliver, day-in and day-out through our series and movies. Great stories can come from anywhere — and our goal is to ensure audiences don’t just watch them but truly feel and connect with them. We’re proud to be a service that reflects the full spectrum of human emotions.”
Bajpayee said, “The beauty of entertainment today is that it mirrors our own complexity. Just as my character Srikant Tiwari balances national security with family life in The Family Man, Prime Video masterfully balances the full spectrum of human emotions. One moment you’re craving a thriller that keeps you on the edge, the next you’re seeking the warmth of a heartfelt story. That’s what drew me to this campaign – it captures how we truly experience and consume entertainment in our lives. It’s smart, it’s emotional, it’s completely relatable and it beautifully showcases how Prime Video has become a destination where every emotion finds its perfect match. It was fun to play a version of Srikant Tiwari who is catching feelings instead of catching bad guys for once!”
Samantha said, “Every role is an emotional journey. From embodying the intensity of Raji in The Family Man to exploring the complexities of a covert operative in Citadel: Honey Bunny – each character has pushed my boundaries in unique ways. What fascinates me is how this mirrors our own viewing habits. We don’t just watch shows; we seek emotions that resonate with our moment. Sometimes it’s the adrenaline rush of a thriller, other times it’s revisiting that one scene that touched our soul. That’s the magic Prime Video has captured – understanding that stories aren’t just about genres, they’re about the feelings they evoke. Every story has its own emotional fingerprint, and there’s something beautiful about having a service like Prime Video that celebrates every shade of human experience.”
Created by Manja, the campaign will be deployed through a rollout across digital, social, and outdoors. Suyash Barve, Head of Creative, Manja said, “As more and more content gets added to our screens, our classical understanding of genres has become too vague. There is no action on one side and romance on the other. Now, every movie and TV show is a multi-hyphenate. An action-dramedy or a political-espionage-thriller or a political-espionage-action-dramedy. Now, you can choose between comedies that make you laugh out loud, or ones that make you chuckle. Horror movies that make your heart stop, or just ones that creep you out. We used this rephrasing of genre to tell our story of range. There’s just so much to watch on Prime Video, that you simply have to be more specific. The perfect sutradhars for this journey were of course, our Family Man, Manoj Bajpayee and the star of Citadel: Honey Bunny and The Family Man antagonist, Samantha – both of whom turn a simple discussion on what to watch into a days-long crusade to prove that there’s more than one kind of funny and more than one kind of thriller.”
It’s a slick, slice-of-life sell, reinforcing Prime Video’s pitch as India’s most beloved binge-spot. From belly laughs to big sobs, it’s all on tap—and just a click away.
MUMBAI: Get ready to grip your screens, India’s fiercest arm battles are back and bolder than ever. The Pro Panja League is flexing for a powerful comeback as Season 2 kicks off on 5 August , streaming live on Fancode. After a knockout debut that turned armwrestling into a must-watch phenomenon, the league is once again teaming up with India’s go-to digital sports platform to deliver unfiltered strength, strategy and spectacle to fans across the country.
Returning in an IPL-style franchise format, the tournament will see elite athletes from across the nation collide in high-voltage matchups over 17 action-packed days in Gwalior known as much for its heritage as, now, for hosting this homegrown showdown.
While the Kochi KD’s will defend their title, all eyes are also on the fresh crop of contenders eager to shake up the pecking order at the Panja table.
“Our aim has always been to make armwrestling accessible to every Indian household,” said Pro Panja League co-founder Parvin Dabas. “Fancode’s reach in Season 1 gave us the perfect platform and we’re ready to dial it up again for Season 2.”
Fancode co-founder Yannick Colaco added, “We’re proud to continue supporting the growth of indigenous sports. Panja isn’t just a contest of strength, it’s a celebration of pride and passion. And we’re excited to bring it to screens across India.”
Fans can catch all the action live on the Fancode app (Android and Ios), on TV via Amazon Fire TV Stick, Android TV, Samsung TV, Jio STB, and on the Fancode website.
Whether you’re a diehard fan or new to the grip-and-rip game, the Pro Panja League promises a second season that’s bigger, bolder, and guaranteed to leave viewers hooked.
MUMBAI: Class is in session and Netflix is teaching everyone a lesson in domination. In Nielsen’s 50th The Gauge report for June 2025, streaming flexed its muscle once again, accounting for a record 46.0 per cent of total TV usage in the US. Leading the binge brigade was Netflix, which saw a 13.5 per cent surge in viewership over May, grabbing an 8.3 per cent share of total television minutes. That’s 0.8 points up month-on-month and enough to account for 42 per cent of streaming’s total gain in June.
The platform’s winning streak was powered by its usual bag of tricks: original series Ginny & Georgia was crowned the most-streamed title of the month with a jaw-dropping 8.7 billion viewing minutes, while acquired shows Animal Kingdom and Blindspot together clocked 11.4 billion minutes. And just to put a cherry on top, Squid Game Season 3 dropped in the final three days of the month and still managed nearly a billion viewing minutes per day.
Peacock wasn’t far behind on the podium, notching a 13.4 per cent usage rise fuelled largely by the new season of Love Island USA, which bagged 4.4 billion viewing minutes and ranked fourth overall. The streamer finished June with a 1.5 per cent TV share, up from 1.2 per cent in May.
Much of the streaming spike can be chalked up to school being out. Kids and teens (aged 6–17) increased their TV usage by 27 per cent in June, with streaming accounting for 66 per cent of their total watch time. Netflix and Peacock saw viewership from this age group climb 32 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively.
This cohort also powered up consoles and cable boxes, leading to a 41 per cent jump in the “Other” category home to video games and set-top box viewing far above the overall 14 per cent gain in that segment.
Meanwhile, traditional TV continued its summer slump. Broadcast viewership dipped 5 per cent to an all-time low share of 18.5 per cent, slipping below the 20 per cent mark for the first time. Cable remained mostly flat but still ceded 0.7 share points to end at 23.4 per cent. Combined, cable and broadcast dropped from 44.2 per cent in May to 41.9 per cent in June.
That said, the NBA Finals threw broadcasters a lifeline, ABC aired all seven of the month’s most-watched telecasts, including the NBA Trophy Presentation. On cable, Conference Finals on ESPN and TNT scored big, while news and special programming like Fox News’ Army 250 Parade and CNN’s Goodnight and Good Luck helped shore up ratings.
With summer holidays in full swing and streamers rolling out irresistible content, one thing is clear: viewers are switching channels literally and figuratively. And if June is any indication, traditional TV might need more than just a timeout to catch up.
MUMBAI: William Grant & Sons (WG & S) has snapped up spirits industry veteran Kartik Mohindra as managing director for India, eyeing a bigger slice of one of the world’s fastest-growing whisky markets. The former chief marketing officer and head of global business development at Pernod Ricard India takes charge on 30 September.
The move signals a sharp play by the Scottish distiller, best known for brands like Glenfiddich and Monkey Shoulder, as it doubles down on India’s premium spirits surge. Mohindra brings over 20 years of experience across alcohol, beverages and FMCG – a seasoned hand to scale up WG&S’ ambitions.
His appointment follows the elevation of outgoing India MD Sachin Mehta, who steps into the role of managing director for Canada – another priority market for the group.
“These appointments reflect our continued investment in key growth markets,” said WG&S chief commercial officer Doug Bagley. “We’re thrilled to have Kartik join us in India – a critical market where Sachin and the team have already laid strong foundations.”
As global booze giants race to tap rising affluence and shifting tastes in developing economies, India has emerged as a battleground for premium spirits – and WG&S is clearly in no mood to play catch-up.
MUMBAI: Why should buying a used car feel like buying a mystery box? Cars24 says not anymore. Cars24 has just fired up a game-changer for Indian car buyers with the launch of Care+, an all-in-one post-sale ownership plan that promises to take the stress out of second-hand car purchases. Rolling out across major cities and soon pan-India, the plan offers an integrated mix of extended warranty, annual servicing, 24×7 roadside assistance, and even a guaranteed resale value all bundled into a single offering.
In a market where more than 80 per cent of used car buyers feel uncertain after the sale, Care+ aims to flip the script. According to internal data, 65 per cent of buyers have never received warranty or post-sale support, 70 per cent are clueless about resale value, and nearly half end up footing bills for repairs that should’ve been covered.
Enter Care+, designed to remove the guesswork and offer clarity from the get-go:
● Extended Warranty: Up to 3 years or 45,000 km on key components including engine and AC, with national repair access and free pickup/drop.
● Annual Servicing: Certified technicians, real-time tracking, genuine parts and freebies like wheel alignment.
● 24×7 Roadside Assistance: For flat tyres, fuel issues, jumpstarts and minor repairs, with towing up to 40 km.
● Assured Buyback: A guaranteed resale value from day one, making upgrades easy after 12 months.
“We’ve seen that trust in the used car market comes down to two things clarity and support,” said Cars24 Co-founder and CMO Gajendra Jangid. “Care+ isn’t just another feature. It’s a mindset shift. It tells customers they’re not on their own after the sale.”
Since its soft launch, Care+ has already been adopted by over 1,000 customers in three cities, with a glowing 4.8/5 satisfaction score. Cars24 expects more than half of its buyers to opt into Care+ by the year’s end, a bold indicator that consumers are hungry for post-sale certainty.
With Care+, Cars24 becomes the first platform in India’s used car segment to offer a tech-enabled ownership experience that goes well beyond the transaction. In a space plagued by patchy support and limited service guarantees, Care+ might just be the much-needed tune-up the industry didn’t know it needed.
MUMBAI: Zomato is dishing out a power-packed ode to perseverance with its latest campaign, ‘Fuel Your Hustle’, starring a heavyweight cast of Indian icons: Shah Rukh Khan, Mary Kom, AR Rahman, and Jasprit Bumrah.
The emotionally charged campaign spotlights the sweat behind the stardom, tracing each personality’s journey through rare archival footage — some of it never seen before — and gritty behind-the-scenes moments from iconic matches, studios, and film sets. The film is underscored by a stirring track from Kalmi (Nikhil Kalimireddy), the voice behind the viral anthem “Big Dawgs”.
In a world chasing instant wins, ‘Fuel Your Hustle’ flips the script. It’s a celebration of those long, unglamorous hours of hustle — whether it’s SRK’s early theatre days, Mary Kom’s fight against the odds as a mother and champion, Rahman’s studio grind, or Bumrah’s rise from the nets to global cricketing glory.
This isn’t an ad. It’s a belief in effort over everything else.
Every day, millions of Indians tap ‘Place Order’ on @zomato in between their routines, responsibilities and dreams. Some are building startups. Some are raising kids. Some are taking a break.
Commenting on the campaign, Zomato marketing Sahibjeet Singh Sawhney said, “This campaign is for a new generation of doers, a reminder that even the stars they look up to started small, stumbled, and kept going. It’s a cheer for the millions of Indians building something, following dreams, caring for loved ones and for themselves, even when it’s hard and no one’s clapping.”
“We’re rooting for those chasing what they care deeply about and showing up for it consistently. Food is just their fuel and we’re glad to be a small part of their journey,” he added.
Posted by Deepinder Goyal, Zomato’s CEO, and live across YouTube, Instagram, and outdoor touchpoints, the campaign rolls out as a full-throttle 360-degree blitz across digital, print, and social media.
MUMBAI: Manoj Nair has been appointed marketing director for India and the subcontinent at the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), marking a pivotal move in STA’s push to deepen its footprint across one of its fastest-growing outbound travel markets.
Nair was previously CEO of Sartha Global Marketing and Mileage Communications, where he represented marquee tourism boards including Brand USA, Visit California, Hong Kong Tourism Board, and TripAdvisor. With over 20 years of experience in the travel and tourism sector, his career has spanned brand-building, customer-centric innovation, and business growth.
Before his CEO innings, Nair led marketing at FCM Travel Solutions, the Indian arm of Flight Centre Travel Group, where he helped sharpen the brand’s edge in a crowded marketplace. His earlier stints with Thomas Cook and Kuoni further cemented his reputation as a marketer with a sharp global lens and local nuance.
A recipient of the Most Influential Marketing Leader title from the World Marketing Congress, Nair holds degrees from Mumbai University, IIM Kolkata, and an international MBA from Marketing Week London. He has also advised IIM Sirmaur, India’s only IIM offering a tourism-focused MBA programme.
MUMBAI: Rohit Jangra has been promoted to senior director, integrated planning at dentsu, marking another milestone in his steadily rising career within the agency’s planning and strategy ranks.
Jangra, who joined dentsu in 2017 as lead media manager, has worn many hats since, climbing to group head in 2018, associate director in 2021, and director in 2022, before stepping into his newest role. His journey is a masterclass in consistency, curiosity, and campaign craft.
Academically, Jangra holds a postgraduate diploma in advertising and public relations from K.C. College, Churchgate, specialising in media planning, along with a bachelor’s degree in mass media (advertising) from Birla College of Arts, Science & Commerce.
MUMBAI: Who needs a plot twist when your earnings season delivers one? Network18 has returned to the profit stage with a Q1 performance that reads more like a financial thriller than a media earnings report. For the quarter ended 30 June 2025, Network18 Media & Investments Limited reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 148.85 crore, reversing a net loss of Rs 195.36 crore from the same period last year. The surprise twist? A windfall from revaluing its stake in Eenadu Television Private Limited (ETPL), which contributed Rs 150.64 crore as an exceptional gain after ETPL ceased to be an associate effective 7 July 2025.
On a standalone basis, the plot thickens further Network18 clocked a net profit of Rs 516.17 crore, a sharp rebound from a loss of Rs 74.65 crore in Q1 FY25. This included an exceptional income of Rs 587.01 crore due to the revaluation of its 24.5 per cent stake in ETPL.
Operating revenue, however, told a more subdued tale. Consolidated revenue from operations came in at Rs 467.86 crore, down sharply from Rs 3,140.92 crore in the year-ago period. A large part of this decline stems from the exclusion of subsidiaries like Studio18 Media and Indiacast Media Distribution, which ceased to be part of the group in late 2024.
Expenses followed the trend, with total costs at Rs 550.12 crore, down from Rs 3,509.46 crore last year. Key cost heads like marketing and distribution (Rs 113.73 crore) and operational costs (Rs 100.30 crore) reflected the reshaped structure of the business.
The company’s earnings per share (EPS) swung from -Rs 0.82 last year to Rs 0.97 in the current quarter, highlighting the impact of exceptional items.
Among key line items, employee costs stood at Rs 185.61 crore, while finance cost came in at Rs 52.30 crore. The company recorded depreciation and amortisation expenses of Rs 34.12 crore, and reported other income of Rs 10.15 crore for the quarter.
In the fine print, the company noted that despite ETPL no longer being an associate, it retains economic interest in the 24.5 per cent equity stake. The financial results also include profits from joint ventures and associates, amounting to Rs 70.32 crore, further cushioning bottom line performance.
With cost optimisation, consolidation, and strategic divestments sharpening the focus, Network18 seems to be scripting a leaner, more profitable arc for FY26. Whether this is the start of a blockbuster run or a one-off cameo remains to be seen. But for now, the credits roll on a profitable note.
