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Category: News Headline

  • Dushyant Panda takes charge as VP marketing at Razorpay, adds SME business P&L to his plate

    Dushyant Panda takes charge as VP marketing at Razorpay, adds SME business P&L to his plate

    MUMBAI: Dushyant Panda has been elevated to vice president, marketing at Razorpay, while also taking the reins of the fintech giant’s SME business P&L. Known for blending brand-building brilliance with business acumen, Panda will now spearhead central marketing and drive growth across Razorpay’s core verticals—including Payments, POS, Engage, and Cross Border.

    In his new role, Panda wears multiple hats: brand custodian across units, growth leader for digital and performance marketing, and business builder with full ownership of SME revenues. He now commands the entire product marketing and creative ecosystem, bringing scale, swagger and sharp positioning to every Razorpay launch.

    Before this, he served as senior director, leading marketing for payments and the SME vertical. Panda joined Razorpay in 2021, quickly climbing the ranks from director of emerging business to now owning the company’s full-stack growth engine.

    A NestAway veteran and Kadence research alumnus, Panda began his career decoding consumer insights in southeast Asia. Now, with Razorpay’s rocket ship under his command, he’s out to turn marketing into a “true growth engine”—in his own words, “why settle for just one challenge?”

    The industry will be watching as Panda attempts to do what marketers rarely get to—run both the story and the store.

  • Care packages from maa, signed by Himalaya

    Care packages from maa, signed by Himalaya

    MUMBAI:  From soft lullabies to messy mealtimes, every mum knows: parenting is part instinct, part endurance and a whole lot of heart. Now, Himalaya Babycare, India’s No.1 doctor-prescribed baby care brand, is honouring this quiet strength with its new digital campaign, ‘Maa Ka Bharosa’.

    Rolling out across social media, the campaign comprises six digital video commercials (DVCs), each spotlighting a hero product from Gentle Baby Lotion to Baby Crème. But these aren’t your run-of-the-mill ads. Instead, they’re warm, slice-of-life vignettes that mirror what millions of mums do every day: massage, wash, soothe, repeat with unconditional trust.

    “These moments may seem ordinary, but they’re sacred,” says Himalaya Wellness Company director of Babycare Chakravarthi N V. “Through this campaign, we’re not just showcasing our products, we’re paying tribute to mothers who choose love and care in every routine.”

    And what are they choosing? Products packed with up to 99 per cent natural origin ingredients, pH 5.5 balance, and key Ayurvedic elements like olive oil, almond oil, and licorice. Each formulation is clinically tested, tear-free, and rooted in Kaumarabhritya the ancient Ayurvedic science of infant wellness.

    Importantly, Himalaya Babycare isn’t just mum-approved; it’s also pediatrician-endorsed, with products trusted by healthcare professionals for newborn use from day one.

    Whether it’s bath time or bedtime, the campaign reminds us that parenting isn’t powered by perfection, but by small, consistent rituals and the brands mums trust to carry them through.

    Because in the end, the best baby care isn’t just gentle on skin. It’s also gentle on a mother’s heart.

  • Keval Parekh cuts through the clutter with promotion to GM – eBusiness at Victorinox India

    Keval Parekh cuts through the clutter with promotion to GM – eBusiness at Victorinox India

    MUMBAI:  After over 15 years of sharpening Victorinox India’s digital chops, Keval Parekh has officially levelled up—taking charge as general manager – eBusiness at the premium Swiss brand’s Indian operations.

    A mainstay at Victorinox since 2010, Parekh has played a pivotal role in scaling the brand’s online presence—liaising with e-commerce giants, crafting sleek digital campaigns, and securing B2B deals with multinational corporates. From handling marketplace strategy to steering website development, he’s been the digital Swiss army knife the brand needed.

    Before his Victorinox innings, Parekh built his financial edge at ICICI Bank, where he drove forex solutions for multinationals and managed rural micro-banking initiatives. Earlier stints at Kewal Kiran Clothing and Print Electronics gave him his grounding in retail and B2B sales.

    Now, as GM – eBusiness, Parekh’s challenge will be to take Victorinox’s digital operations to the next gear—navigating a cluttered marketplace with the brand’s signature precision and flair.

    The message is clear: Victorinox isn’t just about sharp blades—it’s now about sharper digital growth.

  • Screen time gets smarter as Nielsen extends Inscape data pact

    Screen time gets smarter as Nielsen extends Inscape data pact

    MUMBAI:  As audiences juggle remotes across streaming, cable, and broadcast, Nielsen and Vizio’s Inscape have hit play on an extended multi-year partnership to keep a sharper eye on what viewers are actually tuning into. The duo first teamed up in 2022, and their renewed collaboration now promises even deeper insights powered by Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) tech from over 24 million Smart TVs.

    With media consumption growing more fragmented than ever, the new agreement helps Nielsen tap Inscape’s screen-level ACR data to track viewership irrespective of the source whether it’s a binge-worthy series on a streaming app, a late-night news bulletin, or that weekend movie on linear TV.

    “Consumers are watching content in more ways than ever before,” said Nielsen global head of content and syndicated products Michelle Gelman. “Inscape’s ACR data adds vital scale and granularity to help our clients reach audiences and measure ROI more effectively.”

    Inscape, the data division of Vizio, hasn’t been idle either. Over the past year, it has rolled out fresh capabilities like Tuner Data Solution, which brings big data insights to Over-the-Air (OTA) broadcasts, and Commercial Feed+, which integrates ad-level intelligence from streaming platforms. These upgrades are helping make sense of the ever-blurring lines between traditional and digital TV.

    Inscape, VP of data licensing and strategy Ken Norcross said the extended partnership reflects the market’s growing confidence in ACR-based insights. “This is a huge validation of the scale and sophistication of our dataset. Nielsen’s continued investment shows just how critical this kind of real-time, cross-platform intelligence has become,” he noted.

    With Nielsen’s measurement ecosystem now covering 75 million devices across CTV, digital, linear, and streaming this alliance with Inscape positions it to deliver more accurate cross-platform audience metrics in real-time.

    As the race to measure eyeballs evolves from channel ratings to content journeys, the Nielsen-Inscape tie-up ensures that media buyers, creators, and advertisers aren’t left in the dark no matter what screen viewers are glued to.

  • Zakir Khan hits the road with India’s biggest comedy tour ever

    Zakir Khan hits the road with India’s biggest comedy tour ever

    MUMBAI: In a blockbuster moment for India’s live entertainment scene, Only Much Louder (OML) and TribeVibe Entertainment, a BookMyShow enterprise, have inked a game-changing deal to roll out Zakir Khan’s biggest-ever stand-up tour—spanning more than 60 cities and reaching 160,000 fans.

    It’s not just the largest comedy tour by an Indian comedian, but also the single biggest deal ever signed in India’s comedy circuit, setting a precedent for scale, structure and star power.

    From metros to mofussils, this laughter caravan will traverse the length and breadth of India, proving that comedy isn’t just an urban indulgence anymore—it’s a mass cultural movement. The partnership blends Zakir’s magnetic stage presence and OML’s talent stewardship with BookMyShow’s data clout and TribeVibe’s grassroots muscle to deliver what could be India’s first truly nationwide comedy experience.

    Shoven Shah

    “This collaboration signals a new form of cultural consumption in India, one that is ambitious in scale, yet grounded in purpose. It’s not just about doing a 60-city tour; it’s about proving that India is ready to host and celebrate live entertainment at this scale across its full breadth. At TribeVibe, we’ve always believed in democratising access to great experiences and Zakir, through his authenticity and connection with audiences, is the perfect artist to lead this vision. Partnering with OML to bring this to life feels like a natural next step in the journey,” said TribeVibe Entertainment founder & CEO  Shoven Shah.

    Zakir Khan, meanwhile, is clear that this is about more than just laughs. “This isn’t just a personal milestone, it’s a celebration of how far Indian stand-up has come. I’m grateful to be doing this with partners who truly believe in the power of homegrown stories and the audiences who’ve made it all possible,” said Zakir. “This tour is not just about performing in 60 cities, it’s about taking the art of Indian stand-up to every corner of the country with the scale and seriousness it truly deserves. For years, we’ve dreamed of comedy being treated like mainstream entertainment, and this partnership is a massive step in that direction. I’ve always believed in building something bigger than myself, and this moment feels like that belief taking centre stage.”

    OML SVP Rishabh Nahar framed the tour as a bold blueprint. Said he: “This tour doesn’t just mark a milestone for Zakir, but serves as a blueprint for the future of Indian live entertainment, bringing live comedy to the cultural and geographic heart of the country. With this partnership, TribeVibe Entertainment and OML hope to lay the groundwork for a touring economy that mirrors the scale, sophistication and ambition of global markets, where data guides decisions, artists build legacies and where audiences everywhere have equal access to transformative cultural experiences.”

    With its eyes set on both major metros and Bharat’s backyards, the tour brings Indian comedy into its most ambitious phase yet.

    And if this deal’s anything to go by, the punchline is simple: local is going live, and laughter is going long haul.

    (Main Picture: Zakir Khan -centre – with the OML team)

  • Little Caesars gets bigger; lands in India, its 30th global market

    Little Caesars gets bigger; lands in India, its 30th global market

    MUMBAI:  It’s looking at getting a slice of the Indian ready-to-eat pizza market. Little Caesars, the world’s largest family-owned pizza chain, has officially entered India, firing up ovens for its first store in Delhi NCR this June. The move makes India the thirtieth country on its global map, as the Detroit-based brand continues its rapid rise across continents.

    Best known for its iconic Hot-n-ready pizzas, Crazy Bread and convenience-first formats like the Pizza Portal, the brand promises Indian pizza lovers a slice of the action that’s piping hot, pocket-friendly, and packed with flavour. But this isn’t just another import—Little Caesars is rolling out a customised India menu, marrying its American-style indulgence with local culinary punch.

    “With our delicious pizzas and unbeatable value, we’re eagerly anticipating introducing a unique menu that we believe will captivate India,” said Little Ceasers president global retail Paula Vissing. “Our mission has always been to offer delicious, high-quality food at exceptional prices, and we can’t wait to introduce Little Caesars to families, students, and busy professionals throughout India.”

    Spearheading the brand’s Indian innings is Harnessing Harvest, a powerhouse franchisee backed by nearly 90 years in Indian hospitality and a recent billion-dollar valuation. The company brings deep market savvy and a finger firmly on the pulse of evolving desi tastes, ensuring that Little Caesars doesn’t just land—it localises.

    The Delhi NCR store is just the appetiser, with a wider India expansion already on the menu. With rising incomes and a growing appetite for global flavours, India’s fast-food game is heating up—and Little Caesars looks ready to bite into the action.

    Having recently set up shop in Cambodia and Kuwait, Little Caesars’ India launch signals the brand’s growing global ambition. And with Detroit roots, a $150 billion pizza industry, and over six decades of dough mastery behind it, this is one pizza chain that’s not afraid to travel far and wide for a bigger piece of Bharat

  • Sheet happens when teams can’t tell stories with data, finds Canva

    Sheet happens when teams can’t tell stories with data, finds Canva

    MUMBAI: Not all spreadsheet drama starts with macros. A new report by Canva titled Beyond the Numbers: How Data Storytelling Redefines Communication reveals that while India’s marketing and sales teams claim confidence with data, many fall flat when it comes to transforming numbers into narratives that actually persuade.

    Based on a global survey of 2,457 professionals including 313 from India the report spotlights a stark confidence-competence gap. A whopping 96 per cent of Indian respondents say they’re confident working with data, but only 66 per cent feel prepared to begin a data-heavy task. And while 92 per cent feel good about analysing and interpreting data, 74 per cent admit spreadsheet mistakes impact their work.

    From formula phobia to interpretation anxiety, it’s clear that data literacy training (offered by 81 per cent of Indian organisations) isn’t fully doing the trick. In fact, 80 per cent still experience data-related stress, and 45 per cent avoid working with data altogether despite recognising its value.

    It’s not just a question of skill, it’s one of storytelling. Nearly 97 per cent of Indian respondents work with data weekly, and 95 per cent say data literacy is expected in their role. But 44 per cent still struggle to visualise data effectively even though 96 per cent agree visuals boost credibility and make them more confident when presenting.

    The disconnect lies in outdated tools and scattered processes. 58 per cent of Indian respondents find switching between data tools confusing, and 96 per cent are eager for simpler visualisation platforms. 49 per cent are willing to spend up to three hours learning new solutions, while 91 per cent believe AI could help automate tedious tasks and enhance visualisation though scepticism remains about accuracy and creativity.

    “Working with data shouldn’t be confined to specialists,” said Canva head of EMEA Duncan Clark. “The goal isn’t to make everyone a data scientist, but to empower teams to turn numbers into compelling stories because data alone doesn’t move people, stories do.”

    With decision-making becoming more data-driven across the board 91 per cent say their organisation’s reliance on data has increased in the last two years the need for better storytelling is no longer optional. Canva’s own tools like Canva Sheets and advanced visualisation features aim to bridge this gap, making storytelling as intuitive as a drag-and-drop design.

    As teams wrestle with complex spreadsheets and campaign KPIs, one thing’s clear: the next big business differentiator isn’t just data, it’s the story you tell with it.

  • Pixel perfect on the go as Photoshop beta lands on Android

    Pixel perfect on the go as Photoshop beta lands on Android

    MUMBAI: Your pocket just got a whole lot more powerful. Adobe has officially rolled out the Photoshop (beta) app for Android users, letting anyone with a compatible smartphone tap into the magic of masking, layering, and Firefly-powered Generative Fill, no desktop required. And here’s the real kicker: during the beta phase, it’s completely free.

    Available now on Google Play for devices running Android 11 or later (with at least 6GB of RAM, though 8GB is recommended), Photoshop’s mobile debut is a sleek and simplified reimagining of its desktop heavyweight. Think intuitive design meets creative muscle ideal for everyone from on-the-go pros to curious first-timers.

    So, what’s in the toolbox? A surprisingly robust range of features, including:

    1    Layer and mask tools to blend and composite like a pro

    2    Tap Select, Magic Wand, and Object Select for quick, precise edits

    3    Spot Healing Brush and Clone Stamp to brush away visual hiccups

    4    The star of the show: Generative Fill, powered by Adobe Firefly, for adding or transforming elements with a text prompt

    5    Access to free Adobe Stock assets for extra flair

    Whether you’re dreaming up a YouTube thumbnail, polishing cover art, or just editing your next profile pic, Photoshop mobile brings real editing power to your fingertips literally. Users can also dive into in-app tutorials, explore the Adobe Inspiration Hub, and share ideas or seek support via the Photoshop community forums.

    While the iOS version of Photoshop is already available worldwide via the Apple App Store, Android’s beta launch signals Adobe’s commitment to democratising creativity, one swipe at a time.

    Ready to brush up your skills? The app is now live on Google Play because creativity doesn’t wait for a desk.

  • Bisleri makes a splash in MEA with thirst-quenching Apparel deal

    Bisleri makes a splash in MEA with thirst-quenching Apparel deal

    MUMBAI: Water you waiting for, Middle East and Africa? Bisleri International has just uncapped a major partnership with Dubai-based Apparel Group, setting the stage for a regional beverage boom. The strategic alliance will see Bisleri’s much-loved portfolio ranging from its iconic packaged water to its fizzy favourites manufactured, marketed and distributed across MEA, starting with the UAE in 2025.

    With a legacy that’s been hydrating India for over 50 years, Bisleri has long held the top spot in the country’s packaged water market. Its product range includes not just the flagship water bottle, but also the premium Vedica Himalayan spring water, and aerated offerings like Limonata, POP, Spyci Jeera, Rev, and Soda. Currently, it operates 128 manufacturing centres and reaches over 500,000 outlets in India alone plus it already has a UAE presence, having backed events like the Dubai Marathon.

    “The Middle East and Africa markets represent significant opportunity for value creation,” said Bisleri International CEO  Angelo George. “With a large Indian diaspora already familiar with our brands and Apparel Group’s consumer expertise in the region, the match is just right.”

    Founded in 1996, the Apparel Group is no lightweight. The retail behemoth runs 85 plus brands and 2,300 plus stores across 14 countries, supported by a workforce of 25,000. Now, they’re ready to add hydration to their retail portfolio.

    Apparel Group CEO Neeraj Teckchandani called the tie-up a “strategic milestone” that aligns with the Group’s ambition to diversify and scale. “We see this as a long-term, value-driven collaboration that redefines beverage retail in the region,” he added.

    With fizzy ambitions and deep-pocketed partners, Bisleri’s Middle East expansion is anything but a drop in the ocean. It’s a sign that the Indian refreshment giant is thirsty for more and ready to bottle global growth.

  • Spa-ce to grow as Meghavi Wellness bags fastest-growing company title

    Spa-ce to grow as Meghavi Wellness bags fastest-growing company title

    MUMBAI: When wellness becomes a way of life and not just a weekend indulgence, it’s bound to turn heads. And Meghavi Wellness Spa has clearly been doing just that. The premium spa chain has just clinched the coveted ‘Fastest Growing Indian Company Excellence Award’ at the International Achievers Conference (IAC), held in New Delhi on 31 May 2025. The award was presented by minister of state for social justice & empowerment Ramdas Athawale,  during a national seminar themed around “Individual Achievements & National Development – Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

    With a wellness footprint that’s rapidly expanding across metro and Tier-2 cities, Meghavi Wellness is redefining what a spa experience feels like in modern India. Think Ayurvedic tradition meets scientific precision with just the right dose of luxe. From ancient healing techniques to high-end tech-backed therapies, the brand is creating what it calls “accessible luxury” in the self-care space.

    “This honour is more than an award, it’s a reflection of our belief that wellness has the power to transform lives,” said Meghavi Wellness co-founders Megha Dinesh and Prashant Jain. “We’re building a brand that puts empathy and authenticity at the heart of self-care.”

    The award couldn’t come at a better time. With India’s wellness economy booming fuelled by a growing appetite for preventive health, holistic treatments and lifestyle-driven care Meghavi Wellness is tapping into a sweet spot between ancient wisdom and modern well-being. And judging by the speed of its growth, they’re getting the formula just right.

    As it sets its sights on new cities, upgraded offerings, and deeper customer engagement, this recognition isn’t just a feather in its cap, it’s a clear marker that Meghavi’s mindful march to the top has only just begun.