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Ad Man for All Seasons Enters the Hall of Fame at AdAsia Beijing

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MUMBAI: In a world where ad campaigns come and go with the seasons, one man has managed to make his impact timeless. Srinivasan Swamy, chairman of R K Swamy ltd., was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) at the grand AdAsia Beijing, joining an elite circle of legends who’ve defined the region’s advertising landscape.

The honour AFAA’s highest recognition was presented by Raymond So, immediate past president of AFAA, in the presence of delegates from 32 countries, each applauding a career that has shaped not just Indian advertising, but global marcom thinking.

For over 40 years, Swamy has been more than an adman, he’s been an architect of industry institutions. The citation, read before a full house, traced a remarkable career spent leading and building one of India’s largest integrated marketing groups, the R K Swamy Hansa group, which he has helmed for over 25 years.

But his legacy stretches far beyond boardrooms. Swamy has steered nearly every major advertising and marketing body worth its acronym AFAA, IAA, CAAAA, AAAI, ASCI, ABC, AIMA, and more with distinction, diplomacy and a deep sense of purpose.

He’s been President of the India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) for an unprecedented four years, President of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) for a record three consecutive terms (and now, re-elected again in 2025), Chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC), and even President of the All India Management Association (AIMA).

And that’s not counting his presidencies at the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Madras Management Association, and the Advertising Club Madras, where he remains a beloved mentor and fixture.

Swamy’s fingerprints are on some of the most defining industry moments from the birth of GoaFest, the country’s biggest celebration of creativity, to the IAA World Congress 2019, the IAA Silver Jubilee Summit in Kochi, multiple editions of the CII International Brand Summit, and the AIMA World Marketing Congress.

Each of these events, powered by Swamy’s vision, cemented India’s stature on the global advertising map. His leadership style, a mix of quiet conviction and unflagging optimism has turned committees into communities and conferences into milestones.

Swamy’s shelf of awards could fill a museum and each comes with a story of grit, growth and generosity.

He’s the only Indian to have received the Award of Appreciation from the Japan Advertising Association, the IAA Global Compass Award, and the AdStar Korea Lifetime Honour Award rare distinctions that underscore his global influence.

Add to that the AFAA Special Merit Award, the IAA Inspire Champion Award, the IAA North Star Medal, Honorary Life Fellowship from AIMA, Lifetime Achievement Awards from AAAI, Rotary Club of Guindy, and Indira Institutions, and it’s clear the industry has been applauding his impact for years.

Even his alma mater, Alagappa College of Technology, honoured him with a Distinguished Alumni Award during its Platinum Jubilee celebrations, a homecoming moment that completed the circle.

But what sets Swamy apart isn’t just the positions he’s held, it’s the purpose behind them. His contributions extend to education, healthcare, culture, and community development, where he has quietly but consistently supported institutions and causes that build social capital alongside business growth.

Colleagues often describe him as “approachable yet awe-inspiring,” a man whose friendly demeanour, wise counsel, and willingness to help have earned him as much affection as admiration. In an industry known for its egos, Swamy’s humility stands out like a perfectly written headline simple, powerful, and memorable.

As AFAA conferred its Hall of Fame honour, the applause in Beijing carried a sense of inevitability. Here was a man who didn’t just witness the evolution of Indian advertising he helped write its script, one association, one reform, one landmark event at a time.

Swamy’s story mirrors the evolution of India’s creative economy itself: rooted in Madras, reaching the world, powered by persistence and propelled by purpose.

In an industry built on ideas that sell, his greatest idea has been service to the profession, to people, and to progress.

So, what do you call an adman who’s outlived every campaign, outperformed every title, and outshone every accolade? In the language of advertising, a timeless brand. And as Srinivasan Swamy takes his rightful place in the AFAA Hall of Fame, one thing’s clear: legends don’t retire, they just find better placement.

 

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Delhivery chairman Deepak Kapoor, independent director Saugata Gupta quit board

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Gurugram: Delhivery’s boardroom is being reset. Deepak Kapoor, chairman and independent director, has resigned with effect from April 1 as part of a planned board reconstitution, the logistics company said in an exchange filing. Saugata Gupta, managing director and chief executive of FMCG major Marico and an independent director on Delhivery’s board, has also stepped down.

Kapoor exits after an eight-year stint that included steering the company through its 2022 stock-market debut, a period that saw Delhivery transform from a venture-backed upstart into one of India’s most visible logistics platforms. Gupta, who joined the board in 2021, departs alongside him, marking a simultaneous clearing of two senior independent seats.

“Deepak and Saugata have been instrumental in our process of recognising the need for and enabling the reconstitution of the board of directors in line with our ambitious next phase of growth,” said Sahil Barua, managing director and chief executive, Delhivery. The statement frames the exits less as departures and more as deliberate succession, a boardroom shuffle timed to the company’s evolving scale and strategy.

The resignations arrive amid broader governance recalibration. In 2025, Delhivery appointed Emcure Pharmaceuticals whole-time director Namita Thapar, PB Fintech founder and chairman Yashish Dahiya, and IIM Bangalore faculty member Padmini Srinivasan as independent directors, signalling a tilt towards consumer, fintech and academic expertise at the board level.

Kapoor’s tenure spanned Delhivery’s most defining years, rapid network expansion, public listing and the push towards profitability in a bruising logistics market. Gupta’s presence brought FMCG and brand-scale perspective during a period when ecommerce volumes and last-mile delivery economics were being rewritten.

The twin exits, effective from the new financial year, underscore a familiar corporate rhythm: founders consolidate, veterans rotate out, and fresh voices are ushered in to script the next chapter. In India’s hyper-competitive logistics race, even the boardroom does not stand still.

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Brnd.me enters Europe as haircare brands power global expansion

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Bengaluru:  Brnd.me, the global consumer brands company formerly known as Mensa Brands, has entered the European market following strong momentum across the Middle East, the United States and Canada.

The company has launched across the UK, Germany, France and Spain, with plans to expand into Italy, the Netherlands and Poland over the next year. The push is being led by its haircare and aromatherapy brands, Botanic Hearth and Majestic Pure, marking Brnd.me’s first structured expansion into Europe.

The European beauty market represents a total addressable opportunity of over $4 billion across haircare and aromatherapy, supported by high digital adoption and demand for accessible, performance-led products.

Brnd.me’s hair care and aromatherapy business currently operates at an annual run rate of around $6 million, with Botanic Hearth and Majestic Pure delivering roughly 10 per cent month-on-month growth, driven by expansion and rising repeat demand.

To support regional growth, the company has appointed a general manager based in Germany and is evaluating investments in warehousing and local team expansion.

Early traction has been strong. Within weeks of launch, Botanic Hearth’s rosemary hair oil ranked among the top five hair oils in Germany, signalling strong consumer pull in a competitive market.

Brnd.me founder and chief executive officer Ananth Narayanan, said Europe represents the next phase of the company’s international strategy. He added that the European business is expected to scale to a $10 million annual run rate by the end of 2026, with long-term ambitions to reach $60 million over the next six years.

The company’s Europe strategy centres on digital-first distribution, repeat demand and TikTok-led discovery, alongside direct-to-consumer expansion to strengthen brand equity and margins.

The move also aligns with growing EU–India trade engagement, supporting long-term sourcing and cross-border supply chains.

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TechnoSport taps quick commerce with launch on Slikk’s 60-minute platform

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NATIONAL: TechnoSport has launched on Slikk, the ultra-fast fashion app offering 60-minute delivery, as the activewear brand accelerates its push into quick commerce to capture Gen Z and young millennial shoppers.

The debut brings more than 150 high-performance styles to Slikk’s platform, with an average selling price of Rs 450, expanding TechnoSport’s reach across over 80 pin codes.

The partnership follows strong momentum for TechnoSport across Q-commerce channels, where the brand has recorded around 60 per cent volume growth over the past six months. The company expects quick commerce to contribute nearly 20 per cent of its revenue in the coming years as hyperlocal delivery gains scale.

Slikk, which recently raised $3.2 million in seed funding led by Lightspeed, has rapidly gained popularity among youth consumers seeking speed, trend relevance and impulse-led shopping experiences.

Activewear remains one of Slikk’s fastest-growing categories, driven by shoppers increasingly treating fitness-led fashion as an everyday essential. The platform has reported a 30-fold year-on-year increase in items sold, reflecting rising demand for performance wear that blends comfort with style.

TechnoSport chief executive officer Puspen Maity, said the collaboration would help the brand engage more closely with young consumers whose fashion choices are shaped by instant needs and lifestyle aspirations. He added that rapid delivery bridges the gap between intent and purchase, allowing shoppers to access activewear exactly when they want it.

 

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