MUMBAI: Franklin Templeton India has elevated Kunal Wanvari to senior brand and digital marketing manager, signalling a continued push towards data-driven brand building and digital-first engagement in a crowded asset management market.

Wanvari has spent nearly eight years with Franklin Templeton India, steadily rising through the marketing ranks. Prior to this role, he served as marketing manager and assistant marketing manager, working across brand strategy, content, digital media and campaign execution from the firm’s Mumbai office.

Before joining Franklin Templeton, Wanvari built his digital credentials at WATConsult, where he handled brand strategy and account leadership roles, and earlier at Kush Infosystems, focusing on SEO and performance marketing. His career began in sales and marketing roles, giving him a ground-up understanding of commercial storytelling.

A computer engineer by training with deep digital marketing expertise, Wanvari’s elevation reflects Franklin Templeton’s bet on hybrid marketers—equal parts brand, data and digital—as competition for investor attention intensifies.

BENGALURU: Infosys has appointed Kisha Gupta as its new global head of brand, a move that highlights both her remarkable journey within the company and her unique approach to leadership. Having spent more than 13 years at Infosys, Gupta brings to the role a wealth of experience spanning brand building, academic relations, and large-scale event management. She assumes the position with a commitment to creativity, purpose, and heart, promising to steer Infosys’ global brand with care and vision.

Gupta’s career at Infosys is notable not just for its longevity but for the breadth of her impact. Since 2016, she has led the company’s global academic relations, collaborating directly with Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy on flagship initiatives like InStep, the company’s global internship programme. Each year, InStep welcomes over 250 interns from more than 50 nationalities, offering them a chance to gain hands-on experience and exposure to cutting-edge technology projects. Beyond internships, Gupta has built strong networks with students, professors, deans, and chancellors from the world’s top 200 universities, positioning Infosys as a thought leader in global academia.

Her contributions extend to brand strategy and visibility, having designed social media campaigns, reviewed creative content, and represented Infosys at over 200 international events. She has also overseen large-scale corporate events, including Confluence and Connect, and led the redesign of Infosys’ marketing floor to foster collaboration and agile working. This combination of strategic oversight and hands-on execution has made her a trusted figure within Infosys leadership, reporting directly to the CMO and working closely with the board and founders.

Beyond Infosys, Gupta has played a key role in nurturing the next generation of global leaders. As Chairperson of Aiesec in India, she works to provide students with opportunities for cross-cultural learning and to foster a more inclusive, diverse workforce. She has also attended the prestigious Stanford Graduate School of Business Ignite Program, further honing her business acumen and leadership skills.

Reflecting on her new role, Gupta expressed gratitude to mentors, colleagues, and her predecessor for their support. “If you are reading this, chances are you have played a part in my journey. That makes this moment as much yours as it is mine,” she wrote. With her proven track record in brand building, academia, and global engagement, Kisha Gupta is poised to take Infosys’ brand to new heights, blending creativity, purpose, and human touch in every initiative.
 

MUMBAI: Cognizant has promoted Nishanth Ramesh to director, marking a significant milestone in a 17-year career spent entirely within the organisation. The elevation follows seven successive promotions, underscoring a steady rise through consulting, strategy and business leadership roles across service lines and global markets.

Reacting to the promotion, Ramesh said he was grateful for the platform the company had provided. “Excited to share my promotion to director at Cognizant. For someone who started as a campus fresher, achieving seven elevations over 17 years would not have been possible without the opportunities this organisation offers,” he said. He added that his progression was shaped by “continuous learning and unlearning, adaptability across diverse roles, strong collaboration, and a sharp focus on execution that turns strategy into results”.

In his current role as director for strategy, Ramesh is responsible for designing and institutionalising Cognizant’s strategy office, translating high-level corporate objectives into measurable market share and mindshare outcomes. His mandate includes integrated service line strategy, executive alignment through quarterly business reviews, identification of high-impact growth bets, and strengthening analyst and advisor governance to ensure disciplined investment and returns.

Ramesh also acknowledged the role of mentorship in his journey. “Poornima Sathy opened doors, created a safe space to grow and led with empathy. My elevation is a direct tribute to her mentorship,” he said, while thanking Annadurai Elango for his “execution-focused leadership, guidance and support”. He also expressed gratitude to his teams and colleagues for their continued collaboration.