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Tag: appointment

  • Vanaja Pillai to head of diversity, inclusion and impact at DDB Mudra

    Vanaja Pillai to head of diversity, inclusion and impact at DDB Mudra

    Mumbai: DDB Mudra Group has announced the elevation of Vanaja Pillai as head of diversity, inclusion and impact, underscoring the company’s commitment to embedding diversity, equity and inclusion in its people and business strategy.

    Pillai was the driving force behind the Phyllis India Project, a comprehensive and intense leadership development program to help prepare DDB’s women talent for leadership.

    “Vanaja’s work on the Phyllis India program has been applauded across DDB’s borders and is a brilliant example of senior leadership driving actionable change in advancing DEI within the DDB family,” stated DDB Worldwide chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer Nikki Lamba. “We are excited about her taking on this larger mandate and bringing DEI to the heart of our business, people and product strategies in India.”    

    In her expanded role, she will work closely with CEO and MD Aditya Kanthy and HR head Rita Verma on initiatives to grow a diverse and inclusive workplace, including talent acquisition, retention, training and outreach to talent in underrepresented communities. Pillai will also lead the creation and delivery of effective growth and development opportunities rooted in the company’s purpose and growth strategy, said the statement.

    “To compete in our times, we need to take a critical view of every aspect of our business. Our approach to talent and culture included,” commented Aditya Kanthy. “There is much to do in this area, and Vanaja is just the right person to lead us to success. This work, with the Group’s effort as a global network, will bring in diverse voices to help shape workplace culture and brand communication of the future.”

    “It has been an exhilarating journey, from the intent of creating an India chapter for the Phyllis Project, to having the first batch graduate last week,” Vanaja Pillai said, speaking on her extended role. “The bar has been set high for every challenge we pick up from hereon. Over the next year we will focus on a select set of DEI goals and approach them with the same rigour and passion that made the Phyllis India Project what it is today. From an overall talent perspective, the pandemic made us even more aware of the need for constantly focusing on people and their growth.”

  • Gautam Bhattacharya appointed as editor of Zee 24 Ghanta

    Gautam Bhattacharya appointed as editor of Zee 24 Ghanta

    Mumbai: Zee Media Corp has announced the appointment of Gautam Bhattacharya as editor of Zee 24 Ghanta. In this new role, he will oversee the input and output of all content for the channel to drive its growth.

    Bhattacharya is one of the most respected and renowned sports journalists in the country. His unique content style is sure to enrich the news consumption experience of the Bengali audience.

    “Gautam’s wealth of experience will make Zee 24 Ghanta stronger. He is a known face in the industry who always leads from the front, and we have immense confidence in him,” remarked Zee 24 Ghanta’s CEO Purushottam Vaishnava. “With the joining of Gautam Bhattacharya, we are equipped with one of the most robust regional teams. The channel is already undergoing a few changes in content and Gautam could not have joined at a better time.”

    “We are excited to have Gautam on board,” said Zee Media Corp CRO Abhay Ojha. “His varied experience will help in curating a viewing experience unparalleled in the Bengal news industry. This will also help us drive the revenue growth projected for the channel.”

    Currently, Zee 24 Ghanta is on a fresh route to rediscover the true essence of news in the increasing clutter. Dedicated to keeping the people of Bengal abreast with the latest happenings, factual reporting, and in-depth analysis, the channel is one of the key news channels in the regional news space.

  • Orangutan signs Rooter as its official streaming partner

    Orangutan signs Rooter as its official streaming partner

    Mumbai: Orangutan Gaming has joined hands with Rooter as its official streaming partner. Both brands are committed to accelerating the growth of e-sports in India together.

    This partnership was announced with the hashtag #RootForOrangutan along with a series of fun videos starring the FreeFire and BGMI athletes from Orangutan.

    “The brands hope to provide the finest quality streams and content as a result of this collaboration,” said the statement.

    Orangutan will now be co-powered by Rooter, which will also be featured on the Orangutan’s official team jersey. To which the athletes of Orangutan gaming will exclusively stream on Rooter and entertain their fans with various unique content. Fun and entertaining streams for their followers, as well as streaming other competitions on their Rooter accounts.

     
     
     

     
     
     
     
     

     
     

     
     
     

     
     

    A post shared by Orangutan (@orangutan.gg)

    “If skills are an athlete’s weapon, then fans are their armor. Partnering with India’s largest broadcasting and gaming platform will bring the ape army closer together, by connecting them to their favorite athletes,” commented Orangutan co-founder and head of partnerships Jai Shah. “This will help us build a stronger community and we certainly know that the best is around the corner.”

    “We are ecstatic to announce our partnership with Orangutan, which has one of the most exciting rosters across BGMI, Valorant and other games,” remarked Rooter co-founder and COO Piyush Kumar. “It’s amazing to see how they have grown over the last few months to become one of the most popular teams in the country. This will open up new opportunities for both Rooter & Orangutan to create new content for our users on the platform.”

  • LV Vaidyanathan elevated as P&G India CEO

    LV Vaidyanathan elevated as P&G India CEO

    Mumbai: Procter & Gamble (P&G) on Tuesday announced that LV Vaidyanathan will take over as chief executive officer for its operations in India from 1 July.

    Vaidyanathan will take over from Madhusudan Gopalan, who is going to take on an important leadership role within P&G as senior vice president – grooming & oral care, P&G Japan & Korea. During his four-year tenure at the helm of P&G India, Madhusudan led the transformation of the business to consistently deliver sustainable top and bottom-line growth, according to the company.

    An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, Vaidyanathan started his journey with P&G in 1995 as an intern and joined the India Sales team straight from campus in 1996. He has more than 26 years of experience across diverse geographies and cultures like India and ASEAN countries including Singapore, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. He is currently leading the P&G business in Indonesia as CEO where he has been responsible for industry-leading growth and value creation for the company. Under his leadership, the Indonesian business has transformed to become value accretive for the parent company and has overtaken a formidable competitor in the market by turning around the share gap in the last four years. A passionate advocate for Equality and Inclusion, under his leadership, P&G has achieved the milestone of having 50 per cent women representation in their leadership team, the company shared. Vaidyanathan has also served as the chairman of Indonesia Chapter of US ASEAN Business Council.

    “It is a moment of great pride for me to come back to India and spearhead the P&G business,” said LV Vaidyanathan. “I am looking forward to being back in the market, learning more about the Indian consumers and serving their needs. For us, going forward, it will be important to continue the focus on our strategy which is delivering consistent results. We will continue to drive productivity improvements to fund investments in innovation and help drive balanced top-and bottom-line growth. As a focused and agile and accountable organisation operating at the speed of the market, we will also aim to lead constructive disruption across the value chain in the industry.”

    Madhusudan has been heavily invested in developing young Indian talent and grooming Indian talent for international roles within the company. Under his leadership, the company launched its ‘P&G Suraksha India’ program towards Covid relief where it contributed towards vaccine doses, oxygen concentrators, masks, and sanitizers for the protection of frontline workers and underprivileged communities. He has been instrumental in sharpening the company’s focus on environmental sustainability and P&G recently became one of the first FMCG companies in the country to achieve ‘plastic packaging waste neutrality,’ stated the FMCG major.

    “It has been a great honour to lead the P&G business in India, my home country where I started my P&G career. The four-year journey has been an enriching and rewarding one and I’m proud of what we have achieved together as the India team. I am delighted with the appointment of LV Vaidyanathan as my successor, one of India’s home-grown talents who I firmly believe has the right expertise to lead the growth of our business in India in the years to come. I am confident that he will continue to lead the P&G India business to greater heights and in turn, incrementally contribute to the overall growth for the parent company,” said Madhusudan Gopalan.

    “I want to thank Madhusudan for his outstanding leadership of the India organisation over the last four years and the transformation of the business to delivering consistent balanced growth and value creation,” P&G president for Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa Magesvaran Suranjan said. “Not only has his leadership been exemplary to guide the company through the pandemic, but he is also leaving the business well-positioned to win in India for years to come. I am thrilled with LV Vaidyanathan’s appointment as the India CEO, who has been an integral part of the P&G growth story for well over two decades. The moves for both Madhusudan and LV are testament to the strength of Indian talent and India’s importance as a talent factory for P&G globally.”

  • Wholsum Foods brings in Anushka Sharma as investor & brand ambassador

    Wholsum Foods brings in Anushka Sharma as investor & brand ambassador

    Mumbai: Millet-based startup Wholsum Foods on Tuesday announced the onboarding of Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma. As part of this strategic partnership, Sharma will serve as investor, brand ambassador and advocate for flagship brand Slurrp Farm, and all future brands from Wholsum Foods, it said. 

    Wholsum Foods was founded in 2016 with the launch of Slurrp Farm, a brand that draws on the power of millets to provide healthy, yummy options for young children and  parents. The brand currently clocks in Rs 55 crore of revenue run rate and aims to reach Rs 150 crore annual revenue run rate in March 2023. Sharma’s investment comes soon after a $ seven million funding round led by Investment Corp of Dubai, the sovereign wealth fund of the Government of Dubai, and Indian multi-stage venture fund Fireside Ventures, according to the statement.

    “Ahead of the International Year of Millets in 2023, we couldn’t have asked for anyone better than Anushka Sharma on board with us as we take millets to the world. The partnership is an important milestone as we build Wholsum Foods into a house of brands that makes food better for us and for the planet,” stated Wholsum Foods Pvt Ltd co-founders and co-CEOs Meghana Narayan and Shauravi Malik.  

    “Sharma is a lifelong advocate of healthy, conscious choices. Now as a new mom herself, her values strongly align with that of Wholsum Foods’ core purpose – developing millet-based products with zero junk ingredients that are better for us and our planet. The investment comes at a time when consumers across the world are rediscovering the wisdom of ancient Indian millets like ragi, jowar, and bajra,” said the brand in a statement.

    “I’ve always believed you are what you eat – real, wholesome, sustainable food choices go a long way in setting the tone for a healthy and happy life. It’s a realisation that hit home even harder after I became a mother – I want my daughter to develop a healthy relationship with food and I have to start her on that journey early on,” shared Anushka Sharma. “Wholsum Foods was started by two mothers so their mission to unjunk the plates of kids and families across the world resonates with me strongly.”  

    Wholsum Foods’ flagship brand Slurrp Farm currently retails in India via slurrpfarm.com as well as through leading e-commerce and quick commerce platforms such as Amazon, Big Basket, First Cry, and Swiggy Instamart amongst others. Products are also available across leading modern trade stores in India and the UAE as well as online in the US and UK.  

  • Khadim onboards Shardul Thakur as brand ambassador

    Khadim onboards Shardul Thakur as brand ambassador

    Mumbai: Homegrown footwear brand Khadim has announced the onboarding of cricketer Shardul Thakur as its new brand ambassador. The brand has also launched its new marketing campaign called ‘It’s Wow It’s Khadim.’

    Thakur, a bowling all-rounder has been representing the international men’s cricket team across all formats since making his debut in 2017. He’s also signed with Delhi Capitals for the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League. “Shardul’s popularity as a cricketer especially with gen-Z and millennials is what the brand is looking at capitalising on to expand its footprint across the country,” said the statement. 

    “The campaign seeks to highlight the new fashionable range of products, the refreshed in-store experience and reinforce the affordable price point,” stated Khadim India Ltd CEO Namrata Ashok Chotrani. “The trinity will deliver the delightful ‘It’s Wow It’s Khadim’ experience to consumers. The campaign is being heavily promoted on digital platforms with a focus on select markets. Apart from the media, the association will also be extended to instore, retail, and consumer touchpoints.”

  • L&K Saatchi & Saatchi appoints Avinash Jakhalekar as group creative director

    L&K Saatchi & Saatchi appoints Avinash Jakhalekar as group creative director

    Mumbai: Integrated business and brand growth agency L&K Saatchi & Saatchi has appointed Avinash Jakhalekar as group creative director. In this role, he will be based out of Mumbai and report to L&K Saatchi & Saatchi jt NCD Kartik Smetacek, the agency said on Tuesday.

    Over his 14-year professional career stint, Jakhalekar has worked across Lowe Lintas, Publicis Ambience, DDB Mudra and Network Advertising in various creative roles. After spending three years at Network Advertising, he moved on to DDB Mudra where he managed creatives on brands like Top Gear & Lavasa. His next career move was with Publicis Ambience as senior creative director – art where he worked on brands like Zee TV, Nerolac, Skoda, Citibank, SonyLIV, Brand Factory etc. He then moved on to Lowe Lintas where he was associated with brands like Mumbai Indians, Ultra Tech, Jameson Whiskey, ICICI Pru, Freecharge etc.

    Welcoming him to the agency, Kartik Smetacek said, “Avinash embodies the perfect qualities that I look for in creative person – equal parts talent, energy and resilience. We’re thrilled to have him aboard and look forward to him putting his amazing craft and can-do attitude to work on some of our key businesses.”

    Jakhalekar has managed creative output and rendition for a host of brands across agencies including UltraTech, Mumbai Indians, ICIC Pru, Zee TV, Citibank, Skoda, MX Player, Brand Factory, Burger King, Nerolac Paints among others.  

    Some of his work for brands like Lions Club, Yolo Homes, Natural Ice-cream, Zee TV etc. have gone on to win accolades at prominent award festivals like Goafest Abby, Effie India etc.

    Speaking on his role and responsibility at L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, Jakhalekar said, “It’s an exciting opportunity to be working for an agency that has been making heads turn with its noteworthy work over the past two years. The entrepreneurial spirit within the agency is one of the reasons that made me want to join. I can’t wait to get started and work alongside a fantastic team in producing some great work.”

  • Vinit Kumar named as Madison Media Plus VP

    Vinit Kumar named as Madison Media Plus VP

    Mumbai: Madison Media on Monday announced the appointment of Vinit Kumar as vice president of Madison Media Plus. Based in Delhi, Kumar will report to Madison Media Plus COO Abhik Banerjee.

    Kumar has over 16 years of experience in facets of media ranging from integrated marketing communications, strategy, digital marketing and analytics. Prior to joining Madison, he worked with Zenith Media, Mindshare, Lintas Media Group and HCL. 

    This will be Kumar’s second stint with Madison. Previously, he served as general manager in the agency’s Delhi and Kolkata offices handling ITC, according to the statement.

    “We are glad to have Vinit back on board. Having worked for various FMCG segments, he brings a wealth of experience to Madison. I am confident that we will be able to take our Delhi office to the next level with new business and continue to delight the existing clients,” said Abhik Banerjee.

    “I am excited to be joining Madison Media back and look forward to contributing to the organisation in my new role and responsibilities,” said Kumar. “My hopes and expectations are high as I look forward to the challenges and opportunities Madison Media and its clients will provide me and unlock our clients’ growth by leveraging data, tech and talent.” 

    Apart from his bachelors and masters degrees, Kumar upskilled himself by acquiring a post graduate diploma in general management from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta and digital marketing and communications from MICA.

  • Air India rejig: N Chandrasekaran brings in key Tata Group personnel

    Air India rejig: N Chandrasekaran brings in key Tata Group personnel

    Mumbai: Tata Sons executive chairman and Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran on Saturday affected a major reshuffle in the top management of the recently-acquired airline in what is Air India’s first major senior management reshuffle since it was taken over by the conglomerate in January this year. Tata Sons senior vice president Nipun Aggarwal replaces Air India veteran Meenakshi Malik as chief commercial officer, while former Tata Steel VP- human resources Suresh Dutt Tripathi succeeds AI’s Amrita Sharan as chief human resources officer (CHRO).

    Notably, the Tata Group is yet to appoint a chief executive officer of the airline.

    The order was issued by Chandrasekaran, who is also the chairman of Tata Sons and comes on the back of the announcement of Tata Sons executive chairman N Chandrasekaran formally taking charge as chairman of Tata Digital earlier this week. He was reappointed as the chairman of Tata Sons for another five years in February this year.

    Malik and Sharan were on Friday appointed as advisors to the CEO of Air India, according to a company communication to PTI. As the Tata Group is yet to appoint the CEO of Air India, the duo will currently be advisors to Chandrasekaran, it mentioned.

    Satya Ramaswamy, who has worked at Tata Consultancy Services before, was on Friday appointed as chief digital and technology officer at Air India, the order stated.

    Rajesh Dogra was appointed as the head of customer experience and ground handling at Air India, it mentioned.

    Air India veteran RS Sandhu will continue to hold the charge of chief of operations at Air India, it noted.

    Another Air India veteran Vinod Hejmadi will continue to hold the charge as chief financial officer, it mentioned.

    “The new appointees will exercise the powers of functional/departmental heads as per the delegation of authority. We wish them all the very best in their new role,” Chandrasekaran stated in the order.

    After a competitive bidding process, the government had in October last year sold Air India to Talace Pvt Ltd — a subsidiary of the Tata group’s holding company.