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Tag: Chief Operating Officer

  • Akasa Air’s Belson Coutinho expresses gratitude for support

    Akasa Air’s Belson Coutinho expresses gratitude for support

    MUMBAI: Belson Coutinho, the newly-elevated (earlier this month) co-founder & chief operating officer (COO) at Akasa Air, has expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support and wishes he has received on his new role. In a statement, Coutinho said he was “deeply touched” by the kindness and generosity of everyone who has reached out to him.

    Coutinho, who brings over 24 years of experience in the aviation industry, is an award-winning and entrepreneurial-minded senior management professional with expertise in marketing, eCommerce, and digital transformation. He has a proven track record of setting up and growing business units across various functions, including marketing, digital, social media, eCommerce, and customer service.

    As COO at Akasa Air, Coutinho is expected to leverage his exceptional leadership skills and innovative approach to drive growth and success for the airline. Prior to his advancement as COO, Coutinho was co-founder & chief marketing & experience officer.

    He has previously held senior roles at renowned companies such as Jet Airways and VFS Global, where he pioneered various industry-first initiatives in eCommerce, social media, digital, loyalty, and consumer experience.

    Coutinho’s appointment as COO at Akasa Air marks a new chapter in his career, and he is “incredibly grateful” for the opportunity to be part of the team and contribute to the airline’s success. He thanked everyone for their unwavering support, saying it means more than he can express.

    With his extensive experience and expertise, Coutinho is poised to make a significant impact at Akasa Air. His ability to see the “bigger picture” and his strong operational, strategic, and leadership skills make him an ideal fit for the role. As a team player with excellent communication skills, Coutinho is well-equipped to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment and drive collaboration with partners, consumers, and colleagues alike.

    As Akasa Air continues to grow and expand its operations, Coutinho’s appointment as COO is seen as a significant boost to the airline’s leadership team. With his innovative approach and exceptional leadership skills, he is expected to play a key role in shaping the airline’s future and driving its success.

  • Chitra Tripathi and Gaurav Verma join India Today Group for second stint

    Chitra Tripathi and Gaurav Verma join India Today Group for second stint

    Mumbai: It’s all cheer for Chitra Tripathi and Gaurav Verma as they return to the India Today Group. Verma is chief operating officer of The Lallan Top and Tripathi has assumed the role of editor of special projects at Aaj Tak.

    This is Verma’s second stint with the TV Today Network – previously, he quit the group in August 2020. In his new role, he will report to TV Today Network chief operating officer Vivek Gaur. He will also be responsible for overseeing revenue for digital streaming of Live TV and will be reporting to Salil Kumar on the same.

    Verma recently quit as the revenue head of Times Network’s Hindi news channel, Times Now Navbharat. In his career, he has also worked with Zee, Network 18 and Business Standard. A commerce graduate from Delhi University, he holds a postgraduate diploma from the National Institute of Sales, and has also done an Executive Excellence programme from ISB.

    In her new role, Tripathi will continue to report to Aaj Tak and India Today managing editor Supriya Prasad. She joined ABP News last month and had a stint of less than a month before returning to Aaj Tak.

    Both Tripathi and Verma will be based in Noida.

  • Bizongo ropes in Tushar Kamat as Chief Business Officer

    Bizongo ropes in Tushar Kamat as Chief Business Officer

    Mumbai: Bizongo, India’s leading supply chain automation platform, has announced the appointment of former Accenture managing director & Airtel business CEO Tushar Kamat as chief business officer. In his new role, Kamat will be responsible for business strategies, partnerships, marketing, monetization, growth and global expansion at Bizongo.

    Kamat’s appointment comes at a critical juncture as Bizongo looks at entering the unicorn club in early 2023. An accomplished veteran across technology domains, he has more than 25 years of experience in sales leadership, scaling business growth, and enabling business transformation by developing go-to-market strategies for generating revenue.

    Kamat has been associated with leading technology organizations including SAP, Accenture, Airtel, and TCS. In his most recent role as field operating unit head for the India business at Automation Anywhere, he drove hyper-scale business growth by 250 per cent during the covid era.

    Bizongo chief operating officer Aniket Deb said, “Kamat joins us at a very exciting juncture in our growth journey. We are confident that his strategic outlook and growth mindset will help us achieve profitable business growth and create value for our customers & vendors. His ability to deliver large-scale impact will enable us to scale our vision faster and digitally transform vendor management and the entire supply chain for MSMEs.”

    Commenting on his appointment, Kamat said, “I am very excited to join Bizongo during this hyper-growth phase. I am confident to leverage my diverse experience to transform and grow Bizongo’s business in India and globally.”

    Kamat is also co-founder & non-executive partner of Nyaasah Care LLP, a social start-up aimed at providing care with empathy for senior citizens leading a lonely life in India.

  • BBH India onboards Himanshu Saxena as COO & MD

    BBH India onboards Himanshu Saxena as COO & MD

    Mumbai: BBH India, a Publicis Groupe agency, has announced the appointment of Himanshu Saxena as chief operating officer & managing director. Saxena will report to CEO, Leo Burnett-South Asia & chairman, BBH India Dheeraj Sinha.

    As BBH’s chief operating officer & managing director, Saxena will be responsible for developing talent, organisational tools, new services and steering these to acquire future-facing businesses.

    He brings over 29 years of experience across the communication spectrum, including advertising, marketing & sales, brand management, digital & social, PR, design, and market research.

    Saxena has helmed country and multi-office leadership for some of South Asia’s leading organisations, including Lowe, McCann, Trikaya Grey, JWT, Edelman, IMRB & Reliance Jio. Saxena’s passion for leading businesses to market excellence through powerful full-funnel solutions has led these agencies to win accolades at prestigious forums like APAC and India Effies, Cannes, Spikes, Adfest, Goafest, PRAXIS, and SABRE APAC. He has spearheaded creative solutions across iconic brands like Unilever, GSK, PepsiCo, Diageo, Asian Paints, Dubai Tourism, One Plus, Idea Cellular, Audible, and Starbucks, to name a few.

    Welcoming Saxena, Sinha said, “BBH India, with its legacy of modern, creative, and effective solutions that are well-entrenched in the modern Indian zeitgeist, has built a reputation as a creative firepower in the country. I am delighted to welcome Saxena onboard. A talented leader known for his deep client relationships, his commitment to business innovation, and his operational acumen, Saxena embodies the black sheep and zag philosophy that will further fuel this brilliant creative engine.”

    Speaking on his appointment, Saxena added, “I am both excited and honoured to join BBH. With its legacy of creating stunning work that has transformed not only brands but also categories, BBH India is truly built for the modern age of marketing. I am looking forward to scaling this further and bringing my experience and a fresh perspective to lead such talented individuals and ambitious clients.

    BBH India has grown into a creative powerhouse with offices in Mumbai and Delhi and a repertoire of highly effective, consistent, and modern marketing solutions spanning across advertising, design, digital, consulting, and experiential. The agency currently works with a diverse portfolio of brands like Marico, Red Bull, Nestle, Audi, Taco Bell, Mahindra Group, and L’Oreal, among many others. In 2022, BBH won mandates for Hitachi and Roposo and created campaigns like Disney+ Hotstar’s “Thoda Rukh Shah Rukh”; Mahindra Racing’s “Dance For Good” and Marico’s “Re-teach The Teachers.”

  • Balaji Motion Pictures appoints Bhavini Sheth as COO

    Balaji Motion Pictures appoints Bhavini Sheth as COO

    Mumbai: Balaji Motion Pictures has roped in Bhavini Sheth as the chief operating officer (COO). In her new position as head of the studio at Balaji Motion Pictures, Bhavini will be in charge of creating the new film slate, outlining the studio’s business strategy, launching new revenue streams, and collaborating with a fresh group of talent. Bhavini will be working directly with Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor.

    Balaji Telefilms joint managing director Ektaa R. Kapoor, said, “We are pleased to welcome Bhavini to our Balaji family and are confident that she is the right person to take the brand to the next stage of growth and newer heights. She is a seasoned leader with a stellar reputation. With the insights that she has gleaned through her successful tenure in the industry, she will surely add value to the company as the new COO of Balaji Motion Pictures.”

    For four years, Bhavini served as the head of business affairs for India at Amazon Studios. She was in charge of all business decisions and strategies pertaining to the original content in all languages, including popular series like The Family Man and Mirzapur and upcoming international shows like Citadel.

    Balaji Motion Pictures chief operating officer Bhavini Sheth said, “Balaji Motion Pictures has always aimed to stay ahead of the curve and bring unconventional and heartfelt stories that stand out. The studio is one of the most renowned entertainment enterprises in the country, and I am honoured to be a part of their leadership team.”

    She further added, “Working with some of the strongest women leaders of our time and visionaries like Shobhaji and Ektaa, is indeed a valuable opportunity for me. Producing was always innate and this is the optimal time for me to venture into the movie business. I am excited and geared up to be starting this new journey with Balaji Motion Pictures.”

    Sheth brings with her extensive expertise in content production and over ten years of rich professional experience in the entertainment sector.

    A practising lawyer who began her career with Naik Naik & Co., she later established her own firm where she advised and strategised business initiatives and mergers for some of the most renowned and successful talent, producers, and studios to establish valuation and intellectual property (IP).

  • Aditya Birla Group appoints Manoj Juneja as COO – Reebok India

    Aditya Birla Group appoints Manoj Juneja as COO – Reebok India

    Mumbai: Manoj Juneja has joined Reebok India as a chief operating officer (COO).

    Aditya Birla Group’s fashion retail division Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) has acquired US-based brand management company Authentic Brands Group (ABG) in 2019 to sell and distribute Reebok products in India and other southeast asian countries. Juneja will oversee wholesale, e-commerce, and Reebok branded retail stores in India.

    Juneja’s career spans 23 years in strategic roles in retail, digital channel sales, marketing & leading successful brands in leadership roles for over nine years. His expertise lies in strategic planning, digital strategy, leading big teams, channel sales and retail operations and marketing.

    Juneja was previously associated with Timex Group India as vice president of sales and marketing.

    His longest association has been with adidas Group where he spent over 13 years and was senior director of sales and e-commerce. He was also associated with LG Electronics India.

  • Haptik appoints Mukund Seetharaman as COO

    Haptik appoints Mukund Seetharaman as COO

    Mumbai: Jio Haptik Technologies Ltd on Wednesday announced the appointment of Mukund Seetharaman as its chief operating officer (COO).

    In this role, Seetharaman will be responsible for managing global sales, partnerships, marketing & GTM, customer success and overall P&L of the organisation, said the statement.

    Seetharaman has more than 23 years of experience in seeding and scaling businesses across multiple markets. He spent a large portion of his career with global major Wipro, where he started and operated businesses across India, Middle East, UK, Continental Europe and Latin America. A multi-faceted executive, he was responsible for some of the large wins and establishing a strong presence in each of these markets. In his last role with Tech Mahindra, Mukund was the Chief Growth Officer for the Cloud business for EMEA and APJI markets. He is an electronics engineer and an MBA from Symbiosis, Pune.

    “I am excited to welcome Mukund to Haptik. He has a proven record of building high performing teams and scaling businesses across multiple continents & markets,” said Haptik co-founder and CEO Aakrit Vaish.  “His arrival marks a critical moment in Haptik’s growth journey where we are at an inflection point of unprecedented growth in the marketplace. I am confident that under his leadership, Haptik will mature as an organisation from a startup to a global software powerhouse. With Mukund’s arrival, we have our core leadership now in place and ready to accelerate our journey towards becoming a global leader in the conversational AI economy.”

    “I am thrilled to join Aakrit, Swapan, and the rest of the Haptik team at such an amazing time in the company’s evolution,” said Mukund Seetharaman. “Conversational commerce is starting to become a crucial avenue for leading brands to meet their customers wherever they are – from metaverses to phone lines – and giving the best possible experience from acquisition to advocacy. Haptik has already seen incredible momentum: not everyone can boast 500+ million users served with billions of interactions.”

  • Nannditaa Kothari joins DigiflixTV as chief operating officer

    Nannditaa Kothari joins DigiflixTV as chief operating officer

    Mumbai: Inception Media’s creative director Nannditaa V Kothari has joined OTT and short video platform DigiflixTV as chief operating officer.

    A vastly experienced professional in creative and business processes in commercial, television and feature film production, Kothari has previously worked with media companies like Big Magic, Viniyard Films, Shashi Sumeet Productions, Endemol among others. She has been instrumental in revamping the programming of the channels as per the audience demand.

    At Inception Media, She produced shows like “Khaki,” “The Reunions,” “Crime Alert.” She also produced shows for Big Magic, “Ullu,” Gujarati film “The Reunion,” to name a few.

    “I have joined DigiFlix with a vision to provide wholesome entertainment – where the entire family can sit together and watch a show on an OTT platform. Our platform will have shows of all genres and with DigiFlix we want to give a fresh perspective to OTT content,” stated Nannditaa Kothari. “So far a certain kind of content has taken precedent and we plan to change that and address the masses in doing so. A large chunk of the TV audience has been neglected or rather overlooked, those are the audience that we want to cater to,” she added.

  • ZebPay elevates Raj Karkara to chief operating officer

    ZebPay elevates Raj Karkara to chief operating officer

    Mumbai: Bitcoin and crypto asset exchange platform ZebPay has elevated Raj Karkara to the role of chief operating officer (COO). He will work closely with ZebPay’s co-CEO Avinash Shekhar, in setting and driving organisational vision, operational strategy, performance management and hiring needs.

    Karkara’s primary responsibility will be to develop actionable business strategies and plans that align with the company’s short-term and long-term objectives. Additionally, he will work towards translating the strategy into executable goals for performance and further growth of ZebPay,  said the company in a statement on Wednesday.

    “Raj has strengthened ZebPay’s presence and business in the crypto ecosystem since he joined us over a year ago. With his extensive expertise, ZebPay will see rapid growth and global expansion to achieve our vision of becoming become the #1 cryptocurrency exchange in India and the world,” stated Shekhar. “We are building ZebPay as an all-encompassing crypto company that offers innovative solutions and products to a diverse set of investors, from retail to institutional.”  

    He joined ZebPay as chief business officer in September 2020 and more recently, had been promoted to the role of chief marketing officer. With this role change, in addition to marketing, Karkara will now directly oversee product management, trade, OTC, global growth and operations (customer service and excellence).

    Karkara comes with over 15 years of experience in the financial services, fintech and e-commerce industries. Previously, he was associated with KansoStrategy as co-founder, a boutique strategy and consulting firm that works with crypto, e-commerce, payments and fintech clients globally. Prior to Kanso, he held various positions such as senior vice president of product, CRO and COO at tZERO, the global leader in digital securities. He also held the role of vice president of product management for financial services, loyalty and new business development at Overstock. Prior to Overstock, he held the role of director, global product and solutions at MasterCard, where his responsibilities included prepaid strategy and mobile money.

    “ZebPay has been innovating and launching new and industry-first products to address the needs of a diverse set of customers ever since its inception in 2014 and I am excited to lead ZebPay as it gears up for further expansion,” said Karkara, on his new role. “Crypto is booming in India with vast untapped potential for solutions that will make us a global leader. ZebPay is well-positioned to play an integral part and I am looking forward to driving strategies and building on our foundation of product and customer excellence to be the leading crypto exchange in India and globally.”

  • Tilt Brand Solutions appoints Michelle Suradkar as COO

    Tilt Brand Solutions appoints Michelle Suradkar as COO

    Mumbai: Brand and communications consultancy Tilt Brand Solutions has announced the appointment of Michelle Suradkar as chief operating officer, effective 15 November. In her new role, she will report to founder and CMD Joseph George, said the agency in a statement.

    ”We have been fortunate to have had a terrific run the first three years of our existence, and this has given us the confidence to shift gears as we ready up to manage scale and the accompanying complexities,” stated George. “Michelle is someone whom I have worked with very closely for almost a decade when at Lintas; and her competencies, interests, work ethic and energy is just what we all at Tilt need as we embark on the next phase of our journey at Tilt.”

    An MBA from Bajaj, Suradkar started out with The Coca-Cola Company before joining Lintas, where she was, for almost 20 years. She was previously associated with MullenLowe Lintas Group up until 2020 as group chief HR officer. She was also part of the group’s managing committee.

    An active advocate for gender equity in the workplace, Suradkar was a co-founder of IPG’s Women’s Leadership Network in India, running initiatives for greater gender balance and enhancing gender sensitivity across all levels in the organisation. She co-founded and ran several agency-wide initiatives to further improve the group’s governance and build future-facing capabilities.

    She also co-founded the crisis response and management team which worked towards preparing the organisation’s response to a wide variety of man-made and natural crises situations. She created and ran the Lowe Lintas apprenticeship program, an industry first, reaching out to the untapped potential of students across India beyond metro cities.

    Suradkar has been awarded the ‘Most Influential HR Leader’ award by the World HRD Congress and has also been counted among the ‘100 Most Influential Global HR Professionals’ by CHRO Asia. She is also a certified extended DISC administrator and a certified POSH trainer.

    “I have watched with admiration how Tilt has gone about building itself these past three years, and I am not surprised with what they believe they can achieve from here on,” said Suradkar. “Scaling up while continuing to deliver to clients the brave and effective work they have come to expect from Tilt is a task that is as exhilarating as it is challenging. I am looking forward to us building a world-class, made-in-India model which becomes the benchmark for our industry.”