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Tag: COO

  • Saksham Kohli hops over to FCB India as president of new venture

    Saksham Kohli hops over to FCB India as president of new venture

    GURGAON: Saksham Kohli has landed at FCB India as president of FCB NEO, marking the end of a nearly seven-year stint at Cheil Worldwide where he shepherded Samsung’s flagship mobile campaigns.

    The move, announced this month, sees Kohli swapping his associate vice-president perch at Cheil—where he orchestrated integrated campaigns for Samsung’s mobile portfolio and ecosystem products—for the top job at FCB’s new venture.

    At Cheil since 2019, Kohli climbed from director of client services to associate vice-president, spending his final months managing full-funnel marketing strategies that blended creative, digital and media. Before that, he put in three years at Ogilvy, steering brands including Perfetti Van Melle, Pernod Ricard India, BMW Mini and Dupont through 40-odd large-scale integrated campaigns.

    His advertising pedigree includes a two-and-a-half-year spell at FCB Global (2013-2016) handling Whirlpool’s India operations, plus stints at McCann on Aircel, Ogilvy & Mather on KFC India, Publicis on Beam Global Spirits & Wine, and BBDO India on Wrigley’s and Hewlett Packard.

    Kohli’s pitch: marketing that starts with understanding people and ends with measurable impact. Whether FCB Neo delivers on that promise remains to be seen—but with a Samsung-sized portfolio under his belt, he’s certainly had the practice.

  • Kedaara Capital ropes in Unilever veteran Nitin Paranjpe as chief mentor and operating partner

    Kedaara Capital ropes in Unilever veteran Nitin Paranjpe as chief mentor and operating partner

    MUMBAI: Private equity firm Kedaara Capital has appointed Nitin Paranjpe as chief mentor and operating partner, tapping into the expertise of one of the most seasoned executives in India’s consumer goods sector.
    Paranjpe, who spent nearly four decades at Unilever, brings formidable leadership experience across operations, transformation, and global category management. 

    He began his career at the Anglo-Dutch FMCG giant in 1987 and went on to serve as CEO of Hindustan Unilever from 2008 to 2013—one of its youngest ever—and later held senior global roles including president of home care, president of foods and refreshment, and chief operating officer.

    During his tenure, Paranjpe spearheaded multiple high-impact initiatives, from doubling business performance at HUL, to leading large-scale integrations and driving digitisation at Unilever globally. Most recently, he served as chief people and transformation officer at Unilever, where he led one of the group’s most ambitious restructurings in two decades.

    In his new role, Paranjpe will work closely with Kedaara’s sector teams—especially in consumer and allied verticals—providing operational insight on both existing and prospective investments. He will also advise Kedaara’s senior leadership on strategic initiatives across the firm.

    Paranjpe currently serves as non-executive chairman of HUL, and sits on the boards of global firms including Heineken and Infosys, further underlining the stature he brings to the table.

    His appointment signals Kedaara’s intent to deepen operational value creation as a key lever in its investment thesis across India’s high-growth consumer landscape.

  • Jeff Williams to hand COO reins to Sabih Khan, the man behind Apple’s global engine

    Jeff Williams to hand COO reins to Sabih Khan, the man behind Apple’s global engine

    CUPERTINO: Apple’s long-serving chief operating officer Jeff Williams is stepping aside later this year, with Sabih Khan—the supply chain mastermind born in Moradabad, India—set to take charge as COO in a long-planned succession.

    Khan, currently senior vice president of operations, will assume the role later this month. Williams will remain through the end of the year, continuing to oversee Apple’s design team and health initiatives, including Apple Watch. After his departure, the design team will report directly to CEO Tim Cook.

    Williams, who joined Apple in 1998, was instrumental in the launch of the iPod, iPhone and Apple Watch, and helped craft Apple’s health strategy.

     “Apple wouldn’t be what it is without Jeff,” said Cook. “Jeff and I have worked alongside each other for as long as I can remember, and Apple wouldn’t be what it is without him. He’s helped to create one of the most respected global supply chains in the world; launched Apple Watch and overseen its development; architected Apple’s health strategy; and led our world-class team of designers with great wisdom, heart, and dedication. I am and will always be beyond grateful for his numerous contributions to Apple over the years and his loyal friendship. Jeff’s true legacy can be seen in the amazing team he’s created and, while he’ll be greatly missed, he leaves the work of the future in incredible hands.” 

    Khan’s journey began in Moradabad, western Uttar Pradesh. After attending school in Singapore, his family moved to the United States, where Khan went on to earn a dual bachelor’s degree in economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts University, followed by a master’s in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York.

    He joined Apple in 1995 from GE Plastics, starting in procurement. Over the past three decades, Khan has played a central role in shaping Apple’s global operations—from logistics and manufacturing to supplier responsibility and green manufacturing. Under his leadership, Apple’s carbon footprint has shrunk by over 60 per cent.

    “Sabih is a brilliant strategist who has been one of the central architects of Apple’s supply chain,” said Cook. “While overseeing Apple’s supply chain, he has helped pioneer new technologies in advanced manufacturing, overseen the expansion of Apple’s manufacturing footprint in the United States, and helped ensure that Apple can be nimble in response to global challenges. He has advanced our ambitious efforts in environmental sustainability, helping reduce Apple’s carbon footprint by more than 60 percent. Above all, Sabih leads with his heart and his values, and I know he will make an exceptional chief operating officer.” 

    Williams, marking his twenty seventh  year at Apple and fortieth in the industry, plans to spend more time with family. “Sabih is the most talented operations executive on the planet,” he said. “I leave Apple’s future in very capable hands.”

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  • 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.

  • Shradha Sharma’s YourStory Media ropes in former Microsoft ace Sangeeta Bavi as COO

    Shradha Sharma’s YourStory Media ropes in former Microsoft ace Sangeeta Bavi as COO

    MUMBAI: This is indeed a big catch. Digital influencer and YourStory Media founder & CEO Shradha Sharma has hired former Microsoft executive director, digital natives  Sangeeta Bavi as the company’s chief operating officer (COO).

    As COO, Shradha shared on linkedin, Sangeeta will oversee the end-to-end business, drive revenue growth and overall operations as the company prepares for its next phase of expansion.

    “With two and a half decades of experience across global giants like Microsoft and Nokia, Sangeeta has loads of expertise in building high-impact teams and driving scale. In her decade of experience at Microsoft, she spearheaded the digital natives vertical, building it from the ground up and establishing it as a leading growth engine for engaging India’s top digital-scale startups.  Her leadership was instrumental in scaling the vertical into a trusted ecosystem partner for startups and a valued business vertical at Microsoft,” Shradha shared. 
    “Sangeeta has also been a mentor to several startups, and has played an active volunteer role in Saasboomi community.”

    A B. Tech in computer science and an MBA from IIM Bangalore, Sangeeta began her career at Wipro Technologies as a senior design engineer where she worked for three years. She was then picked up by  Nokia to work in the capacity  of senior software engineer at Tampere in Finland where she  did some cutting edge development work for the mobile maker.

    That done, Sangeeta then whizzed back to India and continued with the Finnish company for a decade and a half being exposed to various functions like leading teams, doing R&D, managing strategic projects, managing products and when she exited Nokia for Microsoft India  she was designated as head developer outreach.

    At Microsoft India, Sangeeta began as a product marketing manager in 2014 and moved into the company’s India president’s office as chief of staff and busines manager. From there, she was given the responsibility of working with startups at their early stages as director of Microsoft Indias start up business. Leadership of the digital natives vertical followed.

    Shradha is cock-a-hoop with delight at Sangeeta’s coming on board as YourStory Media COO. Said Shraddha: “For any entrepreneur, their journey gets strengthened when a leader comes along the way, sees the vision and commits to be with you to scale and transform the dream you’ve built and lived.. And I am grateful to have someone as brilliant as Sangeeta Bavi join me on this journey of YourStory.”

  • dentsu promotes Japan CEO Takeshi Sano to deputy global COO

    dentsu promotes Japan CEO Takeshi Sano to deputy global COO

    MUMBAI: For Takeshi Sano, 3 January was not just another day at dentsu, Japan. When he re-joined office, he had another title – apart from the CEO denstu, Japan one –  added to his name: that of deputy global chief operating officer (COO).  

    It has been a fabulous career graph for Sano-san or Takeshi-san, as he is called.

    Sano-san joined Dentsu Inc., in 1992, building his career within the business produce divisions in which he became managing director in 2017.

    In 2021, Sano-san was appointed executive officer of Dentsu Inc.

    In 2022, he was appointed executive officer in charge of business transformation (BX) services and digital transformation (DX) consulting services and growth officer at Dentsu Japan network, and senior executive officer in charge of business produce divisions at Dentsu Inc.

    And in 2024,  Sano-san was appointed as CEO, dentsu Japan.

    All we at Indiantelevision.com can say to him is Omedeto!

  • Daniel Jurow joins DNEG as COO

    Daniel Jurow joins DNEG as COO

    Mumbai: Double Negative (DNEG) has roped in former Technicolor and R/GA executive Daniel Jurow as chief operating officer.

    With over twenty years of expertise in the creative industry, Jurow will be based out of DNEG’s London studio. He will be reporting directly to DNEG chairman & CEO Namit Malhotra.

    Speaking on Jurow’s appointment, Malhotra said, “As we continue to scale our business, growing our creative teams, bringing in the industry’s best creative leaders, and building out our technology infrastructure, it is important that we have a strong, forward-thinking executive committee dedicated to leading, supporting and empowering our teams.”

    “Daniel’s career-long passion for creative technology, his experience of delivering breakthrough results for both brands and for the teams that he oversees, and his strategic and methodical approach to his work, all mark him out as a great leader. I am delighted to welcome him to DNEG’s senior management team, where I have no doubt he will make a great impact,” he added.

    Jurow was serving as the Film and Episodic VFX division’s Chief Operating Officer .

    At Technicolor, Daniel was appointed as chief operating officer for the Film and Episodic VFX division. He spent more than 15 years with the international digital product and marketing agency R/GA before that, where he advanced to the position of EVP, global head of production, overseeing more than 200 producers.

    Jurow launched the ground-breaking Nike+ product agreement between Nike and Apple in 2006, which earned R/GA the title of “Digital Agency of the Decade” by Adweek. By the time of his departure in 2019, the agency had grown from 200 workers to over 2,000 across 17 global sites.

    Jurow has spoken at a number of international conferences, including the first 4 A’s Digital Conference for Agencies,Internet & Mobile World, Innovation Summit, ArabNet Digital Summit, and the annual Creative Equals conference, which aims to advance women in creative roles into leadership positions in the advertising industry.

    Commenting on joining his new role as DNEG COO, Daniel said, “I have long admired DNEG’s focus on its people, uniting the business in support of its incredibly talented artists, creative technologists, production and support staff. As a result of this focus, DNEG has a great track record of leaping from strength to strength, delivering stunningly innovative creative work, navigating unprecedented industry shifts, and stewarding impressive global growth. I feel very privileged to join Namit and his team as we usher in the next brilliant act of the DNEG story.”

  • Weekend Unwind with: Hansa Mondal, COO & co-founder of Ssoftoons Entertainment Media

    Weekend Unwind with: Hansa Mondal, COO & co-founder of Ssoftoons Entertainment Media

    Mumbai: With yet another Saturday upon us, it’s time to unwind with a dose of our weekend special series. Weekend Unwind is a tete-e-tete with an industry executive—akin to a virtual water cooler chat – an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.

    This week we have with us Ssoftoons Entertainment Media co-founder & COO Hansa Mondal, sharing her nuggets on dealing with the curveballs life throws at us.

    Having left a well-secured job, Hansa embarked upon her entrepreneurial journey in 2001, co-founding Ssoftoons—a homegrown animation company—with her business-cum-life partner Sourav Mondal in Howrah, West Bengal. Being a complete novice in the industry, she had to start from scratch by learning to sketch and arming herself with the industry know-how. After nearly a decade, the company saw success in the regional market, and with an intention to have a national presence, the couple moved to Mumbai. Having delivered some successful projects, Hansa is currently working in association with Disney India. In her current position as COO at Ssoftoons, she undertakes planning and execution to keep the flow running smoothly.

    So here goes…

    Ø Your mantra for Life 
    Since childhood, I have followed “perseverance.” I am aware of my goal and remain focused and dedicated to achieve my dreams.

    Ø A book you are currently reading/plan to read
    “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek. I read each and every page more than once. It is really inspiring.

    Ø Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
    To put it simply: inhaling and exhaling. Am a yoga lover. Yoga and pranayama keeps me fit both mentally and physically. 

    Ø Your comfort food
    Mummy-made Besan (Gram Flour) ke Pakode with green coriander chutney.

    Ø When the chips are down a quote/philosophy that keeps you going
    “One year equals 365 possibilities.” I calm down and regain the power to think and rethink to overcome the situation. I follow the philosophy of gratitude in every case, be it good or bad.

    Ø Your guilty pleasure
    Secretly taking good pens from my kids and husband’s drawers with the intention of not giving them back! I never buy a pen for myself.

    Ø When was the last time you tried something new
    I have started learning the piano. Practising and mastering this instrument requires dedication and sustained effort. It relaxes my brain. 

    Ø A life lesson you learnt the hard way
    That we all are playing our roles on the stage of life. So, no matter what happens, the show must go on. Time never stops for anyone. It doesn’t care about your worries or about your happiness. So, accept every situation because worries and fears are yours, like happiness. 

    Ø What gets you excited about life
    I started my journey from absolute zero. So, when I am out of projects or in a problem, I never regret it and instead try to give a kickstart, as I know how to grow from zero.

    Ø What’s on top of your bucket list
    Completing a management course from Harvard University Online.

    Ø If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be
    Maintaining a database of contacts and keeping in touch. I always preferred to be within myself. But later in my life, I realised my mistake because I came to know that “network = net worth.”

    Ø One thing you would most like to change about the world
    Blasphemy. 

    Ø An activity that keeps you motivated/charged during tough times
    Reading good books and doing something constructive, like developing new concepts or plots. Building good stories boost my confidence to fight back.

  • Shemaroo Entertainment appoints A Chakravarty as COO; K Gada becomes president- new business opportunities

    Shemaroo Entertainment appoints A Chakravarty as COO; K Gada becomes president- new business opportunities

    Mumbai: Shemaroo Entertainment has appointed Arghya Chakravarty as chief operating officer. Kranti Gada has been named president-new business opportunities.

    Chakravarty will be spearheading the overall business operations of Shemaroo and will work with CEO Hiren Gada and the senior management team to implement the strategic vision and values of the firm. His primary focus will be to scale and steer Shemaroo’s numerous business verticals.

    Chakravarty’s previous stint was with Disney Star where he was EVP – ad sales, entertainment business. In a career spanning close to three decades, he has held various leadership positions in different sectors across a gamut of reputed organisations like Times Innovative Media, PepsiCo, and Asian Paints.

    Moreover, Gada in her role as the COO was instrumental in transforming the organisation from a B2B entity to a successful B2C brand. Under her able leadership, the organisation has launched various initiatives such as a robust broadcast network, an OTT platform, and several digital initiatives. She will now pass on the baton to Arghya. As president of new business opportunities, Kranti will focus on her passion and strengths to identify & build new business opportunities for the organisation.

    Shemaroo Entertainment’s CEO Hiren Gada said, “In the last four years, Kranti and I have laid the foundation to build a strong, scalable, and professionally run organisation. I firmly believe that Arghya with his proven track record, expertise, and extensive experience is an ideal fit to attain Shemaroo’s ambitions. I welcome him to the Shemaroo family and wish him all the best.”

    Shemaroo Entertainment president-new business opportunities Kranti Gada said, “We are thrilled to have Arghya join us at this juncture as we are celebrating 60 years of Shemaroo. Aligned with our vision, he brings with him deep domain expertise and he can steer our company’s growth exponentially. With his three decades of experience with leading brands, I am confident that Arghya will help us scale new heights with a strong focus on B2C initiatives while staying true to our vision and core values.”

    “I am excited to come on board with Shemaroo, which has been a household name for entertainment in India for 60 years,” said Chakravarty. “I have been watching Shemaroo for the past few years and have been a great admirer of the way Hiren, Kranti, and the team have reinvented the businesses. They have kept the brand relevant to meet the modern consumer’s tastes and moods. I look forward to further build and expand the business across platforms to create even more compelling value for the brand and our loyal consumers.”

    Chakravarty completed his Bachelors in Electronics and Communication from Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, which was followed by a Post-Graduation in Marketing Management from IIM-Calcutta.

  • GUEST COLUMN: six trends the Indian animation industry is witnessing in 2022

    GUEST COLUMN: six trends the Indian animation industry is witnessing in 2022

    Mumbai: The Indian animation industry has witnessed a considerable amount of growth in the past couple of years. As the pandemic forced people to stay at home, this increased the need for new content and the animation industry stepped up and delivered some amazing content. According to a report published by FICCI, India’s animation industry has grown by 24 per cent and is expected to reach Rs 180 billion in two years’ time.

    Apart from the lockdown, the positive growth pattern can be attributed to the exponential penetration of the internet which allowed people to seamlessly view content on various streaming platforms. Though this is a positive sign for the industry, the high demand for engaging and quality visual experience means animation studios have to constantly strive for fresh ideas and trends that they can showcase to their audience.

    Here are the six emerging trends in the animation industry:

    Use of restricted color palette: Animators in recent times have started using only a few primary colors instead of a large palette of colors. This gives the animation a simple yet elegant look which is appealing. Though it is challenging for the animator to use a restricted color palate the final outcome often shines out and makes the entire process worthwhile. The use of such a color palette is an extremely popular illustration style on digital platforms.

    Simple characters: Schematic and cubical characters will be one of the 2D animation trends. Creating these characters will be easier and will be more attractive than realistic ones for kids. But for Indian viewers, we should add a dress codes related to Indian states.

    Use of 3D animations: 3D animation helps to add realism to any animation. The more complex a 3D animation becomes, the more it aims for simplicity in shapes and colors. In 2022 the 3D trend is focused on round shapes with vivid contrasting colors. The end result is beautiful to look at, is creative and provides a sense of nostalgia for many as it is reminiscent of the 2D animations.  

    Merging of 2D and 3D styles: Using both 2D and 3D animations is one of the most in-demand animation trends that has witnessed a comeback. Animators are using a mix of 2D and 3D styles to create hybrid types of animation videos that are well received and liked by viewers. The best example of using such kind of animation is by incorporating both styles and also inserting 2D over layers containing movements. This technique is used in both small-scale as well as large projects.

    Use of virtual reality in animation: With the advent of high-speed internet, technologies like AR and VR are in high demand and have evolved into a major tool to create quality animations.  This produces more realistic animations that are loved by both children and adults. It can be used in educational programmes and the media all around the world.

    Outline animation: Modern and fun

    Outline animation is a style that provides innumerable possibilities. From classy animations to creating fun and goofy, outline animations is the go-to style for many animators. The biggest factor for the popularity of outline animation is that it is simple with endless possibilities. This allows for imaginations to go wild. Outline animation has become a trend as it allows animators to create a diverse range of styles.

    To sum it up, 2022 is a year of incorporating new beginnings and focusing on the positive aspects of the past. The animation industry is also witnessing such trends. Some old ideas have come again and some new trends have taken center stage.  With such exciting things happening in the industry, India is not far behind the global animation industry.

    (About Author: Hansa Mondal is the COO of Ssoftoons)