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Tag: Ford India

  • Nothing ropes in Hemant Kundavaram as India CFO to fuel growth

    Nothing ropes in Hemant Kundavaram as India CFO to fuel growth

    NEW DELHI: London-based technology firm Nothing has named Hemant Kundavaram as chief financial officer for its India unit, bolstering its leadership bench in what has become the company’s most critical market.

    A chartered accountant with more than 20 years’ experience across Ford India, IBM, Thomson Reuters, Rockwell Collins and, most recently, PMI Electromobility, Kundavaram will spearhead fundraising, capital-market strategy and investor relations for the brand.

    “Nothing’s journey so far has been remarkable. I’m excited to build a strong financial foundation that complements fast-paced growth and strengthens the brand’s India vision,” said Kundavaram.

    Nothing co-founder & India president Akis Evangelidis called India “at the core” of the firm’s global ambitions. “Hemant’s proven expertise will be instrumental as we scale rapidly and deepen our presence in India,” he added.

    The hire marks Nothing India’s second major leadership appointment after Evangelidis took charge as president. The smartphone maker has clocked a blistering 146 per cent year-on-year growth in Q2 2025, making it the fastest-growing brand in the segment for six consecutive quarters, according to Counterpoint Research.

  • Carat India onboards Aruni Panda as VP – digital

    Carat India onboards Aruni Panda as VP – digital

    Mumbai: Carat India, from the house of dentsu India, has strengthened its leadership team for North and East. The agency has appointed Aruni Panda to lead these regions as vice president – digital.

    In his new role, Panda will lead strategic thinking and oversee agency clients on the digital front, reporting into Carat India CEO Anita Kotwani. He will work closely with the office head of the regions – Carat India executive vice president – planning Dipika Bhasin.  

    Panda brings over 15 years of experience and is an ardent practitioner of ad-tech tools, programmatic media planning & buying, social media & content marketing, digital customer experiences management, customer acquisition and web analytics. Prior to this, he was with GTB (part of WPP’s network of companies) where he held the position of AVP and senior digital media director, handling digital media planning, buying and execution.

    In his previous roles, Panda has been instrumental in helping brands and organisations develop digital marketing ecosystems by an outcome-led planning approach for the brand and the business. He has worked with brands like PepsiCo India and Ford India, to name a few across categories like FMCG, automotive, real estate, entertainment & sports, ISP & connectivity solutions, and IT-enabled executive education & training. Panda has re-positioned businesses as digital-first by setting up business-aligned digital ecosystems. He has also implemented and integrated seamless interplay between ad-tech and mar-tech stacks.  

    “With the changing dynamics of the media eco-system and a strong focus on digital across the clients of Carat, we felt it to be imperative to bring in a seasoned professional like Aruni to lead the digital mandate. His expertise across the full-funnel marketing will be an advantage that we would like to leverage across our existing and new client fold,” said Anita Kotwani, commenting on the appointment.

    Dipika Bhasin added, “Aruni’s experience will charter current and new growth with our partners. He will hold a strong commitment to driving Carat’s digital practice and the integrated media offerings of dentsu India. We are extremely happy to have him as part of the team!”

    “I am elated to embark upon this new journey with Carat India, an agency already known for its integrated approach backed by cutting-edge data tech and tools. It is critical to map, plan and build the right digital approach in this ever-evolving digital space for our clients to thrive into the future. I am looking forward to being a part of Carat’s growth story under Anita’s leadership and partnering with clients in their digital endeavour with the combination of media, data, commerce and technology,” commented Aruni Panda.

  • Ford India ushers in New Year with commitment to serve

    Ford India ushers in New Year with commitment to serve

    Mumbai: American multinational automobile manufacturer Ford unveiled its latest campaign ‘Committed To Serve,’ underpinning the company’s promise of continued parts, service, and warranty support to customers in India. The new campaign that debuted with a print ad on New Year’s aims to drive home the promise of ‘quality of service with a family wali feeling’ among other services.

    The 60-second digital and 30-second television spots that follow, also convey Ford’s Feels-Like-Family commitment message, using the power of emotional storytelling. The television ad spots will cover key genres like sports, entertainment, news, and films, stated the brand.

    The campaign seeks to highlight the automaker’s service features such as accessibility of service and spare parts across its network in over 240 cities, competitive cost of ownership and transparency with service and parts price calculator, the promise of extended Warranty, among others.

    The campaign #CommitedToServe film opens with the protagonist handing over the keys of her EcoSport to a Ford Service executive. The film then shows her enquiring if their old Ford Ikon can also be serviced, just to surprise her mother on her birthday. The Ford service person agrees instantly and then shows up in the evening, with both vehicles serviced and the old Ikon, decorated as new with a ribbon. The special ‘birthday’ gestures leave both women emotional and happy at their long-standing association with the car brand.

    The film concludes with a voice-over highlighting Ford’s commitment to serving with a family-like commitment.

    Restructuring operations to an asset-light business model, Ford plans to serve customers with its iconic vehicles, including the Mustang coupe, in the next phase of product introductions. Customers in India also look to benefit longer-term from the company’s plan to invest more than $30 billion globally to deliver all-new hybrid and fully electric vehicles, such as Mustang Mach-E, the company said.

    After almost three decades of its operations in the Indian market, The FordMotor Company announced shutting down passenger vehicle manufacturing operations at its two plants in the country in September last year. Moving forward, Ford India will focus on the sale of imported vehicles only it had stated then.

  • Ford India MD Anurag Mehrotra to step down by month-end

    Ford India MD Anurag Mehrotra to step down by month-end

    Mumbai: American auto major Ford has announced a change at the helm of affairs in India, weeks after declaring the stoppage of local manufacturing in the country. The company informed that Ford India president and managing director Anurag Mehrotra has put in his papers and will step down from his post by the end of September.

    Balasundaram Radhakrishnan (Bala), currently Ford India Pvt Ltd (FIPL) director – manufacturing, will take charge as transformation officer, stated the company.

    Bala has more than three decades of automotive experience and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the Ford Production System. Under his leadership, the company’s Chennai plant witnessed 40 engine and 10 vehicle launches.

    “Bala will oversee and drive the transformation efforts associated with the restructuring,” said the FIPL spokesperson, adding that the company was committed to supporting customers and partners in India.

    After almost three decades of its operations in the Indian market, Ford Motor Company on 9 September announced shutting down passenger vehicle manufacturing operations at its two plants in the country. Moving forward, Ford India will focus on the sale of imported vehicles only.

  • Ford India elevates Kapil Sharma as GM – consumer marketing

    Ford India elevates Kapil Sharma as GM – consumer marketing

    MUMBAI: Ford India head of communications Kapil Sharma has been handed over the additional mandate of general manager – consumer marketing, said the company on Thursday.

    In this new role, Sharma will also be responsible for steering the Ford brand and business forward with integrated marketing and communications efforts. He takes over his new role on 1 June. 

    Sharma joined the American multinational carmaker in September 2013 as manager, corporate communications. He moved on from BMW India where he was manager – press and corporate affairs.

    In a career spanning over 15 years, he has worked at Genesis Burson Marsteller, and Mileage Communications.

  • Ford encourages people to ‘go further’

    Ford encourages people to ‘go further’

    MUMBAI: Automobile brand Ford has launched their new film for the Ford Endeavour Sport, which espouses the philosophy to ‘go further’. The film builds on the thought that there are multiple sides to any person, there are aspects that are known to the world, whether it’s being the perfect professional or partner or parent, but then there’s a side that fuels all of this.

    Through this film, Ford seeks to encourage everyone to explore that other side, spend a little time with it, indulge in it. Depicting vistas of unexplored nature, treacherous landscapes, and rugged roads, this digital film created and produced by BBDO India nudges people to venture out and live for themselves.

    Ford India general manager consumer marketing Kaushik Prasad said, “The Ford Endeavour Sport inspires its owners to strike a balance between their routine lives and the more adventurous side of their personality, which they rarely explore. #MeetTheOtherSideOfYou, encourages customers to embark on the extraordinary journey they always wish for with proven off-roading capabilities of the Ford Endeavour firmly by their side.”

    BBDO India chief growth officer Nikhil Mahajan said, “For us, the vision for the campaign was clear; this other side has to be real! The challenge was that this exciting part could not be brought to life in the most real way given the pandemic. Most of the parts of the country were either shut for shoots or nature was playing spoilsport with landslides due to the rains. But our vision was undeterred and we decided that we wouldn’t compromise.”

  • Ford India launches new campaign ‘feels like family’

    Ford India launches new campaign ‘feels like family’

    MUMBAI: Encouraging owners to make time for their loved ones, Ford India’s latest campaign showcases the company’s several innovations that can help enable such precious moments while strengthening the brand promise of ‘Feels Like Family’.

    The series comprising three poignant stories, borrows from real-lives of today’s consumers who, caught up in their busy day-to-day lives, often find it difficult to spend time with their family and friends.

    Throughout its emotional storytelling, the campaign showcases how transparent and reliable Ford service innovations play a significant role in helping customers spend priceless moments with their loved ones.

    In all situations across the campaign, the protagonists make time for their loved ones on days reserved for getting their cars serviced. In each story, the self-assured Ford owners make time for their family members, while the Ford family takes care of servicing their car.

    “In line with our Feels Like Family Promise, we want our customers to spend quality time with their loved ones & let the ecosystem of trustworthy and transparent service innovations take care of their favourite Ford,” said Ford India vice president marketing Rahul Gautam.

    “Through our research, we observed most of our owners block days for the servicing of their car. With our pick and drop facility, real-time SMS service updates and transparent online calculator aka service price promise, we want to make sure that servicing the car never prevents our owners from spending priceless moments with their loved ones,” he adds.

    The first-film, going live on 20 March, features a father who is playing carrom by himself, taking turns from each side to make the game interesting. The sudden arrival of his son and a conversation that ensues between the two adds an emotional dimension to the film. 

    The TVCs for the recent campaign comes from BBDO India under the creative supervision of Josy Paul, Akashneel Dasgupta and Shinjini Banerjee.

  • Ford India records highest-ever domestic wholesales in FY18

    Ford India records highest-ever domestic wholesales in FY18

    MUMBAI: As per a company statement, Ford India has recorded the highest ever domestic wholesales in its history at 265,714 units, in the year 2018. The number was 262,784 units in 2017. Domestic vehicle despatches in the past year stood at 97,804 units, up 12 per cent from 87,588 units in 2017.

    Ford India president and managing director Anurag Mehrotra said, “2018 was a turnaround year for Ford in India as we consistently delivered on our strategy of strong brand, right product, competitive cost and effective scale to strengthen our commitment to India. Despite headwinds due to regulatory and economic changes in India and export markets, we are confident of keeping the momentum in 2019. In India, we are confident of growing better than the industry and bringing many more customers to the Ford fold to experience the promise of transparency and differentiated experience.”

    However, exports in the month of December declined to 18,580 vehicles from 24,708 units in December 2017. Domestic wholesales in December stood at 5,840 vehicles as against 5,087 units in the same month last year.

  • Ford India partners with Google to bolster sale of EcoSport

    Ford India partners with Google to bolster sale of EcoSport

    MUMBAI: Ford India has teamed up with Google to launch a first-of-its-kind digital campaign in the automobile space in India for its new Ecosport SUV car. Titled ‘Fun on Your Side’, the digital campaign aims to bring different aspects of ‘fun’ to life that customers can experience with the all-new EcoSport even when they search for it online.

    Starting 9 November till 15 November, people searching for ‘Fun with EcoSport’ on Google search will be asked to choose their favourite fun activity such as movie mania, make a trip, grab a meal and fun hangout. After voting, consumers will need to click on a ‘Thank You’ link to get a chance to win vouchers related to the voted option, from Coupon Dunia.

    Ford India vice president of marketing Rahul Gautam says, “We have worked with Google for the new campaign to ensure that the spirit of fun spreads beyond our dealership floors to everyone searching for it.”

    Google India director sales Vikas Agnihotri says, “Research shows 89 per cent of car buyers’ decision making is influenced through digital and majority of their journey starts with Google search. The digital campaign for the launch of the new EcoSport combines strong intent cues from consumers with the innovative search voting feature to provide a fun-filled and memorable experience.”

    Ford is one of India’s leading users of programmatic advertising in India, and the campaign for the all-new EcoSport further builds on this and will enable the teams to engage audiences across all offline and online touch points in an integrated manner.

    Conceptualised by Global Team Blue, part of WPP Group, the campaign promotes the new Ford EcoSport and its core features of fun, style and technology across online, print and TV.