Tag: people movement

  • Confluent announces strategic hires to bolster India momentum

    Confluent announces strategic hires to bolster India momentum

    Mumbai: Confluent, Inc, the data streaming pioneer, has announced strategic new hires in India to support the company’s customer growth and momentum in the region. The company has onboarded Agastee Khante as head of marketing for India & Saarc, Jeevan Duggal as head of public sector for India and Suman Karthik as principal engineer for Confluent platform.

    Confluent’s momentum in India is driven by the country’s digital-first outlook and growing customer demand for real-time information across industries. The company is seeing strong adoption, especially among BFSI companies, public sector agencies, and digital natives. The new hires will play a critical role in supporting Confluent’s continued growth in India and globally. Agastee will drive marketing campaigns and programs, while Jeevan will develop and execute go-to-market strategies for the public sector in the country. Suman will lead the continued development of Confluent Platform for global use.

    “Home to the biggest Kafka community outside of the US, India represents a strategic growth market for Confluent as more organisations adopt data streaming for their most critical systems,” said Confluent area vice president & country manager – India Rubal Sahni. “Our remote-first model allows us to reach more talent from all over the country and also better positions us to support our global customer base. We are excited to welcome Agastee, Jeevan and Suman to the team to meet the rapidly growing customer demand.”

    Agastee joined Confluent as the India marketing leader based in Gurgaon. With close to two decades of experience in marketing and product management, Agastee will focus on enhancing Confluent’s brand presence and driving integrated marketing programs and campaigns in India. “I’m thrilled to be joining Confluent and look forward to helping drive awareness and demand for the leading data streaming platform in this high-growth market,” said Agastee.

    Based in Delhi, Jeevan has over 25 years of experience working with public sector organizations in sales and account management. Specialising in the areas of data security and data management, Jeevan worked closely with customers to design their IT infrastructure and digital transformation initiatives while keeping with regulatory requirements. Jeevan said, “Confluent’s data streaming platform is revolutionizing how government bodies build mission-critical systems and enhance citizen services. I’m excited to bring my understanding of the space to help our public sector customers realize the benefits and true value of data streaming.”

    Suman joins Confluent as principal engineer for Confluent platform from Hyderabad. Having spent his career building technology at startups and large organisations across a range of domains, Suman brings a broad spectrum of technological expertise to Confluent. As the lead for Confluent Platform, Suman will build on Confluent’s vision of developing a data streaming platform that is complete and everywhere, thereby enabling customers to achieve a central nervous system of data for their organization. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to shape the technology and engineering of Confluent Platform in a meaningful way”, Suman remarked.

    India has become Confluent’s biggest workforce based outside of the United States. To support the growing demand in India, Confluent plans to increase the local headcount by 25 per cent in 2024.

    Confluent and associated marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Confluent, Inc.

  • Fello appoints Vamshi Krishna M R as head of engineering and Bhargav Prasad as business operations lead

    Fello appoints Vamshi Krishna M R as head of engineering and Bhargav Prasad as business operations lead

    Mumbai: Fello – India’s largest rewarding savings platform has announced the expansion of its leadership team with the appointment of Vamshi Krishna M R, as head of engineering; and Bhargav Prasad, as business operations lead.  

    Congratulating them on their new roles, Fello co-founder and CEO Manish Maryada commented, “We’re excited to have highly talented and transformative individuals in key leadership roles at Fello.  Vamshi, and Bhargav’s proven leadership skills, vast expertise, and innovative thinking will create new synergies of growth for us. Their appointment emphasizes our ongoing strategy to expand our team, and leveraging the same to offer our users the best possible outcomes.”

    Serving as the pillar, to bring forth scalable and effective fintech solutions, Vamshi as the engineering lead and technical architect at Fello, will be instrumental in designing the company’s technological path which seamlessly aligns with its strategic goals. Heralding this position, he will be overseeing planning and execution, whilst ensuring the development of high-quality, performant systems built with scalability in mind. Prior to his stint at Fello, he was principal engineer at Niyo Solutions.

    Speaking about his new role, Vamshi Krishna, said, “Joining Fello is an exciting move for me, marking my venture in the fintech world. I’m here to build, solve problems, and innovate, making financial services better for all. Bringing my tech passion to the team, I’ll be focused on contributing to Fello’s growth, product innovation, and customer satisfaction. Promoting technical excellence, I look forward to spearheading Fello’s mission of transforming the fintech landscape.”

    Bhargav Prasad, recently elevated to Fello’s business operations lead, will be leading the charge in streamlining operations and enhancing user experiences, whilst focusing on building customer success strategies and stakeholder management. A strong foundation in people management and the ability to juggle numbers and finance make him an invaluable part of Fello’s team, helping the company ensure customer satisfaction and operational excellence.

    “Being at Fello has empowered me to leverage my passion for operational excellence and customer satisfaction. With Fello’s team, I’m committed to making a difference, not just in the fintech world, but also in our customers’ lives. With the ability to understand and implement the right solutions, I am dedicated to ensuring Fello’s operations run smoothly and efficiently, ultimately driving growth and customer satisfaction.”, commented business operations lead Bhargav Prasad.

    With a focus on technological advancements, marketing strategies, customer acquisition, and stakeholder management, the new appointments showcase the company’s continued focus on strengthening its executive team with transformative digital leaders, who will lead the company into its next chapter of exponential growth. 

  • Yatra Online Ltd appoints Gaurav Luthra as chief business officer – new business development

    Yatra Online Ltd appoints Gaurav Luthra as chief business officer – new business development

    Mumbai: Yatra Online (NASDAQ: YTRA), through its Indian subsidiary, Yatra Online Ltd (“Yatra”), India’s largest corporate travel services provider (Source: CRISIL Report) and a leading online travel company in India among OTA players in terms of gross booking revenue and operating revenue, for fiscal year 2023, has announced the appointment of Gaurav Luthra as chief business officer – new business development.

    As a seasoned professional with over 28 years of experience, Gaurav brings extensive industry expertise to the table. He will lend his strategic leadership to drive the company’s corporate travel proposition focused on Mid-market customers and will play an instrumental role..

    As a chief business officer at Yatra, Gaurav will leverage his extensive experience and proven track record, for building and further enhancing Yatra’s mid-market and SME corporate travel proposition, and developing new products such as visa facilitation and car rentals for business travelers, thereby delivering financial growth for the company. Gaurav’s appointment further strengthens Yatra’s commitment to excellence and its vision of providing exceptional travel experiences to customers.

    In his previous role as managing director of FCM Travel, Gaurav showcased his prowess in overseeing Indian interests for Australia’s Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG). During his 25-year tenure at FCTG India, Gaurav emerged as a revered industry veteran, renowned for pioneering product innovations, leading technological advancements, and fostering fruitful supplier relationships to drive revenue growth.

    Commenting on his appointment, Gaurav Luthra said, “I’m excited to embark on this new chapter with Yatra, and contribute to its continued success in the travel industry. Yatra’s current trajectory is incredibly promising, and I look forward to collaborating with the team to further fortify this growth. As the newly appointed Chief Business Officer at Yatra, my immediate focus will be on meticulous strategic planning to unlock the full potential of the brand, surpassing the expectations of both our customers and stakeholders alike. With innovative strategies, I’m confident we’ll lead Yatra to even greater success, delighting customers every step of the way.”

    Yatra Online Ltd CEO & whole-time director Dhruv Shringi said, “Gaurav brings with him a wealth of knowledge, the right expertise, and capabilities that will be fundamental to help accelerate Yatra’s presence in the online travel aggregator space. I’m thrilled to have him come onboard as he will play a pivotal role in executing the many exciting opportunities we have on the horizon as we enter our next growth phase.”

  • Two99 welcomes Vishnu Kanth Gokul as chief growth officer

    Two99 welcomes Vishnu Kanth Gokul as chief growth officer

    Mumbai: Two99, a leading force in digital innovation and strategic growth, is excited to announce the appointment of Vishnu Kanth Gokul as the new chief growth officer. Gokul joins the team with an impressive background, having accumulated nearly 30 years of experience in digital and media sales across some of the industry’s most respected platforms and companies.

    Gokul’s career is highlighted by his roles at renowned organizations such as Rediff, Sify, Sulekha, Rajshri.com, 123greetings.com, Percept, Times Internet ( Cricbuzz.com), Qoruz, and Zoo Media Network as a dominant player onboarding top-tier agencies and securing major brands, which led to increased revenue and market share.

    At Two99, Vishnu will play a pivotal role in steering the company towards new heights of innovation and collaboration. His appointment is a testament to Two99’s commitment to excellence, nurturing human relationships, and safeguarding core values and ideas.

    “We are excited to welcome Vishnu to our team. His exceptional track record, deep understanding of the digital landscape, and commitment to growth align perfectly with our vision at Two99. With Vishnu’s leadership, we are poised to revolutionize the digital ecosystem, enhancing user experiences, cultivating dynamic communities, and optimizing distribution efficiency.” Two99 (e-commerce, tech marketing, cyber security) CEO Agam Chaudhary.

  • Venkatachalam H appointed as Tata AIA’s CEO and MD

    Venkatachalam H appointed as Tata AIA’s CEO and MD

    Mumbai: Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Ltd, one of India’s fastest growing life insurance companies, has announced that its board has appointed Venkatachalam H as the new chief executive officer & managing director, subject to regulatory approval from IRDAI. Venkatachalam H. will take over from current chief executive officer & managing director, Naveen Tahilyani who moves to another role in the Tata Group and has been elevated as a non-executive director of Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Ltd.

    Venky as he is fondly known, has over 27 years’ experience spanning life insurance, asset management and custodial services. He has expertise in sales & distribution, strategy, business and process development and key account management. He joined Tata AIA in 2016 and was president and chief distribution officer in his previous role. Venky has also led several initiatives in areas such as marketing, strategy, analytics, and direct digital business.

    Naveen has been a visionary leader, spearheading the transformation of Tata AIA into a market-leading and digitally enabled multi-channel business. Tata AIA has consistently outperformed the market, with VONB increasing by three and a half times between 2018 and 2022. Under Naveen’s leadership, Tata AIA has risen to become number three company on retail-weighted new business premium and is ranked number one in retail sum assured among private sector life insurers. Tata AIA has been awarded the Kincentric Best Employer seven times in a row as well as certified as a Great Place to Work.

  • Flash.co appoints Amit Verma as chief product and technology officer

    Flash.co appoints Amit Verma as chief product and technology officer

    Mumbai: Flash.co, the fast-growing consumer app building a unique shopping experience for online shoppers, is pleased to announce the appointment of Amit Verma as its chief product and technology officer (CPTO). This move comes as Flash.co accelerates its growth in India and prepares for an expansion into global markets starting this year.

    Amit Verma is an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and the former chief technology officer at Practo. He brings extensive leadership experience, having successfully led technology teams at Big Basket, Ola, Oracle, and Yahoo. His appointment at Flash.co is a significant step towards the company’s goal of transforming the shopping experience for the top 250 million shoppers worldwide.

    Since its launch in April 2023, Flash.co has rapidly built up a user base of 600,000 plus users, achieving an annual run rate of tracking over 12 million orders across 2200 plus brands. Backed by Blume Ventures and Global Founders Capital, the company has secured over $12.5 million in funding, positioning itself for a highly anticipated US launch in the coming months. The platform aims to revolutionize customer shopping experiences with features like seamless shopping tracking, AI-powered spam-free inbox, in-depth spending analytics, personalized lifestyle rewards and more.

    Speaking about joining Flash.co, Amit Verma, expressed his delight and added, “I am really excited to join the Flash.co team, drawn by the problem statements being solved & their global aspirations. My immediate focus would be to re-architect the existing systems for stability and scalability required for global expansion. I would focus on nurturing the culture of customer centricity, speed & innovation, creating next generation products for both customers and brands.”

    Flash.co CEO Ranjith Boyanapalli expressed his excitement about Amit’s appointment and said, “We are thrilled to welcome Amit as our CPTO. He will be integral to the company’s commitment to delivering exceptional global products in the coming days. Flash.co is eager to witness its next growth chapter under his leadership and acumen.”

  • Gautam Krishna joins Odisha TV Network as national sales head

    Gautam Krishna joins Odisha TV Network as national sales head

    Mumbai: Gautam Krishna has joined Odisha Television Ltd as the national sales head moving on from BARC India where he served as VP client partnership & revenue – North & East.

    Krishna announced the same through a LinkedIn post.

    Krishna is a sales professional with over two decades of experience in strategic business development and building alliances. He has worked across TV, print, and radio, including earlier positions at Sony Pictures Networks India, Disney Star, BIG FM, Times Group, among others.

  • Bodhisatva Ganguli joins Network18 as group consulting editor

    Bodhisatva Ganguli joins Network18 as group consulting editor

    Mumbai : Bodhisatva Ganguli, who recently retired as editorial director of The Economic Times, has joined Network18 as group consulting editor.

    Bodhi will join the strong line up of editors and writers at Network18 and will primarily contribute to Moneycontrol across multiple formats, guide teams and also help with the network’s on ground events.

    An economics graduate of Kolkata’s Presidency College, Bodhi did his post graduate degree from the Delhi School of Economics.

    He started his career at the Business India magazine and joined the opinion section of the Economic Times in 1999. He became the paper’s executive editor in 2015 and was later elevated to the post of Editorial Director.

    Bodhi will be based in Mumbai.

  • Akash Palkhiwala elevated as CFO, COO of the Qualcomm

    Akash Palkhiwala elevated as CFO, COO of the Qualcomm

    Mumbai : Qualcomm recently created the position of COO, Akash Palkhiwala elevated as the new CFO, COO of the Qualcomm.made by CEO and president of the Qualcomm Cristiano Amon. Earlier he worked as SVP and finance lead at Qualcomm semiconductor business.

    He has more than 23 years of experience across various industries in leadership roles. He will serve his expertise in financial operations and expansion for the company.He will also handle operations and information technology across the globe for the company.

  • Prakash Wakankar joined Xynteo India as a director on its board

    Prakash Wakankar joined Xynteo India as a director on its board

    Mumbai: In a strategic move to reinforce its commitment to enhancing the well-being of people and facilitating planet-positive growth, Xynteo India announced the onboarding of industry veteran Prakash Wakankar as a director to its board. With an illustrious 38-year career spanning various industries and geographies, he brings a wealth of experience and enhances the diversity in leadership.

    Prakash’s journey began in Pharmaceuticals with Pfizer & Hoechst (now Aventis), setting the stage for a remarkable professional voyage. Starting with Pharmaceuticals (Pfizer & Hoechst), over the past four decades, Prakash has worked in  FMCG, Packaging, Hospitality, Energy, & Retail Two-wheelers and International Business, He has held leadership and board-level positions, including   president,  Coca-Cola Bottling (CBU) in India, director east Asia & Pacific, Essel Propack Ltd., president & CEO, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts, managing director, Perfetti van Melle, and recently as chief of international operations (FES), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and CEO of Mahindra Two-Wheeler Businesses. He brings extensive domestic and international understanding, spanning India, ASEAN, the Far East, Europe, and parts of Latin America and Africa.

    Post his superannuation in March 2023, Prakash continues to advise the Mahindra Farm Sector.

    Commenting on this significant development, Xynteo India senior partner Vipul Kumar, said, “Having Prakash Wakankar onboard marks a valuable addition to the Xynteo India family. His extensive expertise and unwavering dedication to diversity perfectly resonate with our commitment to purpose-driven initiatives. At Xynteo, we are focused on steering organisations toward addressing global societal and environmental challenges. Prakash’s strategic vision aligns seamlessly with our mission, enhancing the dynamism of our board and playing a pivotal role in propelling Xynteo India towards excellence. Together, we look forward to advancing our common objective of creating positive societal and environmental impact through purposeful transformations.”

    Beyond his corporate achievements, Prakash is an accomplished sports broadcaster for the BBC, ABC, Cricket Radio, and Akashwani, showcasing his ability to balance his passion for Cricket with corporate responsibilities. He is widely recognized as a sought-after speaker and trainer across diverse genres.

    Xynteo director Prakash Wakankar said, “I am excited to contribute my diverse experiences to the dynamic team at Xynteo. Aligned with the organisation’s purpose-driven approach, I am enthusiastic about collaborating with the team to foster innovation and drive planet-positive change in the industry. Together, we aim to advance Xynteo’s vision of a world where businesses thrive by addressing global societal and environmental challenges and guiding leaders through purposeful transformations that fuel sustainable growth.”

    In its pioneering collaborative initiatives with global industry leaders, Xynteo is dedicated to fostering growth that benefits both the planet and human well-being. Embracing the possibilities of achieving net-zero emissions and transitioning to a circular economy, Xynteo enthusiastically develops socially inclusive solutions and reshapes stakeholder ecosystems to promote greater equity. This approach introduces a fresh perspective on how businesses are guided by Xynteo’s leadership, approach thinking, leadership, partnerships, and overall conduct.