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Tag: Promotion

  • Media ‘investment pundit’ Karan Taurani gets his executive stripes at Elara Capital

    Media ‘investment pundit’ Karan Taurani gets his executive stripes at Elara Capital

    MUMBAI: Karan Taurani, Mumbai’s most recognisable media analyst, has bagged the executive vice president role at Elara Capital. The May 2025 promotion caps nearly seven years at the investment firm, where he’s dissected media, consumer discretionary, and internet sectors with surgical precision. Now retail has been added to his watch portfolio. 

    Taurani’s climb from vice president (October 2018) to senior vice president (April 2021) and now to the executive suite reflects his growing clout. His trajectory mirrors his expanding media footprint—from conference circuits to prime-time television punditry.

    The analyst’s journey began at Pioneer Investcorp (2008-2011), covering IT and mid-cap technology during the sector’s boom years. IFCI Financial Services expanded his remit to education whilst maintaining IT expertise. Religare offered broader horizons, juggling 15-plus companies across technology, media, telecoms, and education as lead analyst.

    Dolat Capital Market cemented his media sector reputation before Elara Capital came calling in 2018. What sets Taurani apart is his media savvy—regular television appearances and conference circuit presence make him the go-to voice for sectoral insights, whether streaming wars, retail disruption, or consumer spending patterns.
    His independent directorship at Kavithalayaa since January 2024 adds board-level strategic nous to complement analytical prowess. It’s cross-pollination that makes for rounded market commentary.

    At Elara, Taurani’s executive elevation suggests the firm recognises value beyond pure research. In an era where analyst personalities drive investment decisions, having a media-savvy executive who articulates complex trends across platforms is worth its weight in rupees.

    For Taurani, the promotion validates a career built understanding India’s evolving consumer landscape. His analytical journey mirrors the country’s economic transformation—and executive stripes suggest more commentary ahead.

  • Zee promotes Chandni Mathur to director of corp comm

    Zee promotes Chandni Mathur to director of corp comm

    Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises has promoted Chandni Mathur to director of corporate communications, after her role as associate director of corporate communications.

    With nearly seven years at Zee, she has held key positions, including associate director and senior manager, where she developed effective strategies and enhanced media relations.

    Mathur began her career as a business journalist and has over seven years of experience in media, advertising, and marketing. She has also worked with organisations such as Financial Express, Radioandmusic.com, and Focus TV.

  • Chinese Wok & Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 collab for a digital campaign

    Chinese Wok & Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 collab for a digital campaign

    Mumbai: To connect with a broader audience, Chinese Wok, a leading QSR chain in India specialising in Chinese cuisine, has partnered with the upcoming film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, marking the brand’s first movie integration. This collaboration aims to leverage the film’s popularity to engage fans and elevate the brand’s presence, creating a fusion of food and entertainment.

    The campaign highlights Kartik’s charm while showcasing Chinese Wok’s authentic Desi Chinese cuisine. This collaboration not only builds excitement for the film but also emphasises the flavors that have made Chinese Wok a favorite among food lovers.

    Chinese Wok founder Aayush Agrawal commented, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3! At Chinese Wok, we are constantly exploring new avenues to connect with our audience in meaningful and engaging ways. Partnering with such a highly anticipated film allows us to merge the excitement of cinema with the vibrant flavours of Desi Chinese. This collaboration represents our ongoing efforts to innovate, expand our reach, and create memorable interactions with customers through a blend of food and entertainment.”

    In addition to the campaign, Chinese Wok has launched a cool Instagram filter, ‘Balance the Wok’,where users can balance a virtual wok while collecting Desi Chinese ingredients. This fun, interactive filter blends entertainment with education, reinforcing the bold and authentic flavours that Chinese Wok is known for.

  • Paytm Insider elevates Varun Khare to COO

    Paytm Insider elevates Varun Khare to COO

    Mumbai: Paytm Insider, one of India’s leading entertainment experiences platforms, announced the elevation of Varun Khare to chief operating officer (COO). In his new role, Varun will lead the company’s operational strategies, driving growth and innovation across all facets of the business.

    Having been with the organisation for four years, Varun as the business head showcased exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and a deep understanding of the evolving needs of the customers and partners. Under his management, Paytm Insider witnessed over 100 per cent growth in GMV each year over the last two years whilst quadrupling the revenue in the last two years. With a clear understanding of the brand’s vision and the need to build the event’s infrastructure in India, Varun was instrumental in making significant inroads into tier two and three markets by collaborating with artists, organisers, and promoters to enhance live event experiences.

    Before joining Paytm Insider, Varun worked with Fountainhead MKTG and eventually Oranjuice Entertainment. With a robust background spanning 17 years in the live events and entertainment industry, he specialises in meticulously crafting and executing intellectual properties (IPs).

    Talking about his new position, Paytm Insider COO Varun Khare said, “When I moved to Paytm Insider, the intention was to scale up and work with a brand whose value system and culture resonated with mine. Working with a team of 150 exceptionally talented individuals and earning their respect has been one of the most gratifying and significant achievements of my career. We have successfully expanded to over 170 cities having reached a diverse customer base across genres making my journey both challenging and rewarding.”

    He further added, “I am grateful to all the passionate people who have been a part of my journey. I am looking forward to this new phase. We’ve only just gotten started and have put ourselves in a great position to make live entertainment the preferred choice of entertainment across the country.”

    Talking about Varun’s promotion, Paytm Insider founder & CEO Shreyas Srinivasan expressed, “Paytm Insider was founded with the vision of making events a preferred choice for entertainment in India. Over the last five years we have built a full-fledged platform that supports organisers with a range of services that spans ticketing, sponsorship, artist booking, marketing and more. Varun has been instrumental in this build-out, his vast experience across all aspects of organising an event has allowed us to build a platform which will champion events and organisers across this country. I am super confident that this team has the right mix to make Insider the dominant events platform in India.”

  • Veera promotes Aniruddha Jaju to head of revenue

    Veera promotes Aniruddha Jaju to head of revenue

    Mumbai: Veera, a mobile-only internet browser, has announced the elevation of Aniruddha Jaju to head – revenue at the company. Aniruddha, a graduate of IIM-Ahmedabad with over 12 years of rich and diversified experience, started his journey with Veera as chief of staff, showcasing exceptional leadership and strategic acumen. His promotion to this pivotal role underscores his invaluable contributions and unwavering commitment to driving growth and innovation within the organization.

    Prior to joining Veera, Aniruddha was the director & chief of staff, corporate strategy at MX Player, where he led fundraise and investor relations, business planning, corporate strategy and led high-priority strategic initiatives across content, revenue, growth, tech, etc. Before joining MX Player, he was at Accenture for seven years as a member of the TMT Consulting practice at Accenture Strategy (India Business). Beyond his corporate endeavors, Aniruddha epitomizes the spirit of entrepreneurship and investment. He has passionately supported numerous startups, serving as an angel and growth investor in prominent ventures such as, Botlab Dynamics, KnockSense, Zypp Electric, and Board Infinity. Additionally, he co-founded a pioneering product consulting startup aimed at empowering startups and SMEs to actualize their digital product aspirations, aptly named ‘Zero to One (Z21)’. He is also passionate about mentoring students, and has provided counseling and guidance to over 200 plus students.

    On this promotion, Veera founder Arjun Ghose said, “Aniruddha’s diverse portfolio and steadfast dedication to innovation harmonize seamlessly with Veera’s vision for growth and evolution. As Head of Revenue, he will champion initiatives focused on amplifying revenue streams, cultivating strategic partnerships, and fostering sustainable business expansion. His strategic foresight and unwavering commitment epitomize the values we cherish at Veera. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Aniruddha on his well-deserved promotion to this pivotal role and harbor absolute confidence that his leadership will propel us to unprecedented success.”

    Said Aniruddha, “I am truly honored to step into the role of head of revenue at Veera. It’s an exciting opportunity to further align our strategic objectives with innovative and diverse revenue-generation strategies. I am grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by Arjun, Sukhdeep, and the entire team. Together, we will chart new territories and drive Veera towards unparalleled success.”

  • Neeraj Jha promoted to director – head of content & acquisition (sports) at Warner Bros Discovery

    Neeraj Jha promoted to director – head of content & acquisition (sports) at Warner Bros Discovery

    Mumbai: Neeraj Jha, who previously served as the head of content and acquisition (sports) at Warner Bros Discovery, has been promoted to the role of director – head of content and acquisition (sports).

    In his prior position, Jha spearheaded the rights and acquisition endeavors for Eurosport and Discovery Plus, successfully negotiating and securing significant content deals. These efforts led to a notable 30 percent expansion of the content library and a marked increase in viewer engagement.

    Jha also supervised the production and strategy of branded sales content, collaborating closely with marketing teams to devise campaigns that resulted in a noteworthy 25 percent growth in sponsorships and advertising revenue. Furthermore, he played a key role in developing and executing programming strategies, syndication, and slot-selling initiatives, which culminated in a substantial 40 percent surge in viewership and enhanced market positioning.

    His career journey began as an assistant producer at IMG, and he subsequently gained experience across prominent entities such as E-TV Network, Zee News, Ten Sports Network, and Discovery Inc.

  • Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to VP and country head – US

    Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to VP and country head – US

    Mumbai: Audio series platform Pocket FM has announced that the company has elevated Lalit Gangwar to VP and country head – US and lead the company’s content operations and revenue growth for the US market.

    An IIT-Madras alumni, Lalit is a founding member of Pocket FM and has been a driving force behind Pocket FM’s success in establishing its presence across multiple geographies, including India and US. His strategic vision and commitment have played an integral role in the platform’s transformation into a global entertainment powerhouse.

    Lalit Gangwar, the newly appointed US country head, expressed his excitement about the journey ahead. He shared, “Pocket FM’s success underscores the impact of engaging storytelling. In the dynamic US entertainment industry, audio series are becoming more popular as a mainstream platform, fuelled by the emergence of widespread audio entertainment. Aligned with this evolution, we aim to deliver compelling storytelling that contributes to the growth of the audio series category in the US. It is my privilege and honor to have the opportunity to contribute to continue Pocket FM’s growth journey in US and take it to the next leap”

    Lalit has been a partner to Pocket FM’s journey since its early days. Prior to joining Pocket FM, he has worked with startups like Healthkart, Zomato and Dineout.

    Commenting on the elevation, Pocket FM CEO & co-founder Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit’s contributions have been nothing short of extraordinary. He has been a driving force in our journey towards achieving profitable growth. In this elevated role, we believe Pocket FM will continue to thrive and keep expanding into newer territories and emerge as a global leader in the audio entertainment space,”

    In 2022, the company announced its entry into the US market when it surpassed a US$25 million annualized revenue run rate (ARR). It remains bullish towards innovation and growth and aims to leverage its proven success to build a mainstream entertainment hub for a global audience.

  • Poornima Sharma is the new head of marketing partnerships at Netflix India

    Poornima Sharma is the new head of marketing partnerships at Netflix India

    Mumbai: Netflix India has recently promoted Poornima Sharma as head of marketing partnerships. She became a part of Netflix in 2020 and previously held the role of partner marketing lead. Sharma shared this news on her LinkedIn profile.

    In her prior roles, Sharma worked with Paytm Insider, the ticketing platform for festivals and events as head of brand partnerships and alliances. She also spent a year in OML Entertainment (before moving to Insider, which was a part of OML before it became a Paytm company), in the festival marketing team, where she worked on marketing for various properties including Bacardi NH7 Weekender, EDC India, and more.

  • SKIL Travel promoted Trishal Rao as chief sales officer

    SKIL Travel promoted Trishal Rao as chief sales officer

    Mumbai: India’s one of the end-to-end corporate travel solutions provider SKIL Travel has recently promoted Trishal Rao to chief sales officer. Currently working as the director of SKIL Travel, Trishal plays an important leadership role and exudes strong business strategies that have helped SKIL Travel to flourish in the growing travel trade market.

    A seasoned executive known for driving businesses to success, Trishal possesses sharp analytical acumen that he has developed over the years through his diverse exposure in the dynamic hospitality sector. He has previously been a part of hospitality brands of repute like Oakwood and Hyatt which have aided in shaping up his strategic business development and execution. Over the years, Trishal’s role as director at SKIL Travel has helped the company in attaining the market-leading position in providing bespoke end-to-end corporate travel solutions. A team player with a strong collaborative aura, he has helped bring in several noteworthy recognitions and accolades for SKIL Travel on the back of providing exceptional services and spotless quality year on year.

    Speaking about the promotion, Trishal Rao said, “It indeed is an honour to take on the new role of chief sales officer at SKIL Travel. While here at SKIL Travel, every day is filled with learnings, the new role will bring more opportunities to make the maximum out of and in turn help the company’s sales strategies to shape up better. Backed by our talented team, I am excited to take on the new role and work together to achieve untapped heights in business objectives.”

    SKIL Travel managing director & founder Shylender Jindal added, “Trishal has brought a lot of development within SKIL Travel which goes beyond measure. While bringing in brilliant results, Trishal’s strong communication skills have only helped nurture good relations within the travel trade fraternity. With our trajectory to grow manifold, we at SKIL Travel are confident that Trishal is the right person to take on the role of chief sales officer. Under his aegis, SKIL Travel will indeed reach newer heights of success.”

  • JSW Group elevates Divyanshu Singh as JSW Sports’ COO

    JSW Group elevates Divyanshu Singh as JSW Sports’ COO

    Mumbai: The $23 billion JSW Group has elevated Divyanshu Singh as chief operating officer of JSW Sports. This is part of JSW Group’s strategic direction to create a strong leadership bench by providing growth opportunities to high-performing employees.

    Divyanshu, a former professional tennis player comes with a decade of experience across sports sponsorships and marketing, talent management, new business development, and specializing in unlocking commercial value in sport.

    In 2014, he completed his MBA in Marketing and Strategy from ISB – India’s top-ranked B- School as per Financial Times. He then secured a scholarship to study Sports Management at Leipzig University in Germany in 2016-17 where he gained a global perspective and learned best practices in sports governance.

    Prior to joining JSW Sports in 2017 to set up the sales and marketing function at India’s largest pure-play sports management company, he had worked at IMG Reliance and Cornerstone Sport & Entertainment.

    JSW Sports founder Parth Jindal said, “Divyanshu’s elevation is in line with our Group’s strategy to scale-up high high-performing employees to enable them to contribute to business strategies at scale. Our Sports business is at a pivotal point as we continue to scale up our sports investments in Indian and international leagues and focus on new business avenues including talent management, consulting, licensing, and merchandise. I am confident that Divyanshu’s extensive experience and understanding of the Sports avenues will enable us to scale new horizons.”

    JSW Sports – the sports business of JSW Group has always had a holistic approach to athlete development as well as ensuring their commercial success in a rich and diverse ecosystem.  Along with fostering a culture of excellence and nurturing talent, JSW Sports also believes in contributing to the overall growth of sports in the country. The last few years has been a phase of immense growth from franchise ownership in multiple leagues to running India’s largest Olympic Sports Development Program.

    On his new responsibility, Singh said, “As I continue my journey at JSW Sports, I am really excited to be leading an organisation which has made such a massive impact on professionalising and developing Indian sport, which is currently at an inflexion point.. I am grateful to be working under such vision and leadership along with a team whose singular mission is to realise the sporting potential of India from both from a development and commercial lens.