ITV

Tag: Smaaash Entertainment

  • Smaaash Entertainment appoints Shirish Kotmire as CEO

    Smaaash Entertainment appoints Shirish Kotmire as CEO

    Mumbai: Gaming and entertainment centre operator Smaaash Entertainment has announced the appointment of Shirish Kotmire as its new CEO.

    Kotmire brings about three decades of experience in aggressive growth-oriented mature global companies as well as successful new ventures and start-ups. “He is a quintessential growth hack that demonstrates entrepreneurial spirit in all his endeavours with innovation, team building, professional work ethic and techno commercial savviness,” said the statement.

    Based out of Mumbai, Kotmire’s immediate task will be to build a team of experienced CXO who shall anchor the transformation journey of Smaaash to create new benchmarks in this industry, the company said.

    “We are elated to have Shirish Kotmire in our team at Smaaash, he has experience in marquee retail, technology brands, and promoter-driven ventures,” said Smaaash Entertainment founder and chief imagination officer Shripal Morakhia. “At 63, I worked hard to resurrect Smaaash in the last six months. It was high time that a professional leadership team took over to guide Smaaash to new heights. The appointment of Shirish as the CEO is the first step in that direction. With his vast experience in creating value across businesses we look forward to his leadership to deliver same store growths as well as execute the blitzkrieg of new stores expansion nationally”.

    “I am honored and pleased to accept the privilege of heading Smaaash and strengthening the position of Smaaash as the fun, party, play, bonding and entertainment destination for informal friends’ groups, corporate and retail customers along with building digital engagement with them,” said Shirish Kotmire.

    He added, “Our consumers have grown up on Smaaash over the last 11 years and have a strong affinity to the brand. In our second inning, we are giving a classy environment along with a potent combination of gaming-bowling, go-karting, arcade and VR games along with a pocket-friendly resto bar to relax after a tiring but fun gaming time. To build stickiness and exploit opportunities in the growing gaming space, we are on the cusp of introducing exciting innovative formats in the physical edutainment space also”.

    Shirish holds a postgraduate diploma in Marketing from IIM Bangalore and did his graduation bachelor of technology computer engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka. “With his vast skill set in monetizing assets by innovation in sales, marketing and technology it makes him the ideal choice as the CEO at Smaaash,” said the statement.

    His previous companies in leadership positions include Reliance Retail GVK-Mumbai International Airport, Bharti Airtel, Rediff.com and Asian Paints, among others. The top skills which his seniors and colleagues acknowledge are business development, financial planning, business strategy, and execution as well as team management.

    He is passionate about mentoring start-up co-founders as well as sharing his entrepreneurship leanings through skill-based courses as a visiting faculty in SPJIMR, Mumbai.

  • SMAAASH Entertainment strengthening its team with new leaders for 41 locations in 19 cities across India

    SMAAASH Entertainment strengthening its team with new leaders for 41 locations in 19 cities across India

    MUMBAI: SMAAASH Entertainment has recently promoted Mr. Udit Batra and Mr. Jaydeep Ray.  Udit Batra will now be heading PAN India F&B operations along with NCR & Bengaluru cluster head duties.  He has been associated with SMAAASH since 2015 and has served as General Manager Operations & Cluster Head of Delhi/NCR. During his tenure with the brand he has proven his skills in managing teams to work in sync within the corporate set parameters. In past he has also worked with hospitality brands like The Deltin Daman, The Park and The Taj Krishna.

    On the other hand Jaydeep Ray will be Head of Brand & Marketing- India ( General Manager Marketing). Earlier he played his role as the Marketing Head for the North India centers of SMAAASH & Business Head for Online Sales and has been loyal with the brand from the very long time. In his past stints he has worked in entertainment & leisure activities organisations like Kingdom of Dreams & Appughar Amusement parks as Marketing & Brand Manager.

    On the recent new appointments and promotions given Mr. Kaizaad Bajina, COO, SMAAASH said “ My heartiest congratulations to both of them and I believe that they will do complete justice in their new roles as well. I look forward to boosting our brands reach with a focus on new innovative way to do business, operational excellence, strategic development and team building”.

  • Sports & experiential ent.: PVR & Major sell bluO to Smaaash for Rs 860 mn

    MUMBAI: PVR Ltd today announced that it has entered into definitive agreement with Smaaash Entertainment (‘SMAAASH’) to sell its stake in bluO entertainment, a premium bowling and entertainment format operated by the company.

    As part of its national expansion plans, world class gaming and entertainment company Smaaash Entertainment has acquired 100 per cent stake in bluO entertainment (a premium bowling and entertainment format), for a consideration of approximately Rs. 860 million.

    bluO is a joint venture between PVR Limited and Major Cineplex Group of Thailand in which PVR owns 51 per cent stake with balance 49 per cent stake held by Major Group. The acquisition marks the doubling of the area under Smaaash management from 276,000 square feet to approximately around 600,000 square feet in India.

    The significant acquisition also adds six centres (approximately 210,000 sq. ft. of premium space) across five cities to Smaaash’s existing blueprint of seven centres in India and one in Minneapolis in the United States. The newly acquired centres will operate under Smaaash branding and two more centres are expected to open shortly. Smaaash will introduce its signature games at all bluO centres, which only had bowling before.

    PVR chairman & MD Ajay Bijli said, “The sale of bluO is in line with our strategy to divest all non-core assets and focus on our core cinema exhibition business. It is also reflective of the value embedded in our core assets and demonstrates our commitment to increase shareholder value and provide management a more focused approach for enhancing value in exhibition business. We are pleased to sell the business to Smaaash, which is a leader in retail and entertainment space in India and the US; and believe that they will take the business to even greater heights.”

    Smaaash Entertainment chairman & CIO Shripal Morakhia said, “The strategic acquisition of bluO is a significant step in doubling Smaaash’s scale and outreach in India’s fast growing retail entertainment space. The synergies between both brands are deeply symbiotic in creating a network of centers in key cities that are designed as destinations with a relentless focus on wholesome sports, active life, and adventure for urban citizens. We are sure that bluO’s premium locations, infrastructure and F&B offerings, coupled with Smaaash leadership in innovation with new technology and virtual reality, will fill a much-needed gap for experiential entertainment in our country. We are committed to enhancing profitability and revenue per centre while being the custodian of customer smiles in these centres.”

    The acquisition comes on the heels of Smaaash’s recent international success story in the Mall of America, Minneapolis, United States.

    EY acted as the exclusive financial advisor to the shareholders of PVR bluO for the transaction.

  • SMAAASH announces ‘Total Sports Asia’ as its exclusive brand solutions agency

    SMAAASH announces ‘Total Sports Asia’ as its exclusive brand solutions agency

    MUMBAI: Smaaash Entertainment (SMAAASH) has announced its exclusive partnership with Total Sports Asia (TSA). A global leader in sports, entertainment & branding solutions, TSA will come on board as its exclusive Sponsorship Sales and Brand Solutions agency for all the SMAAASH centers in the country and abroad.

     

    Through this association, SMAAASH aims at reaching out to brands and marketers across the country, by leveraging the specialised services offered by TSA and by further exploring key business development activities. TSA will provide expertise in providing customised solutions to brands, who want to engage with their consumers in unique and engaging routes, via the wide gamut of sponsorship opportunities across existing and upcoming SMAAASH centers.

     

    TSA director – sales and business development Ramakrishnan R said, “In this new era of sportainment, TSA is excited to be partnering with SMAAASH – the next big thing in gaming and entertainment, for all its upcoming centres. This is the closest to reality and an exciting platform for brands to interact with their consumers. Over the years we have successfully delivered to our rights holders globally and with our expertise across all offices globally, we hope to add value to SMAAASH through clearly defined brand assets.”

     

    Very recently SMAAASH Entertainment roped in FW Sports Investment Fund LP (FSIF), a Mauritius-based private equity fund as strategic investor; this is the first round of private equity funding into the company. This capital base will be a catalyst for the company to achieve its aggressive expansion plans and meet its objective of providing active entertainment via a fun filled, value-for-money experience.

     

    SMAAASH founder Shripal Morakhia added, “We are pleased to partner with Asia’s global leader in sports content and branding solutions- Total Sports Asia, as the team’s official Brand Solutions Agency. SMAAASH engages with every customer in a unique way, and this partnership with TSA will help add long term value to all constituents – from our customers and brands to TSA & SMAAASH.”

     

    With an aim to entertain the masses with incredible indoor game facilities, SMAAASH is on the verge of expansion and meeting all the core points of the country. Spreading across the fun and entertainment zone with the most unique concepts, this sports-centric immersive and interactive entertainment venue by the end of 2014’s financial year will touch base in Surat, Delhi – Noida & Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Pune.