Pooja Asar, who led Paytm as vice president - marketing, has joined Tata Passenger Electric Mobility as head of marketing.

She started her career at Kotak Mahindra Bank and went on to work at Unilever too.

She has managed large brands in foods (Kissan, Knorr, Hellmann's Annapurna) & beauty segment ( Glow & lovely erstwhile Fair & Lovely) across South Asia, SE Asia & Middle East. She has demonstrated capability in driving new category innovations as well as scaling large established brands by leveraging emerging market trends & developing winning marketing campaigns impacting brand power & equity.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/bacardi-elevates-sameeksha-uniyal-as-regional-head-brand-29937.htm">Bacardi elevates Sameeksha Uniyal as regional head - brand</a>

Paytm's Pooja Asar joins Tata Passenger Electric Mobility as head of marketing

Previously, Pooja Asar was the vice president - marketing at Paytm.

Google backed Adda247 appoints Bimaljeet Singh Bhasin as CEO of of skilling and higher education business

Has Amazon Prime Video’s Aparna Purohit stepped down?

Chinese EV manufacturer Leapmotor gets ready for Indian markets

HDFC Mutual Fund launches new Mother's Day campaign to promote financial literacy among children

Sachin Tendulkar and Ageas Federal Life Insurance challenge conventional notions of financial planning

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Representational image via Unsplash

Zee-Sony merger saga ends: Timeline of the failed merger

Why are Indian brands advertising in NYC's Times Square?

What Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick teaches us about leadership

Advertising is in the position where tobacco was: IPG's Arun Kumar 

Biz Moves: Interactive Avenues, Verve Media, Foxymoron and Grapes

There is an opportunity for building a better agency, not just a different one: Manja's Prajato Guha

From tradition to transformation: The evolving role of women CFOs in Indian advertising

FCB Interface wins the creative mandate for Philips Home Appliances

Dentsu India announces departure of chief client officer, Sapna Arora

Is LinkedIn emerging as a bigger threat than Threads for X?

Piyush Pandey

Adtech regulation a priority for Modi govt in third term: MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Credibility of news and platforms are as important as monetisation challenges: Anurag Thakur

HUL: Meet the leaders who have emerged from "The CEO Factory"

Punit Goenka addresses Zee employees; ensures no layoffs due to failed merger

Disney's strategic sale to Viacom18 set to boost market share to 40 percent

The Leader's Edge: Storyboard18 in conversation with leaders, decision makers and disruptors

Nobody’s Perfect Retro Porsche Ad

In Conversation With Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard

Shahid Kapoor And Varun Ganjoo Speaks On PokerBaazi's Campaign

In conversation with IHCL’s Puneet Chhatwal & GroupM’s Kate Scott-Dawkins

Why are brands including e-sports in their sports marketing itinerary?

Storyboard18 x The English Nut: How to pronounce these 10 brand names

Experts' Take On Reinvention Of Ad Campaigns Through Technology

Experts Speak On Key Emerging Trends In Cannes Lions Entries

Leaders of the future have to be outstanding human beings: Nestle MD

In conversation with VMLY&R’s Hari Ramanathan

Games24x7 announced the elevation of Tridib Mukherjee to the position of Chief Data Science & AI Officer. In his new role, Tridib will continue to drive Games24x7's data-centric approach, leveraging his extensive expertise in data science and artificial intelligence to drive innovation and enhance user experiences.

Having served as the Vice President of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Games24x7 for over six years, Tridib played a pivotal role in implementing cutting-edge algorithms and AI-driven solutions that propelled Games24x7 to the forefront of the online gaming industry. Tridib will continue to spearhead data science & AI teams and enable product teams to create personalized and engaging experiences for players.

Commenting on the announcement, Bhavin Pandya, Co-CEO and Co-founder, Games24x7 said, “Our scientific approach to running business really goes all the way back to our inception and has been the primary force behind our success. We are delighted to announce Tridib's promotion to Chief Data Science & AI Officer. With his expertise and the exceptional talent of our AI and data science team, which has grown significantly over the past five years, we've continuously raised the bar when it comes to offering personalised gameplay experiences including responsible gaming.  We are confident that the organization will continue this tradition of innovation under his leadership, and we wish him the very best as he spearheads our data-driven journey to new heights.”

Tridib Mukherjee, now the Chief Data Science & AI Officer, Games24x7 said, “At Games24x7, we have always worked for the players and our operating ethos of 'Science of Gaming' has been the guiding principle behind every decision we make. Over the past six years, I've had the privilege of working alongside an incredibly talented team dedicated to advancing the frontiers of gaming through the lens of data science. And I look forward to many more years of collaboration and innovation as we continue our mission of leveraging technology to create even more engaging and enjoyable gaming experiences for our users.”

With over two decades of experience and a distinguished academic background, including a PhD in Computer Science & Engineering from Arizona State University, Tridib Mukherjee is uniquely positioned to lead Games24x7's data science initiatives to new heights. His prolific record as an author of over 70 research papers and multiple patents in AI and data sciences reflects his deep expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, and more. The talented team at Games24x7, along with Tridib's leadership and award-winning contributions, positions the organization to shape the future direction of the industry and deliver unparalleled gaming experiences to its users.

Games24x7 elevates Tridib Mukherjee as Chief Data Science & AI Officer

Unilever's Chief People and Transformation Officer, Nitin Paranjpe, took to LinkedIn to share a story about defying self-doubt and finding unexpected joys in embracing a personal challenge, even if the results are... well, let's just say entertaining.


“I am musically challenged. I struggle with rhythm; I don’t have any natural talent. Around twenty years ago, I decided to test this. I wanted to see, if you are challenged in a particular field, what can you do with effort and discipline,” he said in his post.


<iframe src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:share:7191801373401792512" height="747" width="504" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Embedded post"></iframe>


Almost 20 years ago Paranjpe found someone to teach him the keyboard. “If you want to know the outcome of that study, I still play badly. That’s how I challenged I am,” he said.


But then it was still a win for him because he always thought he wouldn't be able to string together a tune even if he was given the notes. Paranjpe goes on about his tryst with music. 


He didn’t find a lot of success in his learning story but definitely found joy. “Anyone who listens to me today could well say-My god! After so many years you still suck,” he said.


And to that he’d say, “Yeah, and that's okay. You have no idea where I was compared to where I am now.” Paranjpe ended the note with a profound thought. He said, “What started off purely as a challenge has turned out to be a lot of fun.”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/hul-appoints-vipul-mathur-as-executive-director-personal-care-takes-over-from-madhusudhan-rao-30619.htm">HUL appoints Vipul Mathur as Executive Director, Personal Care</a>

Unilever’s Nitin Paranjpe shares an endearing story about his lack of musical talent

The marketing industry plays a dynamic role in influencing consumer behaviour and fostering economic growth. After the grand success of the first two editions of Storyboard18 Visionaries, held in Gurugram and Bengaluru, the program is now gearing up to be in the city of marketing and creative excellence, Mumbai. 


The third edition of Visionaries to be held on Friday, April 26th will witness some of the biggest names in brand marketing come together to celebrate the brilliance of marketing mavens.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/sustainability-at-heart-and-purpose-defines-the-path-diageos-hina-nagarajan-24779.htm">Sustainability at heart and purpose defines the path: Diageo India's Hina Nagarajan</a> 


Storyboard18 Visionaries celebrates luminaries from the world of brands and marketing who have disrupted and revolutionised the way we approach media and advertising. The Visionaries is a one of its kind platform that presents opportunities for the sharpest minds in the business to convene, celebrate excellence and exchange ideas that power growth. It is a night of gala celebration shaping the future of marketing in India.


The city chapters of Visionaries aim to bring together meaningful conversations, spotlighting path-breaking achievements and future gazing strategies.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/storyboard18-visionaries-britannias-varun-berry-shares-leadership-lessons-24840.htm">Storyboard18 Visionaries: Britannia's Varun Berry shares leadership lessons</a> 


The Mumbai event promises to be an evening to remember, with the coming together of iconic leaders and new-age marketers. The event will feature a keynote address by Bharat Puri, CEO, Pidilite Industries and a special address by Santosh Iyer, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India Pvt Ltd. The evening will spotlight leading marketers from a wide-range of brands including HDFC Bank, P&G, Mercedes, Hindustan Unilever, Visa, L'Oreal, Mondelez, Spotify, UltraTech and Mahindra Group, among others. It will also feature engaging conversations with Nishant Kalra, Country Vice President, Salesforce, and MVS Murthy, CMO, Federal Bank, among others. The Visionaries programme for CXOs and executives brings a ringside view into ways of shaping consumer behaviour.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/storyboard18-visionaries-bengaluru-chapter-blockbuster-celebration-of-marketing-brilliance-24771.htm">Storyboard18 Visionaries - Bengaluru chapter: Blockbuster celebration of marketing brilliance</a> 


The Visionaries programme for CXOs and executives provides unparalleled insights of how the best and brightest function in complex times. So, meet us at the point where cutting-edge ideas and visionary leaders who are changing our approach to media, marketing and advertising, converge to power transformation.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/the-visionaries">The Visionaries</a>

Storyboard18 Visionaries Mumbai Edition is here!: Join the celebration of marketing mavens

The Derma Co., an active ingredient backed skincare brand from Honasa Consumer Limited, marked a milestone of achieving an annual revenue rate of INR 500 crore. "This achievement underscores Honasa Consumers’ capabilities to craft and scale new brands with strategic innovations, delivering exceptional skincare solutions to consumers across India," Honasa Consumer said in a statement. The milestone demonstrate the strength of the brand's on-trend, data-based innovation strategy, the company stated. 

Its focus on leveraging data for product innovation and responding swiftly to emerging trends continues to be a cornerstone of the strategy, the company added. 

Commenting on this milestone, Varun Alagh, Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Honasa Consumer Limited, says “The Derma Co.'s remarkable achievement of INR 500 crore annual run rate is a strong testament to our strategic brand-building approach at Honasa Consumer Limited. Our success is an output of in-depth consumer study of the evolving consumer demands and being able to innovate swiftly to deliver differentiated propositions to our consumers. This focus on excellence has helped us set new benchmarks across the active ingredient-based skincare segment. At Honasa, we are committed to continue our quest towards fueling our innovations and offer brands that serve the evolving consumer demands.”

Last month, Honasa Consumer Limited, the parent of Mamaearth, also launched ‘Staze’, a colour cosmetic line in a bid to enter the segment currently dominated by the likes of L'Oreal, Lakme, Sugar. “Staze is poised to carve its niche with a distinct emphasis on performance and innovation. We firmly believe that Gen Z consumers, who are seeking value and innovation, and Staze is uniquely positioned to meet and exceed their expectations", said Ghazal Alagh, Chief Innovation Officer, Honasa Consumer Ltd.

Varun Alagh added, “Honasa has always been at the forefront of innovation and being the pioneers in the BPC industry, we recognised a vital opportunity to address the burgeoning demand for innovative yet accessible colour cosmetics. And with the colour cosmetics segment boasting a remarkable CAGR of 12 percent and a substantial size of Rs 15,000 crore, it became evident that there was a gap in the market. These factors paved the way for Staze…”



Mamaearth-maker Honasa Consumer's second brand, The Derma Co., enters the Rs 500 crore ARR club

For Nidhi Mehta, director - finance, GOZOOP Group, Chief Financial Officers’ role extends beyond traditional finance boundaries. They are responsible for the finance and accounting professionals who perform operational functions and services in a strategic advisory role to the CEO and the rest of the C-suite peers. 


In a conversation with Storyboard18, she added, “A CFO's role commands a lot of respect in the ad agency as they advise other department heads, assist them in maximising revenues and controlling expenses without sacrificing customer needs and the agency's reputation.”


Edited Excerpts


Tell us about your career trajectory and journey. Where and how you started and what got you here.


I am a chartered accountant by profession. Post my three-year article ship, this is my first corporate job at GOZOOP Group. Years back I had not heard of GOZOOP but there was definitely a vibe when I entered the office for an interview. 


Digital Marketing was a thriving industry then and the core management at GOZOOP was impressive. The job profile offered was perfect and hence, there were no second thoughts. It's been years since that decision and since then there has been no looking back. 


What led you to join the advertising agency ecosystem in finance? What were your initial impressions and thoughts of the ad agency business? 


Advertising is always an exciting industry. In this new emerging era, where there is a wave of entrepreneurship and brand building, marketing today plays the most pivotal role for any new business start-up. Digital marketing helps thousands of new business entrepreneurs push boundaries and drive impact. 


How has the role of a CFO in an ad agency changed over the years? What does the job entail today? Where have you seen the biggest changes in what the role and function mean to the business? 


The CFO's role is extending beyond traditional finance boundaries and an increasing number of finance leaders view it as a pathway to the CEO position. The modern CFO is aspirational. 


Once mere observers in the boardroom, they are now crafting long-term strategies that ensure organisational stability. They are integral members of the top executive team, possessing a profound understanding of the company's vision. 


How do other departments and functions in the agency view the role of the CFO and the finance function? 


A CFO's and finance team's role in an ad agency is viewed as the most challenging role as they oversee the company's financial activities. This includes being responsible for the finance and accounting professionals who perform operational functions and services in a strategic advisory role to the CEO and the rest of the C-suite peers. 


A CFO's role commands a lot of respect in the ad agency as they advise other department heads, assist them in maximising revenues and controlling expenses without sacrificing customer needs and the agency's reputation.


How has the agency business model evolved? What have been the key changes and disruptions according to you and the impact of these shifts on the ad agency business model? 


Advertising agencies have evolved by leaps and bounds. It began with a simple printed ad in a newspaper and evolved into radio and television, commercials, billboards and digital advertising in the modern era. Advertising techniques have also become more sophisticated, incorporating psychology and consumer behaviour studies to create persuasive and effective campaigns.

 
Agencies are facing threats from all places. Is the business model future-ready? 


It is definitely future-ready as today the focus has shifted from the product to address consumer needs. With the emergence of new technologies and data-driven approaches, agencies can remain indispensable by tapping into this potential. 


However, with the pace of changes happening across the industry, agencies that do not develop a framework and plan for modernising their operational model that's inclusive of AI and technology will likely encounter increased challenges with both client and talent retention. 


From your observation, do you see any gender inequality or disparity in the finance function across levels? Agency leadership has traditionally been male dominated and advertising was seen as a boys club. Does that hold true for finance as well and the CFOs in advertising?


Not at all. The finance department at GOZOOP was and is always driven by women leadership. As far as the industry is concerned, there are several factors that lead to one's leadership goal.


What are the steps ad agencies must take to advance CFOs' role in advertising?


Agencies should enhance better communication between CFOs and other departmental heads. Regular meetings between them are needed to negotiate and discuss expenses and budgets that are aligned to the company's goals. 


A CFO should be made an integral part of all important decision-making of the agency as finance and marketers think and behave very differently. A combination of their brainstorming where marketers are driven by creativity and finance is driven by numbers and budgets could lead to some amazing outcomes for both the client and the agency.


What according to you are the biggest threats facing the advertising agency business today?

In-housing and talent retention are two of the biggest pressures that agencies face today. The threat remains that a brand will bring certain functions in-house, leaving agencies without that business. Brands are in-house because they believe they can do better work in a cheaper, faster and more transparent way. The other big issue is around both recruitment and retention of talent. There has always been volatility for agencies around talent. 


What are the trends you are currently witnessing in advertising, and what is the role of a CFO in such a scenario?


The rapid emergence of AI and the increasing role of technology within business operations is the current trend. CFOs should follow a test-and-learn approach where with their ability they are ready to take a smart risk and foresee how certain trends will impact their business. 


They should encourage the team to begin taking steps now to experiment with AI, explore how technology can drive operational value for the business, and help them understand how internal talent is spending their time and how to maximise their value for the business. 


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/managing-your-mind-at-work-and-beyond-isnt-easy-it-takes-a-lot-of-maturity-and-wisdom-says-bajaj-autos-deepika-warrier-16913.htm">Managing your mind at work and beyond isn't easy; it takes a lot of maturity and wisdom, says Bajaj Auto’s Deepika Warrier</a>

CFOs breaking boundaries, crafting long-term strategies for organisational stability: Nidhi Mehta, GOZOOP Group

Anupam Mittal, the founder and CEO of People Group and Shaadi.com, and a prominent investor on Shark Tank India, is widely recognized for his strategic investments in renowned startups and unicorn companies such as Ola Cabs, BigBasket, Druva, among others. Mittal is also one of the leading voices to take on big tech firms like Google and Meta, slamming them for their "unfair" monopolistic practices in markets like India. 

On April 9, Meta "arbitrarily" disabled his company's account, prompting Mittal to call out the Mark Zuckerberg-led company on social media. Mittal also tagged Meta's India operations' head Sandhya Devanathan in the post. 

A frustrated Mittal said, "So, shockingly our Meta account was arbitrarily disabled this morning with nobody in the know or able to help, even at our scale. This is the dysfunction of Big Tech & monopolies, something hashtag#cci must take note of. Sandhya Devanathan" 

Netizens chimed in with sympathies and suggestions. Relating to Mittal's frustration users said Meta is "only sale no support" while some urged Mittal to assemble all the Sharks and create their own Made-in-India social media platform like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. 

When Mittal took on Google 

On March 1, Google announced it would remove apps from 10 Indian developers, including Shaadi.com, Naukri.com, jeevansathi.com, and Bharat Matrimony, from its Play Store in India for non-compliance with its billing policies. Among the most prominent voices that spoke out against Google's practices, was Anupam Mittal. 

“Today is a dark day for India Internet,” Mittal said as he came out hitting hard against Google’s action of delisting Indian apps. 

Mittal wrote on X, “Google has delisted major apps from its app store even though legal hearings are underway @CCI_India & @indSupremeCourt Their false narratives & audacity show they have little regard for India. Make no mistake - this is the new Digital East India Co and this #Lagaan must be stopped! Pls RT and #SaveOurStartups”.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/anupam-mittal-asks-is-google-evil-as-the-battle-between-google-and-indian-app-developers-rages-on-25363.htm">Read more: Anupam Mittal asks, "Is Google evil?", as the battle between Google and Indian app developers rages on</a>

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/interactive-avenues-anupam-mittals-first-investment-as-an-angel-investor-25997.htm">Read more: Interactive Avenues: Anupam Mittal’s first investment as an angel investor</a>

Angry Mittal?: Anupam Mittal "shocked" after Meta disables his company's account

DTDC Express Ltd., a leading express logistics provider in India has elevated Abhishek Chakraborty as its Chief Executive Officer. In his new role, Chakraborty will continue to propel DTDC forward, solidifying its position as a front-runner in the logistics industry with the aim to drive substantial growth and innovation for the company.

Chakraborty said: “Encapsulating our direction of “Building a NextGen DTDC for GenNext DTDCians”,... together we will continue to foster a culture of shared success and excellence.”

Before assuming the role of CEO, Chakraborty led DTDC as Executive Director for 15 years. He played a pivotal role in establishing a strategic partnership between DTDC and Geopost (owned by La Poste). He also spearheaded the DTDC and Amarex partnership and introduced many initiatives like launching the MyDTDC app and introducing DTDCShipAssure™, DTDC’s 100 percent money-back guarantee service that enabled the company to achieve new heights. His strategic leadership expanded the company’s network to 16,000+ partners, serving 96 percent of India’s population and the larger South Asian diaspora globally.

DTDC operates India’s largest physically accessible express logistics Network and has over 16,000+ exclusive channel partners that contribute to its sales and service capabilities.

DTDC Express promotes Abhishek Chakraborty to the CEO position

MakeMyTrip has achieved a significant milestone in its two-decade-long journey by becoming accessible worldwide, the company said in an announcement this week. 

MakeMyTrip has now expanded its reach to over 150 countries, including major travel markets such as the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, France, and others, besides the US and the UAE. 

“The rigorous standards of compliance and commitment to data protection we have in place for our Indian business helped us transition smoothly towards stringent international compliances,” said Rajesh Magow, co-founder and chief executive officer of MakeMyTrip.

“We are indebted to the trust and affection that we have received from Indian travelers for over two decades and continue to hold ourselves to higher standards and standard operating procedures (SOPs) on a regular basis. Our decision to make MakeMyTrip accessible globally is a result of this very goal – testing our processes against rigorous protocols across the world to enable our travelers to book or modify their travel purchases on the platform without any roadblocks wherever they are geographically,” he said.

MakeMyTrip said the platform has also ensured compliance with various international regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), to accomplish this expansion.

Magow added, “Our global accessibility will help us reach the vast Indian diaspora. Importantly, this expansion will enable us to cater to a broader audience, fostering increased inbound travel to India. Our extensive coverage, offering accommodations in more than 2,000 cities, will assist international tourists in discovering the hidden gems of India.”




MakeMyTrip CEO on expansion in 150 countries: Global accessibility will help MMT reach Indian diaspora

When Storyboard18 asked Maruti Suzuki's Shashank Srivastava what interests him outside of work, he said, "My hobby is chess, and I make it a point to keep up with the latest trends in the game." He told us, "It not only helps me focus on something other than work, but also, chess is a great game which involves a lot of planning. It involves a lot of discipline." Discipline and planning are what he seems to have perfected at Maruti Suzuki India, a firm known for its meticulous planning and emphasis on discipline given the brand's Japanese lineage and influence. 

 
On March 27, the auto major elevated Shashank Srivastava from the position of Head – Marketing and Sales to ‘Member Executive Committee’. In many ways, it's an end of an era in the marketing world, as Srivastava moves on from his current role and into an advisory one as part of a core leadership group. 


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/watch-listen/media-dialogues-with-storyboard18-maintaining-continuity-in-change-maruti-suzuki-mindshare-drive-ahead-19528.htm">Media Dialogues with Storyboard18: Maintaining continuity In change, Maruti-Suzuki & Mindshare drive ahead</a>


A Maruti lifer, Srivastava is a leading figure in the Indian business and marketing world, having led the country's top carmaker as its sales and marketing boss for several years. Srivastava started his career at the automotive company in 1989. It was his first job after graduating from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A). Holding a bachelor's degree in telecommunication and electronics engineering from National Institute of Technology (NIT), Bhopal, he joined IIM-A in 1987. Despite having offers from the Asian Paints and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Srivastava was very clear that his path lay in the automotive industry and with Maruti Suzuki. 


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/maruti-suzukis-shashank-srivastava-it-is-crucial-to-celebrate-achievements-to-foster-a-positive-work-environment-15928.htm">Maruti Suzuki’s Shashank Srivastava: It is crucial to celebrate achievements to foster a positive work environment</a> 


Srivastava, the marketing maven who is an avid reader of books on science and especially quantum physics, has been a strong proponent for constant learning and adapting with the times. He emphasised empowering his team members through collaboration and communication. “My intention is to help others succeed and become leaders in their own right. True leadership is, therefore, not about being in charge but inspiring and guiding others to achieve their full potential,” he said. It is about creating a culture of continuous learning and development; “When we invest in our colleagues’ growth and development, we develop better leaders and build a more substantial organisation.” 


In a previous conversation with Storyboard18, when asked about a work and life hack he swears by, Srivastava had said,"Time boxing is a very powerful productive technique. What you do is you schedule specific blocks of time for different tasks. That's something which optimises efficiency. For a life hack, I would say, practice gratitude. It significantly improves one's overall well-being. If one is grateful for what you have, big or small, it helps you appreciate the good things, and makes you feel better." 


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/marutis-shashank-srivastava-on-why-indians-no-longer-need-to-kick-tyres-or-smell-leather-to-buy-cars-4932.htm">Maruti’s Shashank Srivastava on why Indians no longer need to kick tyres or smell leather to buy cars</a>

Maruti's former marketing boss Shashank Srivastava keeps this quote in his diary

Gangu Ramsay, cinematographer, filmmaker, and one of the seven Ramsay Brothers has passed away at the age of 83. Ramsay was known for producing horror films like ‘Purani Haveli’ and ‘Tehkhana’. 


In the 1970s and 1980s, Ramsay Brothers—originally known as Ramsinghani—began to make a string of B-grade films in the horror genre. The films, which highlighted vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc became popular for showcasing a mix of horror and erotica.


Gangu had also worked in television, with shows such as "The Zee Horror Show", "Saturday Suspense", "X Zone" and "Nagin" to his credit, as stated by a CNBC-TV18 report.


Some of his other films that he produced include Veerana, Bandh Darwaza, Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche.


In the book ‘In A Cult of Their Own: Bollywood Beyond Box Office’, writer Amborish Roychoudhury explained how each and every aspect of filmmaking was handled by the Ramsay brothers, highlighted an ET report.


Kumar penned scripts, Kiran composed sounds, Gangu was the cameraman, Keshu assisted with cinematography, and Arjun took care of post-production and editing. Direction was handled by Tulsi and Shyam, the report further stated.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/unacademys-former-cmo-karan-shroff-joins-lightfury-games-as-ceo-28509.htm">Unacademy’s former CMO Karan Shroff sets up LightFury Games</a>

Gangu Ramsay, one of the seven Ramsay Brothers passes away at 83

Adda247, an online test prep company backed by Google and other investors, has appointed Bimaljeet Singh Bhasin as the CEO of its skilling and higher education business. With nearly 25 years of professional experience and leadership roles at NIIT, Manipal Global Education Services, and Wipro, Bimaljeet is set to drive the company's expansion and growth in skilling, upskilling, and higher education.


Adda247 supports over 40 million monthly active users in preparing for a variety of exams, including those for public sector and state/central government jobs as well as university and college entrance exams like CUET, JEE, and NEET. The platform offers online courses for more than 500 exams in over 12 Indian languages.

Bimaljeet Bhasin's role at Adda247 involves transforming the company from a test prep organization into an integrated education, skilling, and career provider. He aims to collaborate with education providers and enterprises across different sectors to launch employment-focused education and skilling offerings, ultimately building high-quality talent for enterprises.

In response to his appointment, Bimaljeet expressed his enthusiasm for leading the charge at Adda247 and expanding the company's offerings. He plans to introduce innovative education and skilling initiatives that cater to the diverse needs of learners and industries.

Anil Nagar, Founder and CEO of Adda247, highlighted Bimaljeet's extensive industry experience and innovative approach as a perfect fit for the company's mission. He expressed confidence that Bimaljeet's leadership will drive significant expansion and transformation for Adda247's skilling and higher education business.

Dentsu India has announced the departure of Sapna Arora, Chief Client Officer. Arora, who joined the network in January 2023, played a key role in advancing client solutions and contributing to the network's growth. Collaborating closely with leadership & teams across the agency, she fostered a contemporary business growth culture, facilitating the transformation of dentsu into a 'Network of the Future’. 

Harsha Razdan, CEO, of South Asia, dentsu said, “Sapna has been a valuable member of our leadership team and a key partner for our clients. Working across creative, media, and CX business, she exemplified our commitment to addressing clients' business challenges. We extend our best wishes for her continued success.”

Sapna Arora added, “It has been a rewarding journey with dentsu in APAC and India. I've gained insights from the agency side of business as well as diverse clients & industries I have worked with. I express gratitude to Harsha Razdan; he has been a great mentor and an inspiring leader. As I explore new opportunities, I wish dentsu the best in its future endeavours.”

 
Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/has-amazon-prime-videos-aparna-purohit-stepped-down-30811.htm">Has Amazon Prime Video’s Aparna Purohit stepped down?</a>

Sanchita Johri, who led adidas as Director Digital Activation, Media & CRM -Emerging Markets MENA,India,South Africa,Turkey & Israel, has joined Abbott as head - media, CRM, eCommerce.

In her previous role, Johri created the blueprint for teams in the centre of excellence, created the profiles and job descriptions and supported the country teams with the recruitment of team members across roles. They grew their media investments year on year with increased efficiency and reduced their media budgets to net sales ratios every year since 2020. 

Johri began her career at IBM Daksh and went on to work across 92.7 BIGFM, Brand Capital, SVG Media, Reliance Digital Retail and Johnson & Johnson.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/titan-shortlists-potential-ceo-candidates-ck-venkataraman-to-step-down-next-year-30798.htm">Titan shortlists potential CEO candidates; CK Venkataraman to step down next year</a>

Abbott appoints Sanchita Johri as head - media, CRM, eCommerce

The Womb has brought on board Anurag Gupta as its Chief Executive Officer. He’s assumed responsibilities as of Thursday, the 2nd of May.

Navin Talreja and Kawal Shoor said, “Our current offering of cutting-edge strategy and bold, unignorable creative work has fired up growth for our clients. Admittedly, The Womb has been very focused on creating top-of- the-funnel solutions. The opportunity of unleashing big strategic and creative ideas on data- dependent mid funnel and bottom funnel work has only grown with time. Not too many agencies know how to do that. And clients need that in an increasingly fragmented world. In Anurag we found someone who’s classically trained, but spent the last few years building a data and tech company of a thousand people, spread across 10 countries. He’s led cross- functional teams, here in India, and in Asia. He's maverick and method – in equal doses. And we’ve known the energetic bandit in him for long.”

“And, to pre-empt obvious, related questions, we want to clarify that we both are going nowhere. The Womb is our second home...sometimes our first, even. Our involvement on clients’ businesses and brands will remain as committed. Anurag’s coming on board actually fortifies our client proposition even more. As always though, we would let the clients do our talking once they’ve experienced the collective power of this move.

In fact, we’ve added even more leadership muscle to Anurag. In the coming days, we’ll announce more additions and structure to the leadership team from among the crouching tigers and hidden dragons within the company to get The Womb ready for 2.0”

Anurag Gupta said, "I was drawn to join this remarkable company for two reasons: culture and an uncompromising commitment to clients' business. Navin and Kawal have assembled a team with such infectious energy that it truly inspires you to be a part of it—I'm glad I followed my instincts. I'm excited about the prospect of learning and growing together with the team. Together, we are ready to write the next chapter of The Womb."



Anurag Gupta joins The Womb as chief executive officer

Amazon Prime Video’s head of India and SEA Originals, Aparna Purohit has reportedly stepped down. 

However, her LinkedIn profile doesn’t show any development on the matter. Prime Video too hasn’t confirmed the news. 

Purohit has been with Prime Video for over 8 years, having joined in January 2016 as head of creative development. 

She has been in the industry for over 17 years with stints at Cinestaan Film Company, Mumbai Mantra Media, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), BIG Pictures and UTV Motion Pictures, as per her LinkedIn profile. 


Keep up with all the key people movements in the brand marketing ecosystem in Storyboard18’s CXO Moves. Here’s a round-up of the executives who've moved jobs, got bigger roles, switched industries and more.


Hemant Bakshi


Previous: CEO, Ola Cabs


Hemant Bakshi, who led Ola Cabs as chief executive officer, has reportedly resigned. Bakshi joined Ola from Unilever in January 2024. He began his career at Unilever and held various roles including his last role as vice president - Unilever marketplace and chairman - Unilever Indonesia.


Anirban Roy


Present: Chief strategy officer, Leo Burnett India


Leo Burnett India, part of Publicis Groupe India appointed Anirban Roy as chief strategy officer. Roy will report to Amitesh Rao, CEO, Leo Burnett - South Asia. 


Aditya Agarwal


Previous: Chief financial officer, Cleartrip


Aditya Agarwal has stepped down as CFO from Cleartrip. He has worked across Goldman Sachs, Standard Chartered Bank, Texas Pacific Group and Cleatrip.com.


Ankita Bharadwaj


Previous: Head of marketing - Manish Malhotra Beauty, PopXO Beauty & Organic Harvest, The Good Glamm Group


Present: Director - brand and marketing, The Good Glamm Group


Ankita Bharadwaj has been elevated to a new role. She has worked across Marico and Reckitt.


KVS Manian


Previous: Joint managing director, Kotak Mahindra Bank


KVS Manian has moved on from Kotak Mahindra Bank. He started his career at Kotak Mahindra Bank as group head - consumer banking.
 

Nikhil Guha


Previous: Group creative director, Havas India


Present: Executive creative director, Havas India


Havas India has elevated Nikhil Guha to a new role. Guha has worked across Grey Group, Tree Design, Havas Worldwide, Contract India and McCann Worldgroup.


Girish Mathrubootham


Previous: Chief executive officer, Freshworks


Present: Executive chairman, Freshworks


Freshworks appoints Girish Mathrubootham as executive chairman. He has worked across eFORCE and Zoho Corporation.

Pradeep Parameswaran

Present: Global Head of Uber for Business, Business Development and Fleets, Uber


Uber elevates Pradeep Parameswaran in a new role. He has worked across Hindustan Unilever, McKinsey & Company, India and DEN Networks.


Varun Sridhar


Previous: Chief executive officer, Paytm Money


Varun Sridhar has moved on from Paytm Money. He has worked across Citibank, Deutsche Bank, Value Partners, BNP Paribas and FinShell India.


Anurag Gupta


Previous: Chief operating officer, ada


Present: chief executive officer, Womb Communications


Anurag Gupta joins Womb Communications in a new role. He has worked across Ogilvy & Mather, DDB Mudra Group, WPP and Wunderman.


Sahib Singh


Previous: National account manager, Unilever


Present: Chief executive officer, SLN Coffee


SLN Coffee appoints Sahib Singh in a new role. He started his career at Unilever as a business leadership trainee.


Nidhee Kekre


Previous: Lead - WPP Unilever team, South Asia


Present: Board of Advisors, Whisper Media


Nidhee Kekre has joined Whisper Media as board of advisor. She has also worked at GroupM. 


Richard Perkett


Present: Chief product officer, Amagi


Amagi announced the appointment of Richard Perkett as its Chief Product Officer (CPO). Perkett brings over 25 years of experience in product management, product marketing, engineering, and user experience (UX) to Amagi, with a proven track record of leading SaaS-centric product strategies across multiple industries.


Compiled by Kashmeera Sambamurthy

CXO Moves: Exec movements across WPP, Ola Cabs, Havas India, Unilever and others

Bhavesh Gupta, who served as the president and COO of Paytm, fintech firm of One97 Communications, has reportedly stepped down from his position. Gupta cited the reason to be personal.

As per Paytm's stock exchange filing, Gupta's resignation, which will be effective from May 31, 2024, will continue as an advisor in the CEO office, post May 31 or after his resignation is accepted. 

Gupta started his career at Apple finance and went on to work across Transamerica Apple distribution finance, ICICI Bank and IDFC Bank.

As the general manager and head - business banking at ICICI Bank, he was responsible for pan India product and business management of current accounts new acquisiton and existing book, transaction banking of current accounts, international trade business for MSME customers, business lending solutions like cash credit, overdraft, LC, Bank Guarantees etc for MSME customers and retail forex solutions.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/paytm-brand-value-deeply-eroded-faces-painful-road-ahead-to-regain-trust-say-brand-experts-22342.htm">Paytm brand value deeply eroded, faces painful road ahead to regain trust, say brand experts</a>

Paytm's president and COO Bhavesh Gupta steps down

Raymond Ltd.'s board re-appointed Gautam Singhania as Managing Director for a five-year term starting July 1, 2024. This decision comes amidst a highly publicised divorce settlement dispute with his estranged wife, Nawaz Modi-Singhania.


The move follows the removal of Ms. Modi-Singhania from the boards of three Raymond-linked companies in April 2024. The couple announced their separation in November 2023 and the settlement dispute has garnered a lot of attention.


Despite the personal controversy, Raymond Ltd. highlighted Singhania's past achievements and leadership qualities in the regulatory filing announcing his re-appointment.


“Gautam Hari Singhania is a commerce graduate from the University of Mumbai. Mr. Singhania took over the reins of Raymond Limited as Chairman & Managing Director in September 2000. He has been responsible for the strategic decision of restructuring the Raymond Group, initiating the divestment of its noncore businesses of Steel, Cement and Synthetics,” the filing statement said, “Post divestment, the Group has consolidated its position with a focused market-oriented approach. The group has made enormous progress under the stewardship of Mr. Singhania and his vision is to take the Raymond Brand from being amongst the most respected Indian brands to being amongst the best in the global markets,” it added. 


“With a drive for creating new Brands, Singhania has taken active interest in the launch of new products and is successfully directing the Group towards sustained growth. Under the leadership of Mr. Singhania, the Group has made a remarkable foray into Real Estate business,” the statement said.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/raymonds-sunil-kataria-elected-as-chairman-of-isa-15050.htm">Raymond’s Sunil Kataria re-elected as chairman of ISA </a>

Raymond re-appoints Gautam Singhania as MD amidst high-profile divorce fight

Sahib Singh, who led Unilever as a national account manager, has joined SLN Coffee as chief executive officer. In his previous role, Singh was responsible for account management and business delivery for more than 30 Modern trade customers including More retail, Vishal Mega Mart, Star Bazaar and Spencer's retail.

Singh started his career at Unilever as a business leadership trainee and held various roles in different capacities. As the head of e-commerce, Singh was responsible for setting the eCommerce channel for Unilever Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. He also worked on digital Route to Market solution for Unilever Russia.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/hul-appoints-vipul-mathur-as-executive-director-personal-care-takes-over-from-madhusudhan-rao-30619.htm">HUL appoints Vipul Mathur as Executive Director, Personal Care</a>

Unilever's Sahib Singh joins SLN Coffee as CEO

Anurag Gupta, who led ada, a marketing company as chief operating officer, has joined Womb Communications as chief executive officer.

Gupta, who started his career at Ogilvy & Mather, went on to work across DDB Mudra Group, WPP and Wunderman.

As the chief growth officer - Asia Pacific, Wunderman, Gupta hacked growth through setting up e-commerce practice in Asia Pacific, new business acquisition in China, India, Indonesia and worked with regional clients to expand group footprint.

As the chief operating officer at WPP, his responsibility was to integrate more than 25 WPP agencies in the region to grow WPP’s business, provide thought leadership in creating innovative agency models, and enhance core creative product by integrating the creative, digital, insight and media agencies on WPP’s biggest brands.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/paytm-moneys-ceo-varun-sridhar-resigns-30599.htm">Paytm Money's CEO Varun Sridhar resigns</a>

Paytm's Pooja Asar joins Tata Passenger Electric Mobility as head of marketing

Previously, Pooja Asar was the vice president - marketing at Paytm.

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