After serving a 25-year tenure at Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), MD and CEO NP Singh announced his decision to step down. Transitioning to a advisory role, Singh will focus on social change while ensuring SPNI's continued success. A structured succession process is underway to find his successor.


“Today, I have a significant update to share. After nearly 44 years in my career, including a rewarding 25-year tenure at SPNI, I have decided to move on from my role as MD and CEO. Having reached many significant milestones with our team, I am now ready to focus on social change and shift from operational roles to advisory ones,” said Singh in a statement. 

 
“However, my commitment to SPNI and its success remains strong. During my time here, we have established industry benchmarks, expanded our reach, and achieved many noteworthy accomplishments. I am dedicated to ensuring our legacy of success continues and grows under the new leadership,” he added.

 
The statement also mentioned Singh continuing to lead SPNI until they find the right person to take over. 


“We have begun a structured succession planning process for my successor and hope to have exciting news to share in the near future. Finding the right fit is our top priority,” he said.


“I understand there may be speculation during this time, so I urge everyone to rely on our official updates. We are committed to sharing timely and transparent information through our established channels and will communicate any definitive updates directly,” the statement said.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/tackling-challenges-head-on-made-us-even-stronger-sonys-np-singh-28051.htm">Sony to focus on organic growth, amping market presence through strategic partnerships in FY25: NP Singh</a>

SPNI’s NP Singh to "move on" from his role as MD and CEO

In a statement, Singh also said he’d continue to lead SPNI until they find the right person to take over.

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“I’m going to Cannes next week where many human beings, in 2024, are going to be fixated on commercials that no human being has seen.” That’s Gary Vaynerchuk’s no-holds-barred take on the state of advertising and the global ad industry’s premier festival - Cannes Lions. 

The cutting edge of creativity looks very different from Vaynerchuk’s vantage. His global independent ad company VaynerMedia has officially launched a full-service agency in India, marking the company’s sixth office in the Asia Pacific region, and 13th globally. VaynerMedia previously operated in strategic partnership with local agency Step1, which will now become VaynerMedia India. 

In an interview with Storyboard18, Vaynerchuk said, “The reason I'm excited about India is the acceleration of social media consumption, even in its fragmentation collectively is extraordinary.” 

With media and creative under one roof and focus on SMAs (social media ads) and social media at the heart of modern advertising, VaynerMedia has grown into one of the largest independent agencies in the world. Vaynerchuk’s championing of a social-core mindset is on full display even when it comes to his personal brand - GaryVee, and social currency, which he plans to leverage to crack the India market. 

He told us, “Do I think we'll crack it? Of course I do. I'm actually a practitioner of the craft. Unlike all my contemporaries, who are executives and bankers.” 

Read on to find out how Vaynerchuk plans to bring his brand of modern creativity to the Indian ad market. 

What will you bring to the table for Indian clients and for global clients in India? What is it that you will do differently compared to very well established network agencies as well as local, homegrown independent agencies? 

First, we're gonna bring humility. Your last point is very well taken. There's obviously some incredible global agencies that have been doing business in the market for a long time. There's a ton of great upstart agencies. So I think patience after humility. 

I view this as for-the-rest-of-my-life. If you asked me 15 years ago when I started VaynerMedia, what would be the first international market, I probably would have said India. That's because my personal brand has always over-indexed in the market. From the day I started amassing followings, India was always my second biggest market. 

We are one of the largest, if not the largest at this point, global independent agencies in the world that has media and creative under one roof. It's a very different framework. We're not a holding company that has a media agency or a creative agency. We have both under one discipline. The holding companies have decoupled it and I think that's been to the detriment of brands. It's created confusion. It's created difficulty to measure success. We have a passion to be held accountable to business results at a higher level. So, I think, from a merit and business acumen standpoint that's important.

Number two, and this is with incredible respect to everyone that's in the market, I'm proud that I've been at the forefront of social media from its inception. The rise of social media creative has really accelerated in the last three years. This is probably the only thing I'd be willing to bet on. Because we're very good at many things. I think we're okay at certain things. I think we're below average at some things because we haven't entered them yet. Our search capabilities are not as good as many. But there's a very big distance between our capability and what I see in the marketplace when it comes to building a brand on social media and knowing how to make what we call as SMAs (social media ads), and the creative science to be good at them. 

Social media creative has become unbelievably important. We're fortunate to be working globally with the Pepsis and the Procters and many of the best brands in the world, and I think there's an appetite for us to be in the market. 

Obviously to your point - a very complex market, heavy fragmentation, many different languages and dialogue, different platforms do different things. But we have our expertise on the science around the art, around social media creative brand building, and our take on creative AOR.

So just to give you context we are the creative AOR of many brands, but we have social media creative at the center of our creative AOR product. That's going to resonate over the next few months as the market starts to understand what we're doing. 

What challenges do you foresee given how complex the market is? Can you crack it and how quickly do you think you make it here?

You are going to love this answer. There is not a CEO of a single agency in the world that has more followers on social media in India and makes content for the Indian market, more than me. Like in real life, not hyperbole, not theory. There's not a CEO or executive of any agency in India today that actually makes content for India and has more success with their content India than me. So do I think we'll crack it? Of course I do. I'm actually a practitioner of the craft. Unlike all my contemporaries, who are executives and bankers.

That's where my bravado is. Now let me tell you what my humility is. It's going to take time. We entered Europe successfully. We entered Latin America successfully. We entered Asia successfully. These are three parts of the world that are very different from America. India itself is more similar to those places because of the fragmentation of dialogues, the nuances and the regions. 

So we definitely have the humility to know even though I, as GaryVee, knows how to make content for India, as an agency, we have to build the muscle. We've been working with our partner in India for the last two years quietly on business in the market. So between my own expertise as a practitioner and my 25 person team that makes my content, the fact we've been doing it for two years, the fact that we have the patience and the humility to know it's gonna take us 6, 12, 24, 36 months just to get our foundation down; I think that's a good formula for us. 

We're not naive. We're not cliche. We respect the truth. We've been patient. We've wanted to be in the market for a long time. India’s also got incredible global talent and that’s something everybody recognises. The person who runs my personal brand, globally, is born and raised in India. 

I'm proud of our humility, patience, strategy, and understanding as we enter the market. I don't know if there's been a market we've entered more thoughtfully than how we're doing this. 

Why so thoughtfully, Gary? What is driving that patience and why did you take the inorganic route versus the more organic way you entered other global markets?

The answer is serendipity. I want Vayner to be everywhere in the world. Because I know I'm going to do it for the rest of my life, I'm not overtly ideological about the timing of certain places. I have incredible passion to be in the Middle East and Africa. But I don't feel like I need to force it. 

There were opportunities with certain clients to expand to the market. It was really serendipity, a chance of opportunity for expansion with certain clients and the ability to make purchases that made financial sense, but more importantly, cultural sense. And even more importantly, they're built on the principles that I believe in. 

We think that too many agencies are in a boardroom making subjective opinions and doing a whole campaign based on three people's opinions versus what we do for a living which is to day-to-day social media marketing, to be relevant to more consumers, and then to extract consumer insights to do better campaign work.

What client profile are you looking at here and the global clients that you're hoping to work with given your existing partnerships in other markets?

As far as hopes and dreams, to be honest, it's more about like-minded individuals than it is about how big the money is or how cool the brand is. Vayner does extremely well with people that see the world the way we do or are interested in learning about it. We do very poorly with people that believe in a form of marketing based on a craft around politics and television of the past. 

I don't really have a sector or a brand. It would be interesting to see which ones are so satisfied with who they're working with in India, versus which ones are ecstatic that we're now in the market, and will want to work with us to expand our footprint. 

But I don't have a sector or a sexy brand or an Indian-owned brand or a global brand in India. I don't think in those terms. I think in terms of fit, meaning people that really want to go on the journey of relevance at scale, social first, meet media and creative. Obviously, as we get deeper into the market, I'll get a sense of which CEOs and CMOs of which brands see it the way we see it.

The traditional ad holding companies are grappling with several challenges. How do you see their place in the world today? 

I think they're in a very strong power position. They've done incredible M&A and consolidation and the fortune 500 companies don't have many global alternatives to working with a holding company. If you are Coca Cola, if they're upset with IPG or Publicis or Omnicom or WPP, what are they going to do? Go to another one that's exactly like it? 

The holding companies are incredibly strong in their position, because they're trading clients amongst themselves. But I believe that they're vulnerable if there's a couple more of me who don't want to sell to them and want to build forever. Then you can wake up in five to seven years and there's three to four alternatives to the holding company model. 

Those companies like ourselves will be incredibly fruitful. Because what I can tell you as someone who has a relationship with many Fortune 500 CMOs, they're very frustrated. But they don't know where to go. And so I think it requires us opening up markets to then give a BMW or a Mercedes Benz or a Nike, an alternative. Until that happens, the holding companies will be fine. 

I'm empathetic to this. This is not a razz. Holding companies are publicly traded companies and so they have to worry more about their stock price than if the marketing they do for their clients work for their clients.

That dissatisfaction in the market exists. The holding companies are in such a precarious spot that you may see some of them go private. In my one man's subjective opinion with all due respect, I think the work they do is not good. I think that we sell programmatic digital garbage. I think we sell above-the-line garbage from a media standpoint and creatively we're still fixated on commercials. I’m going to Cannes Lions next week. And in France next week, many human beings, in 2024, are going to be fixated on commercials that no human being has seen.

The reason I'm excited about India is the acceleration of social media consumption, even in its fragmentation, collectively is extraordinary.

Coming back to your personal brand. Why do you think your personal brand has worked so well in India?

I grew up in Edison, New Jersey, in the 80s. That was literally the epicenter in America of Indian immigrants in the 80s. I do actually believe that me growing up with a lot of Indian immigrants connected me to the culture in a way that's really positive. 

Even if that didn't happen, I believe hard work, love of family, entrepreneurship, really would have connected me. It's entrepreneurship, that's the connection. But finally, I do think that how I speak about parenting, resonates with a lot of people in India. 

A lot of young Indians both in India and around the world, feel an extraordinary amount of pressure to be a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, and I put out a lot of content talking about how while I understand why parents want that and while I understand how many of these kids want to appease their parents, they need to be careful. Because if they have regret, they're going to create resentment towards their parents. I talk a lot about truth in entrepreneurship, in marketing and in parenting, and I think it resonates well in the market.

Many Fortune-500 CMOs are very frustrated. But they don't know where to go, says Gary Vaynerchuk

Paytm-owner One97 Communications is laying off an undisclosed number of employees as part of its restructuring plan, according to a Moneycontrol report. 

The fintech major claimed that it will provide outplacement support for smooth transition for laid-off employees.

"One97 Communications Limited (OCL) is providing outplacement support to employees which have resigned as a part of the restructuring efforts by the company," the firm said in a statement, adding that its human resource teams are actively coordinating with over 30 firms that are currently hiring, and providing assistance to employees who have opted to share their information, facilitating their immediate outplacement. 

"Paytm is also disbursing bonuses which were due to employees, ensuring fairness and transparency in the process," the statement added.

They did not not disclose the number of employees affected by the restructuring. 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/thousands-of-byjus-and-paytm-employees-on-job-hunt-after-firms-run-into-deep-trouble-23056.htm">Read more: Thousands of Byju's and Paytm employees on job hunt after firms run into deep trouble</a>

In a letter to shareholders on May 22, chief executive officer Vijay Shekhar Sharma had said the company will focus on its core businesses and improve cost efficiencies to create a leaner organization. 

“For the coming year, while we continue to invest in the merchant sales team, as well as risk and compliance functions, we expect reductions in other employee costs. We expect annualized people cost savings of Rs 400 – Rs 500 crore,” Sharma had said at the time. 

The fintech firm's sales employee headcount in March 2024 quarter fell by about 3,500 to 36,521 personnel on a quarter-on-quarter basis, mainly due the impact of the Reserve Bank of India’s ban on services of Paytm Payments Bank, stated the Moneycontrol report. 

Sharma had also highlighted that company is using artificial intelligence to improve its customer care and expects opening up of new source of revenue generation and cost savings. “We anticipate tangible results from these initiatives in the coming quarters, further bolstering our competitive advantage in the market,” he had said.

<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">Read more: Paytm brand value deeply eroded, faces painful road ahead to regain trust, say brand experts</a>

Paytm layoffs: Parent firm One97 Communications lays off employees as part of restructuring plan

South Indian Bank's former head of marketing Azmat Habibulla has joined DBS India as Managing Director - Group Strategic Marketing and Communications. She will lead marketing communications for DBS India and will be driving the DBS Foundation, sustainability agenda for India as well as India CSR. 

Habibulla is marketing leader who has led business transformation at some of the leading brands in the country in the FMCG and BFSI sectors. Her expertise spans across a wide spectrum of domains such as Digital marketing & business generation, Marketing Communication & Branding, Experiential and Knowledge events, Strategic Partnerships, Community Building and Thought Leadership initiatives. Her career began in FMCG, working on popular consumer brands such as Promise Toothpaste, Bertolli Olive Oil & Barilla Pasta. I have led the launch of Meswak toothpaste right from product development, branding, market testing, pricing, packaging and till the final launch. 

Habibulla subsequent career transition to BFSI provided her a fresh perspective and an in-depth understanding of marketing and product management in BFSI, where she applied her marketing expertise across various B2C & B2B business segments like Retail, Corporate banking, Transaction Banking, SME, Rural Banking, NRI Banking, Wealth & Private Banking. 

Prior to her tenure at South Indian Bank, she worked at ICICI Bank for 15 years as part of the Leadership Team and Head of Marketing. She has also been associated with IL&FS Investsmart Ltd. (now HSBC InvestDirect)  and Balsara Hygiene Products Ltd. (now Dabur), where she served as Head of Marketing Communications and Brand Manager, respectively.

Former South Indian Bank CMO Azmat Habibulla joins DBS India as MD - group strategic marketing

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) has earned the title of ‘CEO Factory’ . The FMCG juggernaut has created several leaders - women and men, who have gone on to run other companies. Here we look at some of the women leaders who have emerged out of HUL. Take a peek at the professional journey of women leaders who have been a part of Hindustan Unilever and some who continue to lead at Unilever. 


Leena Nair


Leena Nair has been global chief executive officer at Chanel since January 2022. Nair is highly respected as a visionary leader whose ability to champion a long-term, purpose-driven agenda is matched with a consistently strong track record of business outcomes. Prior to joining Chanel, she spent 30 years at Unilever, serving as the company’s chief human resources officer (CHRO) and a member of their executive committee from 2016 to 2021. Nair started her career at Unilever as a summer intern at HUL in 1992. Over the decades that followed, Nair worked her way up the ranks to eventually become the first female, first Asian, youngest ever Chief Human Resources Officer of Unilever. 


Previously, Nair has said how she often found herself to be the only woman in the room at HUL. Nair was one of the first women managers to sign up for factory assignments and her visits to HUL's factories made the reality of women all the more obvious. She recalled, “There was never a loo for ladies because nobody imagined a woman would come to their factory. So, the first thing I did was to get them to build a bathroom for women, and they eventually came to be named as ‘Leena’s Loos’.”


Prabha Narasimhan


Prabha Narasimhan is the managing director of Colgate-Palmolive India. Narasimhan joined Colgate from Hindustan Unilever (HUL), where she led the Home Care category as Executive Director and served as a member of the HUL Leadership Team. Narasimhan was the first external managing director of Colgate-Palmolive India (Ltd) in 12 years when she came on board. 


She is experienced in customer development, consumer marketing and innovation across geographies and multiple categories, including Home Care, Foods, Personal & Skin Care. CP India announced her appointment in March 2022, and she has been special projects vice president for Colgate’s Asia Pacific Division. She is a graduate of the India Institute of Management Bangalore and Melbourne Business School. 


Narasimhan joined HUL in 2006 as a regional marketing manager. She rose through the ranks in HUL over 15 years to become executive director for home care and vice-president, home care for Unilever, South Asia. Before HUL, she had a brief stint at Madura Garments.
 

When she joined Colgate as MD, Narasimhan looked back at her tenure at HUL, saying, "No post of starting would be complete however without a look back at my time with Unilever. I consider myself extremely privileged to have worked for over 2 decades in such a fabulous organisation and more importantly work with such amazing colleagues - many of whom are lifelong friends. I will continue to watch & cheer their progress. Thank you to everyone, far too many to name here, who have helped me get to this position and thanks in advance to my new Colgate colleagues who I am excited to get to know more."


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/meet-the-four-hul-young-leaders-who-joined-the-top-table-the-hul-management-committee-31975.htm">Meet the four HUL young leaders who joined the top table - the HUL management committee </a>


Priya Nair


In January 2024, Priya Nair was appointed business group president, beauty & wellbeing for Unilever. A prestigious global mandate for a leader who emerged from HUL. 


Nair has been building successful brands that engage consumers for the past 28 years. A high-performing business leader, she has experience in building and shaping categories, turning around underperforming businesses and leading diverse cross functional teams that achieve strong results.


As the president - beauty and wellbeing, Nair oversees the €12 billion business, which comprises four key pillars: hair care, skin care, prestige beauty, and health and wellbeing (vitamins, minerals and supplements).


She joined Hindustan Unilever (HUL) in 1995 and began building a foundational understanding of consumer products across home, beauty, and Personal Care in various roles within sales and marketing.


While in HUL, she led the beauty and personal care and homecare business. As head of homecare, she led the turnaround of the business and the portfolio and cost transformation to build a more sustainable and future fit business. Nair was recognised amongst the most influential women in business for multiple years in India. 


Prior to becoming president - beauty and wellbeing earlier this year, Nair was the global Chief marketing officer for the beauty and wellbeing business. She was responsible for global revenue growth and profit, brand equity management, brand building, global innovation programme delivery and digital marketing transformation.


In March 2022, Nair shared with Storyboard18 the lessons that have helped her in a steady and stunning career: “I have learnt that in corporate life if you are fortunate enough to discover your purpose, which I have in my work, you will have the strength to manage all volatility and uncertainty.”


She added, “I have learnt that it is the power of the inner compass that gives you conviction, energy, and optimism. The second lesson I have learnt is to keep learning. This learning agility is critical in management, as we see the world change at an increasing speed. Constant learning, not just on the job but also learning from peers and industry, is critical for sharpening your skills and for personal development.”


Harman Dhillon


Harman Dhillon is the executive director of HUL’s beauty and wellbeing division and the general manager of Unilever's beauty and wellbeing division in South Asia. In May 2024, she joined HUL's top table - the management committee, after a recent rejig of leadership.


Dhillon is a well-rounded business leader and marketer with strengths in strategic thinking, consumer insights, brand crafting, P&L management, and leading diverse teams.


She has a successful track record of launching and growing large brands in the beauty and personal care business with assignments of increasing responsibility covering South Asia, North America and Europe. She is passionate about transforming businesses and building brands with purpose while continuously reinventing ways to create engagement between brands, consumers and society.


Prior to this, as skin care head, she led HUL’s premiumisation portfolio and demonstrated thought leadership for HUL in the FMCG beauty segment. She has also led the transformation of the skin care business, with a comprehensive revamp of brands such as Lakmé.


Previously as vice president - hair care, Dhillon built deep expertise in the hair care segment; she launched Dove hair and TRESemmé in India and led marketing campaigns such as Dove ‘Stop the Beauty Test’ and Clinic Plus ‘Meri Beti Strong.’ In 2015, she was responsible for the global TRESemmé business for two years as Global Brand Director based in London.


She joined HUL in 2006 after a stint with Tata Administrative Services.

Deepika Bhan

Deepika Bhan joined Tata Consumer Products in May 2021, as President - Foods Business. Before she joined the Tata Group, Bhan spent 15 years at Hindustan Unilever Ltd., capping off het tenure there in her last role as the Global Brand Director where she led the brand development, innovation and communication agenda for the Hair Care portfolio for South Asia. 

Having worked on leadership assignments across sales and marketing, Bhan brings her rich experience and expertise in brand crafting and communication, driving innovation, building new categories and P&L management combined with a strong understanding of frontline sales. She is particularly passionate about building brands and business with purpose at its heart. 

When Bhan was once asked about how her 15-year long stint at HUL prepared her for the role she took up at Tata, she said that she is always looking to find fundamental problems or big opportunities: "I’ve found myself gravitating to where I knew I would have the steepest learning curve. Frequently, that meant a hard climb because I would be out of my comfort zone, but I enjoyed the challenge. I was continuously looking for assignments that I had not done before, but also doing things nobody else had done either." 

Bhan is an Economics (Hons) graduate from St. Xavier’s’ College and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, Orissa. An avid reader, gourmet cook, travel and nature enthusiast, Deepika resides in Mumbai with her husband and two children. 


Anuradha Razdan


Anuradha Razdan is a member of the management committee of Hindustan Unilever Limited as executive director, human resources (HR). She is also the chief human resources officer for Unilever, South Asia.


She is a business-focused HR leader who has had an international career with rich experiences in HUL and global leadership roles, partnering members of the Unilever Leadership Executive.


She joined HUL as a management trainee in 1999. 


Razdan spent the first 14 years of her HUL career working with teams in customer development, employee relations, and as HR partner to members of the HUL Management Committee in supply chain and marketing. As leadership development director, South Asia, she led the talent agenda across five markets and was instrumental in bringing significant external recognition to the company.


She worked at Unilever’s headquarters in London for six years, first as executive assistant to the former CHRO, followed by a four-year stint as vice president HR, Home Care, where she shaped the organisational and cultural transformation of the business globally to be more agile and consumer connected.


She has strong M&A experience, having worked with the Unilever Prestige business and has also led the Global Talent Attraction and Employer Brand agenda for Unilever.


Her purpose is “To spark magic between people, passion and opportunity – for the benefit of the business, of society and us all”. Razdan is very passionate about leadership development and is a strong voice advocating for more inclusive businesses and communities.


Razdan is the Co-Chair of the FICCI HR Committee and Co-Convenor of the G20 EMPOWER Working Group on Corporate Women Empowerment.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/hul-meet-the-leaders-who-have-emerged-from-the-ceo-factory-21397.htm">HUL: Meet the leaders who have emerged from "The CEO Factory"</a>

Animesh Kumar, who is the President – HR & Transformation, at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, has stepped down from his position. Dheeraj Jaggi, who has been spearheading Human Resources for the Content SBU (one of the largest SBU of the company) and leading Enterprise Culture and Capability Development, will assume the role of an acting Chief Human Resources Officer.

As President HR and Transformation at ZEE, Kumar had been leading a gamut of transformation and culture-driven endeavours ranging from ZEE 4.0 Digital Transformation; DE&I; Employer Branding; Corporate Responsibility and CSR. He was responsible for driving organizational change. Before joining ZEEL in 2018, Kumar was chief people and transformation officer at Future Group India. 

ZEE has seen a series of top-level exits in the past few months including the departures of Rahul Johri, President Business- South Asia, Nitin Mittal, President – Technology and Data and Punit Misra, President – Content and International Markets at ZEEL. Furthermore, ZEEL had previously announced a phased restructuring plan, implemented in line with ZEE MD and CEO Punit Goenka's cost-cutting measures. The plan is to result in a 15 percent workforce reduction. Goenka proposed the implementation of a lean and streamlined management structure to the board on April 5, 2024.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/zee-layoffs-earlier-stated-aim-of-15-workforce-reduction-results-in-more-job-cuts-32278.htm">Read more: ZEE Layoffs: Earlier stated aim of 15% workforce reduction results in more job cuts?</a>

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/zee-layoffs-more-job-cuts-at-zee-expected-this-week-as-part-of-on-going-cost-cutting-measures-28907.htm">Read more: ZEE Layoffs: More job cuts at ZEE expected this week as part of on-going cost cutting measures</a>

In his resignation letter to MD and CEO Punit Goenka, Kumar said, "It is with a mixture of deep gratitude and profound emotion that I tender my resignation as President HR & Transformation. I have been contemplating this and as we wind down the year end, I think this is the right time for me to move on." 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/zee-sony-merger-failure-punit-goenka-says-zee-will-continue-to-aggressively-pursue-arbitration-proceedings-32485.htm">Read more: Zee-Sony merger failure: Punit Goenka says ZEE will continue to aggressively pursue arbitration proceedings</a>

He added, Leading the internal transformation of ZEE has been one of the more rewarding and challenging chapters of my career. The opportunity to reimagine and drive our vision forward through the ZEE 4.0 transformation plan has been both an honour and a privilege. I joined ZEE to help realize the vision that you had for the Company – of building a truly global M&E player based in India and I saw the immense potential and commitment within our teams. However, it was through our collective efforts, the alignment of our shared goals, and an unwavering dedication to innovation that we were able to achieve many of our milestones. The work we've done transcends professional achievements; it's also been a deeply personal journey of growth and learning." 

Kumar added, "Thank you once again, and I look forward to watching the continued success and growth of ZEE." 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/late-night-office-visits-to-layoff-plans-whats-zee-entertainments-chairman-emeritus-subhash-chandras-role-30402.htm">Read more: Late-night office visits to layoff plans: What's ZEEL's Chairman Emeritus Subhash Chandra's role?</a>

ZEEL's president of HR and Transformation Animesh Kumar quits

Godrej Group scion Nisaba Godrej has tendered her resignation as an Independent Director of VIP Industries Ltd with effect from June 3, 2024. Consequently, she shall also cease to be a member of Nomination & Remuneration Committee of the company. 

Established in 1968, VIP Industries Limited is amongst the world’s leading manufacturers and retailers of luggage, backpacks and handbags and an established leader in the organised luggage market in India. In addition to its presence in India, it has a growing global footprint with products supplied in over 45 countries.

Nisaba Godrej is the Executive Chairperson of Godrej Consumer Products. She has been a key architect of GCPL's strategy and transformation in the last decade. She is also the Chairperson of Teach for India and sits on the board of Godrej Agrovet, Bharti Airtel and Mahindra and Mahindra. She has a BSc degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Recently, the Godrej family that controls the homegrown locks-to-soap conglomerate reached an agreement to split the company into two branches. The family decided to restructure its shareholding within the conglomerate, dividing operations into two distinct entities: Godrej Enterprises and Godrej Industries.

Adi Godrej and his brother Nadir will stay at the helm of the listed entities which will come under Godrej Industries. Cousin Jamshyd Godrej gets the control of unlisted companies and the land bank which will come under Godrej Enterprises.

The agreement submitted to the exchanges also addressed issues of Royalty, Brand Usage and Land Bank development.

"To preserve mutual respect, goodwill, amity and harmony and to manage diverse expectations and varied strategic directions desired by each Family Branch, the Family Branches have agreed upon a settlement arrangement amongst the Family Branches," the Family Settlement Agreement (FSA) said.

A recurring observation among India Inc leaders regarding the family's decision and execution of the conglomerate split, is about how they have handled the matter. Harsh Goenka on April 30, 2024, said, "The Godrej family settlement was ‘locked’ today with the elegance and dignity that the family is known for. No controversies, just all clean like their soaps. Good Knight!" 

Established in 1897, Godrej Industries Limited is a holding company with wide interests in consumer goods, agriculture, real estate, chemicals and financial services, and also acts as the incubator for new businesses. The group has five listed firms - Godrej Industries, Godrej Consumer Products, Godrej Properties, Godrej Agrovet and Astec LifeSciences. Godrej Consumer Products, which makes iconic brands like Cinthol and GoodKnight, is the biggest among the listed firms, with a market capitalisation of Rs 1.26 lakh crore as on April 30.

Nisaba Godrej resigns as independent director of VIP Industries

Anupam Mittal, chief executive officer of People Group and Shaadi.com, is one of the most popular Shark Tank India judges and outspoken one. He recently offered his thoughts on the influence of the show on entrepreneurship in the nation on LinkedIn. Mittal emphasised the democratising and inclusive impact of the show, stressing how it has mainstreamed business and elevated it to a conversation subject. Interestingly he shared a few data points that got Internet users thinking. 

<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>

While speaking about the "Shark Tank Effect", Mittal stressed on "No gender or education bias here coz we are woke baby". He added, "Jokes apart, I think most agree that Shark Tank India has been a catalyst for entrepreneurial change in India. Sure VCs are doing a great job but I believe that it’s Shark Tank that has truly democratized entrepreneurship in the country, made it aspirational and part of family conversations." 

He followed up with a few data points: ??% ??? ???-??? ?????? ????????. "While most VCs fund Ivy Leaguers, most of STI funding goes to folks like you and me, from regular schools & colleges. This puts entrepreneurship above the realm of education and makes it accessible to everyone."

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/angry-mittal-anupam-mittal-shocked-after-meta-disables-his-companys-account-28637.htm">Read more: Angry Mittal?: Anupam Mittal "shocked" after Meta disables his company's account</a>

??% ??? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??-??????r: "Even women representation at 26% is an order of magnitude higher than the 9% that we find in the broader ecosystem. This is remarkable because it inspires other women. The story of human beings. A few blaze a trail and others invariably follow, whether it was climbing Mt. Everest or the 1st woman in space." 

?% ???? ??????? ???????? & ??% ???? ??????????????: "Dropouts getting funding is super interesting as is couples. There was a time investors would not fund couples (myself included) due to relationship risk & leadership risk, but my, were we wrong! Amazing founder couples like Vineeta/Kaushik, Ghazal/Varun and Bipin/Upasana have proven us so very wrong. Ergo, I am glad more couples are getting funded on Shark Tank - Shaadi.com - Let's start a Couple’s Fund"

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/social-media/whats-anupam-mittals-take-on-genz-in-the-workplace-find-out-31742.htm">Read more: What’s Anupam Mittal’s take on GenZ in the workplace? Find out</a>.

"No gender or education bias here coz we are woke baby": Anupam Mittal on Shark Tank effect

Advent International-backed essential wear company Modenik Lifestyle Pvt. Ltd., has appointed L.V. Vaidyanathan, former CEO and MD of P&G India, as Executive Chairman, starting in July 2024. The company also announced the retirement of Sunil Sethi from his role as Executive Chairman, effective July 31, 2024. Sethi will continue to serve on the Board of Directors. 

During his tenure, Sethi successfully integrated Modenik as a unified company across Dixcy and Enamor, with a shared purpose, vision, and values, creating a unique strategic asset with a leading position in both men's and women's innerwear. Sethi also groomed Shekhar Tewari, who was promoted to CEO & Executive Director earlier this year. 

L.V. Vaidyanathan, an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, began his career with P&G. With over 25 years of experience across multiple markets, including India, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore. He has served as CEO & MD for P&G in Indonesia and subsequently in India. He has led both these businesses to industry leading growth and value creation.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/p-kumar-venkatasubramanian-to-take-over-as-md-on-may-1-26648.htm">Read more: P&G India's MD LV. Vaidyanathan resigns; Kumar Venkatasubramanian to take over as MD on May 1</a>

These leadership changes mark a new chapter for Modenik Lifestyle. The company said the board is confident that with these appointments, Modenik will continue to strengthen its market position and drive forward its strategic objectives.

Sahil Dalal, Managing Director at Advent India PE Advisors, added, “We are excited for the next phase of Modenik’s journey, and we believe L.V. Vaidyanathan’s vast expertise and forward-thinking approach will elevate Modenik to a market leading position." 

Vaidynathan said, "Sunil Sethi’s outstanding contributions have established a robust foundation. I am eager to collaborate with Shekhar Tewari and Modenik’s talented team to drive growth and achieve new milestones.”

Shantanu Khosla, Board Member, Modenik Lifestyle said, “As LV transitions from his successful tenure at P&G to join Modenik, it reflects a broader trend of multinational CEOs moving to private equity-backed companies in India, drawn by the opportunity to drive rapid growth and create substantial value. His decision to join us underscores his confidence in our vision and commitment to advancing our growth trajectory. Additionally, the elevation of Shekhar Tewari to CEO further strengthens our management team, and I am excited to see the innovations and successes that this new leadership will bring."

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/pg-india-new-ceo-kumar-venkatasubramanian-a-moment-of-great-pride-for-me-to-come-back-to-india-26673.htm">Read more: P&G India new CEO Kumar Venkatasubramanian: A moment of great pride for me to come back to India</a>

P&G's L.V. Vaidyanathan joins Modenik as executive chairman

ace turtle, a homegrown technology-native retail company has appointed Karandeep Singh Jaiya as the Chief Business Officer. In his new role, Karandeep will lead business operations of a cluster of brands.

Jaiya has 25 years of experience with extensive retail domain expertise across India and the UAE. Commenting on the appointment, Nitin Chhabra, CEO, ace turtle, said, "Our brands are in a strong growth phase with tremendous potential. We are delighted to have Karandeep onboard and believe his business acumen, rich experience, and leadership will be critical in driving the business of our brands across India.”

Prior to joining, Jaiya served as Brand Head for Jack & Jones at Bestseller India, where he helped grow the brand's market presence. His experience spans key leadership roles across India and the Middle East. Notably, he managed a USD 180 million business as Business Head at Lifestyle, Landmark Group, Dubai, overseeing 180 stores and e-commerce channels across the GCC. Early in his career, he spent 14 years at Shoppers Stop leading their buying and merchandising function. 

Jaiya said, “As the retail industry shifts to tech-driven omnichannel mode in India, ace turtle stands at the forefront of innovation in this realm. I am deeply inspired by the company's relentless pursuit of retail innovation, setting new standards in the industry by utilising its proprietary technology, through data science from design to fulfilment to meet the ever-evolving needs of the customers.”

 

ace turtle appoints Karandeep Singh Jaiya as Chief Business Officer

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) is to announce Gaurav Banerjee of Disney Star as its new CEO, replacing NP Singh, as per a report by Reuters, which quotes two people familiar with the matter. Storyboard18 couldn't independently verify the news. Last week, NP Singh had announced his decision to move on from his role after 25 years at SPNI. 

The report states that Banerjee has resigned from Disney Star and will join SPNI in about two months, as per the sources mentioned. 

At Disney Star, Banerjee oversees content for Hindi entertainment and Disney+ Hotstar. Additionally, he is the Business Head for Star Bharat. In 2023, Banerjee was given the additional responsibility of Star Bharat, Hindi and English Movies cluster, Kids and Infotainment, and the regional portfolio (East) comprising Star Jalsha and Star Kiran.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/spni-md-and-ceo-np-singh-announces-transition-to-advisory-role-succession-planning-underway-32527.htm">Read more: SPNI’s NP Singh to "move on" from his role as MD and CEO</a>

A prime-time anchor and senior producer at Aaj Tak, Banerjee has been a journalist before joining Star News in 2004 and a year later, he was instrumental in launching the Bengali news channel Star Ananda. 

He joined Star India in 2004 as Anchor and Executive Editor of Star News prime time shows. He moved on to lead the content strategy of the network's regional entertainment channels in 2008 and expanded the company's reach in two new markets, Bengal and Maharashtra with Star Jalsha and Star Pravah, respectively. 

In October 2009, he moved on to Hindi entertainment as Head of Content Strategy at Star Plus and in 2013 he took on the role of General Manager of Star Plus. Around 2015-2016, Banerjee took charge as the leader of the Content Studio and refreshed the storytelling approach for Star Plus and Star Bharat.

Banerjee has a Masters in Film Making and Video from Mass Communications Research Centre, Jamia Milia Islamia University, Delhi.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/zee-sony-merger-failure-impact-of-np-singhs-decision-to-move-on-from-his-position-at-spni-32617.htm">Read more: Zee-Sony merger failure: Impact of NP Singh’s decision to move on from his position at SPNI</a>

Disney Star’s Gaurav Banerjee to be Sony's new India CEO: Reports

Tarun Jha, who led Havas Creative as chief executive officer, has joined JSW Steel as head of marketing.

Jha began his career at Mudra Communications, and went on to work across Ogilvy and Mather, Videocon Group, Mahindra and Mahindra and Skoda India.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/tarun-jha-moves-on-from-havas-worldwide-india-26328.htm">Tarun Jha moves on from Havas Worldwide India </a>

Jha joined Havas Creative in 2023 as chief executive officer. Prior to that as head of marketing at Škoda Auto India, where he spent 15 years including a three year stint in Prague, Czech Republic, Jha was leading the marketing and product planning function for the Indian market, setting marketing and communications strategy.

Jha is armed with 24 years of experience in brand building across several sectors, with a focus on customer-centricity and business profitability. After completing his masters in business administration, he started his career in advertising and spent five years before making a lateral shift to marketing. Jha’s eventual move to Mahindra & Mahindra helped him find his calling in automotive marketing.
Jha is experienced in brand building across several sectors, with a focus on customer-centricity and business profitability. 

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/havas-group-india-appoints-tarun-jha-as-havas-creative-indias-chief-executive-officer-6035.htm">Havas Group India appoints Tarun Jha as Havas Creative India’s chief executive officer</a>

Vasiliki Petrou, who served as a chief executive officer, of Unilever Prestige, has moved on from the company.

She stated, "A decade since I created the Unilever Prestige business unit, I have made the difficult decision to leave in pursuit of my dream to set up my own investment fund. The idea of Unilever Prestige disrupted long-held paradigms and created a new to the world playbook of premium beauty acquisitions and sustainable long-term growth. Being the Unilever Prestige Founder and CEO has been a great honour and I’m proud of the many milestones we achieved together: A portfolio of 10 beautiful brands in just 10 years; becoming a €1.4B global portfolio and consistently growing ahead of the market. On a personal level, as someone who believes in lifting and championing women, being a female leader in a division made up of 80% women has been an incredibly rewarding and inspirational experience."

Petrou started her career at Procter & Gamble (P&G) as the associate brand manager, Switzerland, and then started her career at Unilever as the vice president - personal care.


She is a non-executive board member at Nexus Brands Group.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/greys-global-coo-nirvik-singh-moves-on-34289.htm">Grey's global COO Nirvik Singh moves on; Singh spent over three decades at the ad firm</a>

Unilever Prestige's CEO Vasiliki Petrou steps down

NODWIN Gaming, the South Asian gaming and Esports company, has appointed Esports veteran Ishaan Arya, as Vice President of Sales and Partnerships to bolster its leadership team.

With over a decade of experience, the former co-founder of The Esports Club has played a pivotal role in spearheading some of the country’s largest gaming and Esports events, including The Arena, India's premier consumer gaming event. His guidance not only propelled The Esports Club to unprecedented heights but also facilitated its expansion beyond India into the markets of the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

In his new role at NODWIN Gaming, Ishaan will focus on enhancing the value of the company’s existing IPs, such as BGMS, DreamHack India, NODWIN India Premiership, Valorant Challengers South Asia, and Comic Con India, ensuring their sustained growth and global audience engagement. He will be working on new brand partnerships, initiatives and innovating IPs as NODWIN Gaming pushes the boundaries in the gaming, esports, and lifestyle segments.

Sharing his thoughts, Ishaan Arya, Vice-President of Sales and Partnerships at NODWIN Gaming, stated, “I am excited to join NODWIN Gaming to contribute to their massive roster of global gaming, esports, and lifestyle events. As one of the top new-age sports media organizations in the world, NODWIN Gaming’s visionary approach and global roadmap have always been top-notch. Alongside a fantastic team, I am eager to utilize my expertise in large-scale gaming events and publisher partnerships to elevate the company to new heights.”

"At NODWIN, we pride ourselves in encouraging our leaders to take ownership in various aspects of the business. As a founder himself, Ishaan not only brings a wealth of knowledge and experience but will also drive innovation and growth across key verticals of our gaming and entertainment segments," said Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming.

Since its inception, NODWIN Gaming has cemented its position as a frontrunner in the global gaming and Esports industry. The company has been making significant strides in venturing beyond Esports, recently acquiring Comic Con India, alongside obtaining a 51% stake in the Singapore-based media company Branded.

With experience working with Comic Con India as well as industry giants like NVIDIA, Intel, LG, Lenovo, Dell, JBL & Amazon, in the past, Ishaan will be a key addition to NODWIN Gaming as they drive innovation and progress in the gaming and Esports sector.

NODWIN Gaming appoints Ishaan Arya, as Vice President of Sales and Partnerships

Nirvik Singh, who led Grey as global chief operating officer, has reportedly stepped down from his position.

Singh, who took up the role in 2019 along with being the CEO - Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, began his career at Lipton India as an account executive.

He went on to work across J.Walter Thompson, Trikaya Grey Advertising, and Raymond Limited.

He has led several acquisitions done by the Grey Group in China, India, South Korea, Thailand, UAE, UK and South Africa. These acquisitions range from E-Commerce to Data, Shopper Marketing and Martech companies. He has worked across five continents and various industry sectors with deep expertise in CPG, Retail, Beverages, Tobacco and Fintech.

Singh has spent over three decades with Grey and was one of the first Indians in global leadership of ad companies. 


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/ex-pharmeasy-marketing-vp-saumil-parekh-joins-hbits-as-cmo-34044.htm">Ex-Pharmeasy marketing VP Saumil Parekh joins hBits as CMO</a>

Grey's global COO Nirvik Singh moves on; Singh spent over three decades at the ad firm

Ashish Kakkar, who led ICICI Home Finance Company as chief human resources officer, has been appointed by Polycab India as CHRO and executive president.


Having profound experience in human resources, his expertise lies in business partnering, change management, leadership development and operational excellence who actively explores ways to influence leaders, managers, and teams to realise their full potential.


He started his career at PepsiCo India and went on to work across ICICI Prudential AMC, 3i Infotech etc.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/former-south-indian-bank-cmo-azmat-habibulla-joins-dbs-india-as-md-group-strategic-marketing-33729.htm">Former South Indian Bank CMO Azmat Habibulla joins DBS India as MD - group strategic marketing</a>

Polycab India appoints Ashish Kakkar as CHRO and Executive President

DDB Mudra Group appoints Shashank Lanjekar as the national strategy head. Lanjekar brings over 25 years of experience in advertising, brand management, and strategic planning to the role and will work out of the Group’s Mumbai office. 


He will work in close collaboration with leadership teams across the business to further upgrade the product, create value and drive long-term growth for brands. He will closely work with Rahul Mathew, CCO of the Group, to focus on advancing the agency's strategic offerings across disciplines to further solidify it with strong creative fundamentals. His strategic acumen is set to fuel DDB’s expansion with the agency’s growing roster of clients. 


A seasoned strategist, Lanjekar has worked with some of India's most iconic brands across diverse industries. Throughout his career, he has played a pivotal role in developing and executing impactful campaigns that have driven business growth, stated the agency. Before joining DDB Mudra Group, Lanjekar served as chief strategy officer at VML India, where he spearheaded strategy for key accounts like IDFC First Bank, Titan Skinn, Hindustan Unilever and Reckitt Benckiser. He previously held the same position at Dentsu, where he led planning for marquee brands such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Nykaa, Uber, and Star Sports. 


His previous assignments include strategy and account management roles at Soho Square (now 82.5 Communications) within the Ogilvy India group and McCann Erickson.


Mathew said, “We believe in strategy that has the power to move the work and the consumer. Not a strategy that merely sits pretty on PowerPoint slides. Shashank embodies the same belief. He will also help us strengthen many of the rigours needed to have a strong strategic backbone. Really excited to work with him again.”


Lanjekar added, “The hunger of this team to keep pushing for better work year on year is what stood out for me to begin with. Add to that the width of the clientele and the depth of talent across the group, and you have the textbook definition of 'opportunity'. 
What’s more, I have known Rahul since 2005 and am glad to see the hungry, front-foot player in him intact. I am itching to partner him at the other end of the crease.”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/zetwerk-elevates-amrit-raj-to-chief-marketing-officer-33864.htm">Zetwerk elevates Amrit Raj to chief marketing officer</a>

DDB Mudra Group appoints Shashank Lanjekar as national strategy head

Havas India has appointed John Thangaraj as the Chief Strategy Officer of Havas Creative Network India and his remit will include Havas Worldwide India (creative), Havas CX India (customer experience), Conran Design Mumbai (brand design), Ekino (technology), and Havas People India (employer branding). He will be responsible for driving the strategic mandate of the creative network and will also work closely with Havas Village India leaders to drive integration. 


He will be based out of Gurugram and report to Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, South East Asia and North Asia (Japan & South Korea).
Speaking about the appointment, Rana Barua said, “Havas Creative Network India has gained tremendous scale and size over the last six years. One of the agencies which has seen unprecedented growth, new leaders, tremendous business traction is Havas Worldwide India and therefore John will work closely with Anupama Ramaswamy and Kundan Joshee to further drive the growth of the agency. In addition, he will also work closely with Geet Nazir (Conran Design Mumbai), Prashant Tekwani (Havas CX India) and Arindam Sengupta (Havas People India) to further strengthen the strategic vision. He will further consolidate our client relationships and drive thought-leadership to ensure meaningful business growth and establish Havas Creative Network India as the most future-forward and progressive creative network conglomerate. I wish him all the best.” 


John Thangaraj said, “I couldn't be more excited to be embarking on this journey with Rana and the rest of the Havas India team. As the saying goes, it takes a village. And the Havas Village remains one of the most deeply and seamlessly integrated creative networks in the world. The opportunities to create meaningful client value across the entire chain are quite literally, limitless, and I can't wait to get started.”


Thangaraj is experienced across consumer research, marketing, advertising and media. With a postgraduate degree in Marketing, Advertising, and Communication, he began his career in PR in 2002. 


In 2007, he joined adidas, managing the launch and promotion of the adidas Originals brand in India. In 2008, he transitioned to advertising with Rediffusion Y&R as Head of Strategic Planning, handling brands like Bacardi, Danone, and Tata Steel. At MullenLowe Lintas Group from 2010, he worked with brands including Hindustan Times, Nestle, and HCL Technologies. In 2013, he led strategic initiatives at Mindshare for clients such as Pepsico, Lufthansa, and GlaxoSmithKline. Most recently, at FCB Group India, he worked with major brands like Google, Uber, Bata, Pernod Ricard and Vistara.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/hdfc-amc-appoints-harish-narayan-as-chief-marketing-officer-33771.htm">HDFC AMC appoints Harish Narayanan as chief marketing and digital officer</a>

Havas India appoints John Thangaraj as chief strategy officer of Havas Creative Network India

Dentsu Creative India has announced the promotion of Surjo Dutt to the position of Chief Creative Officer (CCO) at Dentsu Creative Webchutney.

In his new role, Dutt will spearhead the creative vision of the agency, ensuring the delivery of innovative and integrated solutions that foster business growth for clients. Additionally, he will mentor and guide the creative teams. 

Dutt will continue to report to Amit Wadhwa, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dentsu Creative India.

“We have reimagined our creative business to align with the evolving needs of our clients. Dentsu Creative India now encompasses three portfolio brands: Dentsu Creative Webchutney, Dentsu Creative Isobar, and Dentsu Creative PR. Dentsu Creative Webchutney delivers creative solutions across both traditional and digital media. Meanwhile, Dentsu Creative Isobar focuses on enhancing digital experiences, and Dentsu Creative PR handles public relations. The common thread that binds them is the ‘X factor’ - the extra edge, value, and impact that Dentsu Creative brings to its solutions. This is what makes us the preferred partner for our clients in an ever-evolving and competitive market,” Amit says.

“Surjo is a rare talent, seamlessly blending creative excellence with visionary thinking and business acumen. He has played a pivotal role in transforming Dentsu Creative India into a powerhouse of creativity and innovation. His innovative mindset and transformative approach make him an invaluable partner in our pursuit of excellence. I eagerly anticipate the continued success and growth that Surjo will undoubtedly bring to our creative network,” he adds.

Dutt joined Dentsu Creative India as the CCO for the West & South regions in September 2023. With 25 years of experience in the industry, he has worked on over 400 campaigns across 70+ brands and 20+ categories, establishing himself as one of the most accomplished and prolific creative leaders.

Dutt says, “The kind of openness, optimism, and kindness with which I have been welcomed into the fold by the Dentsu Creative Webchutney family has been truly humbling. With over 70 brands across every category conceivable and more than 200 creative people across multiple geographies, Dentsu Creative Webchutney is a powerhouse of creativity and human potential that I am privileged to be a part of. The last 8 months have seen a bunch of new business wins and lots of exciting work in the creative blender, waiting to go out and make waves in the world. I am excited to do my bit in my new role, as we create epic, market-moving work for all our clients.”


Dentsu Creative India promotes Surjo Dutt to chief creative officer at Dentsu Creative Webchutney

Saahil Nayar, who led Swiss Beauty as the chief executive officer, has moved on from his position.

Nayar began his career at Tata Teleservices and went on to work across Nitya Marketing, Kama Ayurveda, Revlon and The Moms Co.

Nayar, who is the co-founder of IDAM House of Brands, during his stint, he led all front-ended aspects of business including marketing strategy, brand marketing, performance marketing, e- commerce sales, new brand launches, new products development, H.R and ongoing product improvements besides general business strategy for growth.

He led overall packaging, endorsements, content and all brand marketing communication while being responsible for the overall P&L to deliver 2.5 x growth.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/former-prasar-bharati-ceo-shashi-shekhar-vempati-joins-barc-board-33890.htm">Former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati joins BARC board</a>

Swiss Beauty's CEO Saahil Nayar steps down

Contract manufacturing company Zetwerk has promoted Amrit Raj, formerly director of marketing and communication, to chief marketing officer, as per Raj's LinkedIn profile. This appointment underscores Zetwerk's commitment to brand building as it seeks to solidify its position as a leading player in the digital manufacturing space globally.


Previously, Raj held the position of director - marketing, corporate affairs and communication.


Raj joined Zetwerk in 2021 and is credited with building the company's marketing function from the ground up. His purview included overseeing brand marketing, corporate communications, public policy, ESG efforts and strategically guiding Zetwerk's brand identity and outreach.


The move comes as Zetwerk, founded in 2018, has grown rapidly into a digital manufacturing unicorn, with a reported revenue of Rs 11,500 crore for the fiscal year 2022-23. 


Prior to Zetwerk, Raj worked at ByteDance Technologies and Nissan India. 


Raj is also a published author. His book, "Indian Icon - A Cult Called Royal Enfield," won the Gaja Capital Business Book Prize in 2022. 


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/former-south-indian-bank-cmo-azmat-habibulla-joins-dbs-india-as-md-group-strategic-marketing-33729.htm">Former South Indian Bank CMO Azmat Habibulla joins DBS India as MD - group strategic marketing</a>

SPNI’s NP Singh to "move on" from his role as MD and CEO

In a statement, Singh also said he’d continue to lead SPNI until they find the right person to take over.

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