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Manohar Charan, who led ShareChat as chief financial officer, has been named as the platform's co-founder. Along with handling the responsibilities of a co-founder, Charan will also simultaneously perform his duties as the chief financial officer.

Charan began his career at Evalueserve as an analyst, investment research, and then joined Datamonitor as an analyst. Then, he joined RBS Markets and International Banking as an analyst, and was elevated to associate. Charan was then appointed by PropTiger.com as associate director - corporate initiatives, and was elevated to director, strategy and corporate initiatives.

He was then appointed by Uber as head of strategic finance for India and South Asia, and was roped in by Zomato as the vice president.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/anurag-verma-and-shashank-shekhar-to-exit-from-sharechat-57356.htm">ShareChat struggling to keep its top brass together, two leaders exit</a>

ShareChat names Manohar Charan as Co-founder

Prakash Magdum, who is a 1999 batch IIS (Indian Information Service) officer, has been appointed as the managing director of National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) for a period of five years. 


Previously, Magdum served as the director of the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) in Pune. He has also worked with various government media units across states such as Assam and Kerala, and notably served as the Defence Spokesperson in Thiruvananthapuram, stated a media report.


NFDC was established in 1975 under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It is India’s central agency for promoting quality cinema, and is based out of Mumbai.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/mibs-sanjiv-shankar-transferred-ahead-of-waves-prabhat-named-additional-secretary-in-ib-ministry-62631.htm">MIB's Sanjiv Shankar transferred ahead of WAVES; Prabhat named Additional Secretary in I&B Ministry</a>

Prakash Magdum appointed as MD of NFDC

Debjyoti Dutta, who led Maruti Suzuki India as general manager and commercial business head - South Zone, has been elevated to chief commercial officer and vice president - South East zone.

Dutta began his career at Hero MotoCorp where he held three designations, sales manager, senior sales officer, after sales engineer. Then, he joined Maruti Suzuki India in 2004 as a territory sales manager, and headed pre-owned car business for Tamil Nadu. Then, he was elevated to area sales manager where he looked after the operations of Coimbatore and surrounding territory.

He then went on to hold the designation of general manager and commercial business head - South Zone (Nexa).

In his previous role, Dutta directed business operations in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

He led channel and direct B2B sales through a network of 590 outlets. He framed strategies in sync with vision and mission of the company ensuring performance parameters are as per business objectives – budget, P&L figures, acquisition Cost and KPIs.

He partnered with core business operations to increase the company’s footprint, expand market share and expand revenues.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/maruti-suzuki-india-appoints-sunil-kakkar-as-whole-time-director-for-corporate-planning-60343.htm">Maruti Suzuki India appoints Sunil Kakkar to its board; becomes first Indian to serve as a whole-time director</a>

Maruti Suzuki India promotes Debjyoti Dutta to CCO & VP - South East Zone

Sujata Appliances has appointed Akshaya Vasishth as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for its Appliances Division. 

In his new role, Vasishth will oversee marketing for not only mixer-grinder range, but also the newly launched premium small domestic appliances including hand blenders, breakfast appliances and irons.

With over 18 years of experience in the global FMCG sector, Vasishth brings a proven track record in driving brand growth, innovation, and digital transformation. His previous leadership roles include Sun Pharma, AbbVie APAC and Himalaya Wellness, Hamdard Foods, Mahindra & Mahindra and founding the digital health platform GCC+. He is an alumnus of IIM Lucknow.

“Akshaya’s dynamic leadership and deep marketing expertise come at a pivotal time for us as we expand into new categories and premium segments. His strategic vision will be instrumental in strengthening Sujata’s brand presence and driving the next phase of growth,” says Management, Sujata.

Established in 1979, Sujata Appliances focuses on NPD innovation, market expansion and customer satisfaction, and is poised to further scale its market presence under Vasishth’s leadership.

Sujata Appliances appoints Akshaya Vasishth as CMO

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.


Grace Kao


Previous: Vice president, consumer and business marketing, Snap Inc


Present: Chief marketing officer, Snap Inc


Nidhi Kaistha


Previous: Sales, Porsche India


Present: Head - India, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.


Nidhi Kaistha has been appointed as the head for Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.’s operations in India. She has worked across Jet Airways, Gulf Air, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and BMW India.


Snap Inc has promoted Grace Kao as chief marketing officer. She has worked across TBWA\Chiat\Day; Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Yahoo, Pandora, Instagram and Spotify.


Rohit Kalra


Present: Chief executive officer - audio business, HT Media Group


Next MediaWorks Limited, which owns and operates Radio One and is a majority-owned subsidiary of HT Media Limited, announced the appointment of Rohit Kalra as Chief Executive Officer of its audio business. The Group's popular radio brands include Fever, Radio One, Radio Nasha, and Punjabi Fever.


He has worked across Akai Consumer Electronics India, Stracon India, Airtel and Idea Cellular Ltd.


Alok Lall


Previous: Executive director, McCann Worldgroup


Alok Lall has stepped down from his position. He has worked across FS Advertising, FCB Ulka, JWT, McCann Erickson, Saatchi & Saatchi, iris worldwide.


Vishal Jacob


Previous: Chief transformation officer, Wavemaker


Present: President AI & Digital Solutions, Choreograph India


Vishal Jacob, who led Wavemaker as chief transformation officer, has joined Choreograph India as president - AI and digital solutions. He has worked across Smile Interactive Technologies Group, Mindshare Interaction, The Upper Storey, GroupM Interaction Malaysia and Maxus.


Kamal Basu and Jyoti Mahendru


McCann Worldgroup (MWG) India elevated Kamal Basu to executive director and chief growth officer and appointed Jyoti Mahendru as chief talent officer and national communication officer.


Basu has worked across Rediffusion DY&R, Ogilvy, Saatchi & Saatchi, and has headed marketing at Skoda and Volkswagen.


Mahendru joins MWG India with over 25 years of experience as an HR leader. 


Suraja Kishore

 
Previous: CEO, BBDO India


Suraja Kishore has moved on from BBDO India. He has worked across Mudra Communications, Lowe Lintas, Publicis Groupe, McCann Worldgroup, McCann Erickson. 


Ashish Gupta


Previous: Marketing lead - India and South Asia, Riot Games


Ashish Gupta has stepped down from Riot Games. He has worked across RealNetworks, Reliance Games, Gameloft, and Jio.


Prashanth Challapalli


Previous: Founder and chief executive officer, Gravity Integrated


Present: Chief digital and innovation officer, Havas Creative Network India


Prashanth Challapalli has joined Havas Creative Network India in a new role. He has worked across Bennett Coleman and Co, Ogilvy, MullenLowe Lintas Group, Rediffusion Y&R, Inox Leisure, Bates 141, Dentsu, Publicis, Contract India, Leo Burnett etc.


Shefali Johnson


Previous: Manager, Bharti Realty


Present: Chief executive officer, Comic Con India


Shefali Johnson has joined Comic Con India in a new role. Johnson has worked across Reliance Broadcast and DLF etc.


Satyajit Sengupta


Previous: Chief corporate sales and marketing officer, DB Corp


Satyajit Sengupta has stepped down from his position. He has worked across The Indian Express, India Today Group, and Bennett Coleman and Co.


Compiled by Kashmeera Sambamurthy



Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/cxo-moves-exec-movements-across-federal-bank-myntra-zomato-mccann-worldgroup-and-more-62187.htm">CXO Moves: Exec movements across Federal Bank, Myntra, Zomato, McCann Worldgroup and more</a>

CXO Moves: Exec movements across Snap, Porsche India, BBDO India, Wavemaker, McCann Worldgroup and more

Satyajit Sengupta, who led Dainik Bhaskar as chief corporate sales and marketing officer since 2017, has resigned from his position. In his resignation letter, he cited better future career opportunities. 

Sengupta in his resignation letter wrote, "I have thought through my career path and have come to the conclusion that I would like to take up an offer that has come my way. I believe it would add to my skills and experience and offer different perspectives. In view of the same, I would like to resign from my current position of CCSMO at DB Corp Ltd. Since this is under discussion for quite some time." 

Prior to joining Dainik Bhaskar, Sengupta was with Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd. (Times Group), where he held the position of Associate Vice President and Metro Head in Gurgaon. He led the metro team in generating revenue for all Times Group publications. Earlier, he held the positions of Assistant Vice President & National Vertical Head and National Response Head - Magazines at the organisation.

Before TOI, he worked at the India Today Group as Deputy Branch Head Impact, looking after ad sales for the northern region for over 4 years. He started his career with the Indian Express in 1998, where he worked for over 2 years.

Sengupta has more than two decades of experience in sales and marketing, and he is also skilled in sales strategy, transformation, newspaper/magazine/digital, and integrated media solutions.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/snap-names-grace-kao-as-cmo-62594.htm">Snap names Grace Kao as CMO</a>

Dainik Bhaskar's Chief Corporate Sales & Marketing Officer Satyajit Sengupta quits

Grace Kao, who led Snap Inc as vice president, consumer and business marketing, has been elevated to chief marketing officer. 

Kao began her career at TBWA\Chiat|Day, and then went on to work across Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Yahoo, Pandora, Instagram, and Spotify, where she held positions such as group account director, director of marketing, vice president - sales and marketing and head of global business marketing.

Snap Inc. announced on February 4 that it had elevated Ajit Mohan to chief business officer. Mohan will oversee the company’s advertising operations, focusing on expanding and refining its revenue-generating initiatives worldwide. 

Mohan, who joined Snap in November 2022 as President for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, will now direct efforts to enhance Snap’s advertising footprint in all regions. His appointment follows a broader restructuring of Snap’s leadership to better address regional markets, with the creation of new executive roles for the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and APAC.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/snap-inc-elevates-ajit-mohan-to-chief-business-officer-to-accelerate-advertising-growth-55663.htm">Snap Inc elevates Ajit Mohan to chief business officer to accelerate advertising growth</a>

Snap names Grace Kao as CMO

Saibal Biswas has exited his role as Senior Vice President and Head of Marketing & Partnerships at MediBuddy. Biswas stepped down in early April, though his next professional move remains under wraps.

Joining MediBuddy in June 2022, Biswas was at the helm of some of the brand’s most recognizable campaigns, to build brand recall.

A strong advocate of innovation, Biswas also drove MediBuddy’s AI-led personalised marketing strategy, helping the platform better connect with its growing user base in an increasingly competitive space.

An alumnus of IIM Calcutta, Biswas comes with over 20 years of experience spanning consumer goods, tech, and digital media. His career includes leadership roles at Godrej Consumer Products, CavinKare, Philips India and Amazon India, where he led marketing for devices like Kindle and Fire TV Stick. 

He also had stints at Hopscotch and Disney+ Hotstar, where he was Vice President - Marketing & Growth for International Business, focused on scaling viewership among the Indian diaspora in the US, UK, and Canada.

His departure comes at a time when MediBuddy continues to expand its footprint in the digital health space. 

MediBuddy’s marketing chief Saibal Biswas steps down after nearly 3-year stint

Alok Lall, who led McCann Worldgroup as the executive director, beginning 2011, has stepped down from his position.

Lall, who has more than three decades of experience began his career at F S Advertising, and then went on to work at FCB Ulka. Then, he joined JWT as associate account director, and then worked at McCann Erikson as an account director. Lall once again resumed his operations in JWT, this time as vice president, and then he quit to join Saatchi & Saatchi as executive vice president.

Prior to joining McCann Worldgroup, Lall was the managing director of iris worldwide.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/jitendra-dabas-to-exit-mccann-worldgroup-59771.htm">Jitender Dabas to exit McCann Worldgroup</a>

McCann Worldgroup's Executive Director Alok Lall moves on

On Wednesday, Next MediaWorks Limited, which owns and operates Radio One and is a majority-owned subsidiary of HT Media Limited, announced the appointment of Rohit Kalra as Chief Executive Officer of its audio business. The Group's popular radio brands include Fever, Radio One, Radio Nasha, and Punjabi Fever.

Industry veteran Ramesh Menon, CEO, and Amit Madaan, CFO, have resigned due to other responsibilities assigned to them within the group. Both served for HT Media's audio business. 

Kalra is a business leader with 24 years of extensive and diverse experience across media, telecom, and consumer durables. He was serving as Chief Revenue Officer at HT Media, where he played a key role in launching new revenue streams, conceptualizing large-scale IPs, and improving operational efficiency.

Before joining the HT Media Group, he worked as General Manager – Sales at Idea Cellular Limited and as Zonal Sales Manager at Bharti Televentures Limited.

HT Media Group has appointed Priyatn Agrawal as CFO of the audio business. He is a certified Chartered Accountant with over six years of experience in finance and accounting. He has been associated with the HT Media Group since 2021 and currently served as Manager – Finance & Accounts, overseeing both business and corporate finance functions.

In 2019, HT Media acquired a majority stake in Next MediaWorks Ltd. Next MediaWorks operates radio stations across major metropolitan areas under the Radio One brand in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, and Ahmedabad. The company broadcasts at 94.3 MHz in all cities except Ahmedabad, where it operates at 95 MHz.

CXO MOVES