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Smita Murarka, who had led Duroflex as chief marketing officer - corporate and brands, digital, has joined Deloitte as director.  Murarka stated, “"Don't be a know it all, be a learn it all" - Satya Nadella. The joy of learning and contributing to growth across multiple businesses begins now.”


Murarka, who started her career at brand-comm, and has worked in companies like Bulchee, Landmark Group, Lifestyle International and MAS Holdings.


She holds a masters in business administration specialising in marketing from ICFAI Business School.

Duroflex’s Smita Murarka joins Deloitte as director

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) announced the appointment of Saugata Gupta, the managing director and chief executive officer of Marico Limited, as the new chairman of the ASCI Board of Governors. Gupta's association with ASCI spans several years; two years on the Board of Governors and four years as a special invitee on the Board of Governors.


Partha Sinha, president, response, Bennett Coleman & Company Limited, was elected vice chairman, and Sudhanshu Vats, deputy managing director, Pidilite Industries, was appointed honorary treasurer.


In his role as ASCI's new chairman, Gupta sharing his vision, stated, "Leading ASCI at this juncture is a privilege. We are in the midst of an extraordinary opportunity to reimagine what responsible advertising means and how consumers need protection in the digital age. ASCI is at the very forefront of this effort as it collaboratively shapes the industry."


He added, "With the advent of the ASCI Academy, we are active architects shaping a more responsible future. Our mission is to instil the principles of self-regulation into the very heart of the creative process. I eagerly look to take further the ambition we have drawn for ourselves. With the support of my board colleagues and ASCI's exceptional team, we are all set to raise the standards of responsible advertising."

Recalling his tenure at ASCI, the outgoing chairman, NS Rajan said, "Leading ASCI over the past year has been an immensely fulfilling journey. I am proud that, as a collective team, we have strengthened our abilities to be ready for the future. The launch of the ASCI Academy is a significant event that I am sure will yield positive results. In an environment of rapid technological advancements and shifting consumer expectations, ASCI has remained agile and forward-thinking. The complaints management part is now highly streamlined and efficient, and we are developing significant expertise in digital monitoring. 


He further stated, "I have no doubt that Team ASCI will continue to shape policies, drive innovation, and champion causes that are not only important to the industry but also to our society at large.”




Marico’s MD Saugata Gupta named ASCI chairman

JSW Group has elevated Divyanshu Singh as Chief Operating Officer of JSW Sports.
 
Divyanshu Singh, a former professional tennis player comes with a decade of experience across sports sponsorships and marketing, talent management, new business development, and specializing in unlocking commercial value in Sport.
 
In 2014, he completed his MBA in marketing and strategy from ISB. He then secured a scholarship to study sports management at Leipzig University in Germany in 2016-17 where he gained a global perspective and learnt best practices in sports governance.
 
Prior to joining JSW Sports in 2017 to set up the sales and marketing function, Singh had worked at IMG Reliance and Cornerstone Sport & Entertainment.
 
Parth Jindal, Founder of JSW Sports said, “Divyanshu’s elevation is in line with our Group’s strategy to scale-up high high-performing employees to enable them to contribute to business strategies at scale. Our Sports business is at a pivotal point as we continue to scale up our sports investments in Indian and international leagues and focus on new business avenues including talent management, consulting, licensing, and merchandise. I am confident that Divyanshu's extensive experience and understanding of the Sports avenues will enable us to scale new horizons.”
 
JSW Sports – the sports business of JSW Group has always had a holistic approach to athlete development as well as ensuring their commercial success in a rich and diverse ecosystem. The last few years has been a phase of immense growth from franchise ownership in multiple leagues to running India’s largest Olympic Sports Development Program.
 
Divyanshu Singh said, “As I continue my journey at JSW Sports, I am really excited to be leading an organisation which has made such a massive impact on professionalising and developing Indian sport, which is currently at an inflexion point.. I am grateful to be working under such vision and leadership along with a team whose singular mission is to realise the sporting potential of India from both from a development and commercial lens.
 


JSW Group elevates Divyanshu Singh as chief operating officer of JSW Sports

Tips Industries Limited (TIPS), a public-listed music-company, has appointed Hari Nair as the company’s new chief executive officer. Nair brings in 25 years of overall experience, of which the last two decades were spent in the music ecosystem. With this appointment, TIPS aims to strengthen its core leadership team, as well as focus on driving revenues further, be it through increasing its music distribution capabilities or expanding into new domains of music monetization. 


Nair will be responsible for leading the company into its next phase of growth, amidst the fast-changing digital trends and a vibrant content ecosystem in India’s entertainment industry. 


Kumar Taurani, managing director – Tips Industries Limited commented, “We are extremely delighted to appoint Hari as our Chief Executive Officer. Hari has 360-degree experience of music ecosystem - starting from music distribution companies like Soundbuzz & Mauj Mobile, to heading digital business for a global music company Sony Music India, and then leading performance rights organization PPL India’s digital transformation. With an experienced hand like Hari being added to our core teams, combined with our strength in music content creation and acquisition, we aim to achieve higher revenues and continue to deliver value for our shareholders”

Nair said, “I am absolutely delighted to become a part of the TIPS team. It is an honour for me to lead an organization with a quality music catalogue and focused content acquisition strategy, which is known for its longevity in the music industry and continues to steadily grow its market share. TIPS continues to deftly navigate through India's ever-evolving digital landscape, thanks to the promoters’ experience, and a clear vision. The company's brilliant track record of profitable growth speaks volumes about its management’s endeavour to maximize shareholder returns. As the company stands at a pivotal juncture in its journey, I am humbled and equally excited to be a part of this aggressive journey. I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to Kumar Taurani and the Board members, for showing faith in my candidature to lead this company.”


Joining ByteDance in 2019, Nair led the South Asia region for music partnerships and licensing for all ByteDance, launching their music streaming service Resso first in India, and the overall experience with apps like TikTok, Helo, Capcut, etc. 

Further, Hari was entrusted with a role (Middle East, Africa, Turkey and South Asia) for artist services division at TikTok, where he was primarily responsible for launching SoundOn (music distribution service), driving the business P & L for the region and also ensuring support for local artist / music labels. His music journey started with Asia’s first online music store “Soundbuzz”, which was acquired by Motorola. Prior to his long innings in the music arena, Nair also worked in the IT services industry.


TIPS appoints Hari Nair as chief executive officer

Shivani Behl, who led Pureplay Skin Sciences as chief marketing officer has called it quits. She said, “The last few years have been fantastic. I have been fortunate to be a part of such a great organization and have learned so much along the way.”

 

During her stint, Behl was responsible for the marketing, communications, new product strategy and development, media, digital content strategy, turnover and P&L for Plum, Plum Body Lovin and PHY across categories of skincare, haircare, color cosmetics, bath and body and men’s grooming.

 

Prior to Pureplay Skin Sciences, Behl was the head of marketing at Shoppers Stop where she led marketing and loyalty functions at the department store chain, with 86 stores across 40 cities.

 

Behl started her career at Tata Motor and went on to work in companies like Reebok India, VIP Industries, Reliance Brands and Lakme Lever. 

Shivani Behl moves on from Pureplay Skin Sciences

Creative agency BBH India, part of Publicis Groupe India, has announced the appointment of Swati Balani as executive creative director (ECD), in Mumbai. She will report to Parixit Bhattacharya, chief creative officer, BBH India, in her new role.


Bhattaccharya said, “We are casting for a high talent density collective. Where every individual inspires the other and impacts the work positively. Swati represents the very best of our industry. Her work puts technology, data, and platforms to the service of great insights. She has taken a modern, social approach to marketing across a variety of projects. Swati will guide the output of some of our key brands while pushing the boundaries on breakthrough, non-traditional work. We want Swati to make the best work of her life with the team here while laughing the hardest she ever has.”

 
Balani has over 14 years of experience in the advertising and marketing industry with a combined knowledge of both traditional and digital platforms. She has worked with Ogilvy, DDB Mudra, FCB, AutumnGrey, and Sideways Consulting. Throughout her career, she has built several brands across various sectors, including fintech, healthcare, BFSI, consumer durables, tech startups, FMCG and more. Over the years, Swati has collaborated with leading brands across industries, including ITC, Burger King, USL Diageo, Microsoft, P&G, PepsiCo, and Aditya Birla among others.


Her achievements include spearheading Pepsico India’s first AR campaign for Slice, which showcased the inspiring stories of COVID warriors in lieu of traditional branding. She also played a role in the launch of Microsoft’s first AI chatbot in India and Diageo’s gifting portfolio with a consumer-first UGC (user-generated content)-led launch.


She has won several national and international advertising and marketing awards. In particular, her campaign for Netmeds, #SilenceCancerNotItsFight, clinched a Gold award in the Red Abby’s category. Swati has also been named Social Samosa Superwoman in 2023.

Balani , “Any creative individual dreams of a place that believes in standing out from the crowd. And I found just that at BBH! Their work has always set a benchmark in the industry, and I am excited to be a part of Parixit and Himanshu’s team that truly believes in the Zag philosophy. My goal is to create fun and memorable work for brands that surpass mediums and truly become a part of today’s culture. And of course, have fun while doing it!”


Publicis Groupe's BBH appoints Swati Balani as executive creative director

Sanjeev Mantri has been promoted to the position of managing director and chief executive officer by ICICI Lombard. ICICI Lombard General Insurance has announced that Mantri will take on the position of MD and CEO starting from December 1 or upon IRDAI approval for a five-year term or until his retirement pending IRDAI and shareholder approval.  Previously, he held the position of the executive director. 


With a career spanning over 28 years, Mantri started at Bennett Coleman and Co, held leadership roles at BNP Paribas and spent over 20 years with the ICICI Group, initially at ICICI Bank in 2003 while overseeing various sectors including small and medium enterprises and rural and inclusive banking.


He joined ICICI Lombard in 2015 as executive director overseeing the retail division, responsible for product distribution across various channels. In this role, Mantri played a vital role in enhancing the company's revenue, profitability, and stock exchange listing, as well as the merger with Bharti Axa and the integration process.


He will succeed Bhargav Dasgupta, who left his role as MD and CEO on September 21 after spending 14 years with the company to pursue an international career opportunity. 

ICICI Lombard elevates Sanjeev Mantri as managing director and chief executive officer

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.


Maneesha Khanna


Previous: Director- global design lead- media, data and commercial capabilities, PepsiCo


Present: Senior director- global media capability lead at PepsiCo


PepsiCo has promoted Maneesha Khanna in a new role. She has worked across Lodestar UM and Nokia.


Pankaj Sharma


Previous: Chief operating officer, RBL Bank


Present: Chief strategy and transformation officer, Yes Bank


Yes Bank has appointed Pankaj Sharma in a new role. He has been a part of organisations like Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, and GE Countrywide.


Mrinal Mohit and Arjun Mohan


Previous: Chief executive officer, Byju’s; CEO, upGrad


Present: Chief executive officer, Byju’s


Mrinal Mohit has stepped down from his position at Byju’s. Arjun Mohan has stepped into his shoes. Mohit started his innings at Byju’s in 2014. Mohan has worked across Rambus, Mentor Graphics, HSBC Bank, Tata Services and Titan Company Limited. 


<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2023-09-25T071207.300.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14635" />


Mustufa Arsiwalla


Previous: Chief marketing officer, Britannia Bel Foods


Present: Trade marketing director, Ferrero


Mustufa Arsiwalla has quit from his position at Britannia Bel Foods. Arsiwalla has worked across ITC, Parle Agro, CavinKare and Ferrero.
 


Manish Menon


Previous: Principal consultant and co-founder, Aapka Resume

 

Present: Vice president - human resources, Madison World



Madison World has appointed Manish Menon in a new role. He has been a part of companies like GroupM, Viu, Alembic Pharmaceuticals and GoEvals Solutions.


<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2023-09-25T072316.934.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14639" />


Arpan Jain


Previous: National creative director, VMLY&R Commerce


Arpan Jain has moved on from VMLY&R Commerce. He has worked across Candid Marketing, Wizcraft International Entertainment, DDB Mudra Group and Geometry Encompass.


<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2023-09-25T071705.002.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14637" />


Rahul Welde


Previous: EVP, digital business, Unilever


Present: Partner and advisor, Avyan Global


Avyan Global has roped in Rahul Welde in a new role. He spent three decades in Unilever and held roles in different positions.


<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2023-09-25T072500.126.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14640" />



Parag Ved



Previous: President - consumer lines, Tata AIG General Insurance



Present: Director and chief executive officer, Liberty General Insurance



Liberty General Insurance has roped in Parag Ved in a new role. He has worked across BPCL, Pidilite Industries and ICICI Lombard.



Nishant Nayyar



Previous: Head of digital marketing, Narayana Health



Present: Vice president and head of marketing, Kaya



Kaya has roped in Nishant Nayyar in a new role. He has worked across Bennett, Coleman and Co, India Today, Credihealth and DayToDay Health.


Mohit H Chablani



Previous: Associate director of sales, mCanvas



Present: Head of sales - Enterprise India, Criteo



Online advertising company Criteo has appointed Mohit H Chablani ad head of sales enterprise India. Chablani has worked across Intelenet Global Services, Euclid Infotech Services, Aujas Networks, Media.net, ZEDO and Gameloft.


Garima Rai


Previous: Marketing director, Klera


Present: Vice president - marketing, Kapture CX


Kapture CX has appointed Garima Rai in a new role. She has worked across Newgen Software Technologies, Intrasphere Technologies, Ultrasonic Instrumentations, Newgen Software Technologies, and InsideView Technologies. 


Compiled by Kashmeera Sambamurthy

CXO Moves: Exec movements in PepsiCo, Byju's, Britannia Bel Foods, VMLY&R Commerce and more

Italian confectionery major Ferrero has appointed Mustufa Arsiwalla as trade marketing director. Arsiwalla said, “I’m thrilled to be back working with Ferrero, a company known for its iconic brands, robust innovation and a strong commitment to brand building through its unique marketing and route to market strategies.” 

 
Arsiwalla's first stint at Ferrero was in 2014, where he held the position of brand manager for Ferrero Rocher. His last position was associate general manager for Kinder Joy. 


Arsiwalla joins Ferrero from Britannia Bel Foods where he was the chief marketing officer. He started his career at ITC and went on to work across Parle Agro, Elder Health Care and CavinKare. Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world's largest sweet-packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries. Its brands include Nutella, Kinder, Tic Tac, and Ferrero Rocher. The company has over 38,000 employees. 

 
 



Britannia Bel Foods’s CMO Mustufa Arsiwalla joins Ferrero as trade marketing director

Nilay Chandra, who had led the electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy as vice president, scooter business head, has quit the EV maker after eight years with the company. 


Chandra said “Ather not only changed my professional expertise, but equally, the people I worked with shaped my perspective on life and work. And I hope I was able to make a difference.”

In early September, two-wheeler major Hero MotoCorp said it had got the board's approval to invest Rs 550 crore into Ather Energy, in which it is an existing investor. "The Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on September 4, 2023, has approved an investment of up to INR 550 crore (Rupees five hundred fifty crores), in the Rights issue of Ather Energy Private Limited," The NSE filing by Hero MotoCorp said. Industry sources said that Ather Energy is mulling an IPO by 2024.
 
During Chandra's stint at Ather, he led the growth stage of the brand achieving a 4x growth over last year with a market share increase of 2.5 percent, while driving the category to a 192 percent growth rate. Chandra's experience was across, sales strategy, retail financing, P&L management, customer insight, cross-functional team leadership, business intelligence and analytics. He joined the Hero MotoCorp-backed Ather Energy in 2019. 


He started his career with Bosch and went on to work across Wipro Consumer Care, GSK Consumer Healthcare and Flipkart. Chandra has a degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University.

CXO MOVES

Brand Makers

Duroflex’s Smita Murarka joins Deloitte as director

Brand Makers

Marico’s MD Saugata Gupta named ASCI chairman

Brand Makers

JSW Group elevates Divyanshu Singh as chief operating officer of JSW Sports

Brand Makers

TIPS appoints Hari Nair as chief executive officer

Brand Makers

Shivani Behl moves on from Pureplay Skin Sciences

Brand Makers

Publicis Groupe's BBH appoints Swati Balani as executive creative director

Brand Makers

ICICI Lombard elevates Sanjeev Mantri as managing director and chief executive officer

Brand Makers

CXO Moves: Exec movements in PepsiCo, Byju's, Britannia Bel Foods, VMLY&R Commerce and more

Brand Makers

Britannia Bel Foods’s CMO Mustufa Arsiwalla joins Ferrero as trade marketing director

Brand Makers

Nilay Chandra moves on from EV-maker Ather Energy