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Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited announced appointment of Kirti Ganorkar as the Managing Director with effect from 1 September 2025. Ganorkar will succeed  Dilip Shanghvi, the pharma giant informed the stock exchanges on Friday. However, Shanghvi will continue to remain the Executive Chairman of the Sun Pharma board. He will focus on providing insights towards shaping company’s long-term strategy.


Ganorkar has been heading India Business at Sun Pharma since June 2019. Previously, he held various leadership roles across business development, marketing, Merger and Acquisition (M&A), new product introduction, project management, IP and litigation at Sun Pharma. 

Dilip Shanghvi, Chairman & Managing Director of Sun Pharma said, “Kirti has consistently demonstrated effective leadership managing diverse roles at Sun. I have a firm belief in his ability to lead the company into its next phase of growth and extend my best wishes for his success. Kirti’s elevation showcases our strong in-house talent pool, ensuring continuity of Sun’s core value systems.”

Ganorkar played a key role in driving Sun Pharma’s foray into specialty by securing rights for innovative products such as Ilumya. According to the company, Ganorkar  led Sun Pharma’s entry into Japan and laid initial groundwork for the company’s entry into Europe. A chemical engineer and MBA, Ganorkar joined Sun Pharma in 1996.

"It has been a profoundly rewarding journey to participate in the company’s transformation into a leading global pharmaceutical enterprise. Sun Pharma is at an exciting juncture with all its businesses well-positioned for growth," Ganorkar, Managing Director (Designate) of Sun Pharma stated.

Meanwhile, Abhay Gandhi – President & CEO, North America, has decided to pursue his interests outside Sun Pharma. Richard (“Rick”) Ascroft will be joining as CEO – North America, succeeding Gandhi. 

Rick is a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with more than three decades of experience spanning commercial operations, market access, medical affairs, and corporate affairs across the US and global markets. Recently, he served as Senior Vice President and Business Unit Head of US Plasma-Derived Therapies at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and was a member of both the US and global executive leadership teams.

Aalok Shanghvi – Whole-time Director and Chief Operating Officer, has been additionally entrusted with the responsibility for the North America business wherein Rick will report to Aalok.

Sun Pharma appoints Kirti Ganorkar as the Managing Director

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved a six-month extension of Prashant Kumar, the managing director and chief executive officer, of Yes Bank, which will be effective from October 6, or until a new CEO and MD is appointed. 


Kumar's three year tenure ends in October, and on May 13, Yes Bank had announced that they had appointed global recruitment firm Egon Zehnder to hunt for a new CEO.


Kumar was appointed as MD & CEO of Yes Bank post reconstruction of the Bank in March 2020. He had been re-appointed in October 2022 for a further period of three years. 


Prior to joining Yes Bank, Kumar was deputy managing director and chief financial officer of State Bank of India (SBI). Kumar joined the SBI as probationary officer in 1983 and during his 34 years of service with SBI, he has held various key positions including deputy MD (human resources) and corporate development officer, deputy MD and chief operating officer, chief general manager etc.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/yes-bank-appoints-naveen-chaluvadi-as-chief-digital-officer-51687.htm">YES Bank appoints Naveen Chaluvadi as Chief Digital Officer</a>

RBI extends Yes Bank's MD & CEO Prashant Kumar's tenure by six months

AstraZeneca Pharma India has named Praveen Rao Akkinepally as the managing director, with effect from July 1 for a period of three years. Akkinepally will succeed Sanjeev Kumar Panchal who has stepped down from his post.


Prior to this, Akkinepally was the head of oncology business unit (OBU) for India. Akkinepally is armed with comes over 20 years of leadership experience, having started at AstraZeneca as a microbiologist before transitioning to commercial roles. He has held positions such as head of marketing - oncology brands in the US.


As the former global head of Lung Cancer Commercialization, global marketing, Akkinepally pioneered the development and implementation of the oncology business unit's first tumour strategy and leadership plans.


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AstraZeneca India names Praveen Rao Akkinepally as MD

Timex Group has appointed Varun Malik as general manager - marketing and senior management personnel. Prior to this, he was the marketing head at Shalimar Paints, where he led marketing strategy and execution, focusing on driving brand visibility, business growth and market penetration in India's paints sector. 

Malik is a marketing professional with over 16 years of experience in various aspects of marketing, brand building & management, marketing strategy, lifestyle marketing and storytelling. 


At Shalimar Paints, his core role was in brand strategy & GTM planning, digital brand building, influencer & loyalty marketing, trade marketing, NPD from creation to incubation, content marketing & lead generation campaigns, social listening & analytics to strategize the moves. 


Malik previously worked with M/s HyFun Foods as brand marketing head, and in various roles across marketing domain with Reebok India, Times of India, DLF India, Samsung Electronics etc.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/paul-king-ruban-brand-head-of-timex-resigns-41914.htm">Paul King Ruban, Brand Head of Timex, resigns</a> 


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/timex-group-india-eyes-continued-double-digit-growth-in-fy26-boosts-ad-spends-beyond-rs-55-crore-69243.htm">'Don’t want to be a small client in a very large agency': Timex Group MD</a>

Shalimar Paints' Varun Malik joins Timex Group as General Manager - Marketing

WPP Media has appointed Caroline Foster Kenny as global client president, where she is tasked with overseeing EssenceMediacom's client portfolio. Kenny joins from VML, where she was global chief client officer, and has over 15 years of experience at WPP, including leadership roles at Wunderman Thompson and Wavemaker. 


Kenny brings expertise in client integration across WPP, business growth, and organizational transformation. 


Stephanie Prager also joins as a global client president, leading a portfolio of WPP Media's top global accounts. She joins from Publicis where she served as a client president. Prior to that, she consulted for Mondelēz on their digital customer experience strategy. 


Prager spent 10 years at X (Twitter) where she built their global advertising business and diversifying revenue streams.


Mark Read, who led WPP since 2018 and spearheaded major consolidations across markets, will step down as CEO by year-end. Read, who has spent more than three decades at the British communications giant and served as C.E.O. since 2018, will retire from the role and leave the company’s board on Dec. 31. WPP said a search for his successor is already underway.


Recently, WPP Media became the new name of WPP’s global media arm, aligning with the increasing demand from advertisers for end-to-end capabilities. The new entity will manage more than $60 billion in annual media investments, serving over 75 percent of the world’s leading advertisers across more than 80 markets.


WPP Media will continue to operate well-known agency brands such as Mindshare, Wavemaker, and EssenceMediacom, each maintaining dedicated client teams while benefiting from shared technology, infrastructure, and expertise.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/advertising/wpp-india-organizing-the-big-five-creative-media-digital-data-and-delivery-69615.htm">WPP India: Organizing the Big Five - creative, media, digital, data and delivery</a>

WPP Media appoints Caroline Foster Kenny and Stephanie Prager as Global Client President

Malini Agarwal, the founder and longtime face of MissMalini Entertainment, announced she is stepping down from her role as creative director, marking the end of a defining chapter in the evolution of one of the country's earliest digital lifestyle brands.

In a statement shared on social media, Agarwal said, “After years of love, laughter and oodles of glam, I’m officially moving on… to begin a whole new adventure.” She added that the brand, which she described as her “soul project,” will now continue under “a content-first company,” calling it the “perfect next step in its evolution.”

The announcement follows the acquisition of MissMalini Entertainment by marketing agency Creativefuel from the Good Glamm Group. According to media reports, the deal was valued at ₹6 crore, and includes the transfer of the brand’s domain and social media assets. The Good Glamm Group, however, will retain the talent management arm of the company.

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MissMalini was acquired by the Good Glamm Group in 2021 and became part of its broader digital media and influencer marketing portfolio, which includes divisions such as Girl Tribe, Ignite Edge, Agent M, and MM Studios.

Agarwal, a prominent figure in the digital media ecosystem, began her career in broadcast and print journalism with roles at MTV Networks India, Channel V, Mid-Day, BBC, and Radio One, before launching MissMalini as a personal blog that evolved into a full-fledged content and influencer marketing business.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/the-good-glamm-group-sells-missmalini-entertainment-to-creativefuel-62167.htm">The Good Glamm Group sells MissMalini Entertainment to Creativefuel</a>

Malini Agarwal moves on from MissMalini Entertainment

Shantanu Mitra, CEO and Managing Director of SMFG India Credit, has announced his intention to step down at the end of this month, according to sources familiar with the matter, as per media reports.

Mitra informed the board about his decision earlier in June, marking an early departure ahead of his term originally scheduled to conclude in September this year.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/havas-media-india-announces-senior-leadership-elevations-69942.htm">Havas Media India elevates Ramsai Panchapakesan, Binu Thomas and Manish Sharma</a>

Mitra's resignation comes shortly after Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), the parent company of SMFG India Credit, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a significant stake in Yes Bank for Rs 13,483 crore. The deal, signed in May, is currently awaiting approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

During FY25, SMFG notably increased its equity investment in SMFG India Credit by Rs 4,300 crore-Rs 1,300 crore in April 2024 and Rs 3,000 crore in December 2024 - as part of its broader strategic expansion in India's financial services landscape, the report added.

Mitra has been associated with the company in two significant stints. Initially joining SMFG India Credit as the Group Chief Risk Officer in 2010, he was elevated to CEO in 2011, serving until 2017. He re-joined the company in 2021 for a second tenure that will conclude with his imminent departure.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/former-times-group-executive-partha-sinha-joins-mckinsey-as-senior-advisor-69332.htm">Former Times Group executive Partha Sinha joins McKinsey as Senior Advisor</a>

SMFG India Credit CEO & MD Shantanu Mitra to step down

Shivnath Thukral, Vice President of Public Policy at Meta India, has announced his departure from the company after a notable tenure of more than seven years. Thukral described the decision as difficult but timely, expressing confidence in the strength of the policy team he leaves behind.

“It is not an easy decision to make,” Thukral said, “but I feel very confident that our policy engagement with stakeholders is at a credible and constructive juncture… I do feel it is a good time to let the engine and the team work on their own.”

During his time at Meta, Thukral played a central role in shaping the company’s public policy narrative in India, a critical market for the tech giant. He was instrumental in building internal systems, engaging with stakeholders across government and industry and steering the company through a complex regulatory environment.

Thukral expressed gratitude to both his team and a host of prominent Meta leaders, including Joel Kaplan, Ajit Mohan, Sandeep Bhushan, Rishi Raj Gupta and Ankhi Das, among others. He also acknowledged the contributions of team members Natasha Jog, Sunil Abraham, and Rishabh Dara.

Thukral said he plans to take a short break to focus on health, running, and family. He hinted at a return soon, teasing that his next chapter may involve “taking India to the world.” Thukral’s departure comes at a time when Big Tech continues to face regulatory scrutiny in India, with data governance, digital competition and content moderation remaining top priorities for policymakers. 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/googles-public-policy-shake-up-are-big-techs-struggling-to-retain-policy-heads-in-india-56879.htm">Read more: Google’s Public Policy Shake-up: Are big techs struggling to retain policy heads in India?</a>

Shivnath Thukral steps down as VP of Public Policy at Meta

SBI General Insurance announced the appointment of Mohd. Arif Khan as the Deputy chief executive officer.

Khan began his career with SBI in 2000 as a probationary officer and has since held several key leadership positions across retail banking, strategic training unit (STU), and core banking solution (CBS) implementation and training projects. In his most recent role, he served as general manager, Network-I, at SBI’s Local Head Office in Thiruvananthapuram, where he led large-scale business and operational initiatives.

Speaking on the appointment, Naveen Chandra Jha, MD & CEO, SBI General Insurance, said, "We are delighted to welcome Mohd. Arif Khan to the SBI General Insurance leadership team. His vast experience across diverse banking functions, strong strategic expertise, and deep understanding of the business, will be instrumental in propelling the company to greater heights. I look forward to working closely with him as we drive innovation, enhance customer value, and further strengthen our position in the general insurance industry."

On his appointment, Khan said, “I am delighted to be a part of SBI General Insurance family. India’s general insurance sector offers tremendous potential for transformative growth, and I see great opportunity for SBI General to lead the way. I look forward to building a superior customer experience, delivering profitable growth, introducing innovative products to evolving needs and expanding our footprint in underserved markets. My focus will be on creating meaningful value for our customers, stakeholders, and the communities we serve.”

Khan holds a postgraduate degree in Mathematics and is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (ISACA, USA). He holds a PGDFA in Advanced Wealth Management (IIBF) and RMAI certificate course on Risk Management & Affiliate of Risk Management Association of India.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/the-marketers-job-will-have-a-shorter-tenure-rathin-lahiri-sbi-general-insurance-53848.htm">The marketer's job will have a shorter tenure: Rathin Lahiri, SBI General Insurance</a>

SBI General Insurance appoints Mohd. Arif Khan as Deputy CEO

Cheil X, part of the Cheil SWA group, has announced the appointment of Souvik Datta as national creative director. Datta will join from McCann Worldgroup, where he’s currently heading the creative for West and previously the North operations for McCann , where he led teams and delivered campaigns for Hero MotoCorp, Nestlé (Maggi), Domino’s, Reckitt, and Asian Paints. 


At Cheil X, Datta will co-lead the agency’s creative function alongside Amit Nandwani, who continues in his role as the NCD. He will report to Vikash Chemjong, chief creative officer, Cheil SWA Group.


With over 23 years of experience across agencies like McCann, Lowe, TBWA, and Contract, Datta has worked on some of the biggest brands, from Liril, Tanishq, Fastrack, and ICICI Prudential to Maggi, Dettol, Hero, and Asian, across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata. 

 
Jitender Dabas, chief executive officer, Cheil X, said, “I’ve worked with Souvik and know just how good he is at steering big brands and businesses. Whether it was Hero, Maggi, Domino’s, Asian Paints, or Reckitt, I have seen the real-world impact his work has had on businesses. He is someone who champions ideas that build brand meaning at scale not just through big TVCs but through ideas that create impact every moment across the consumer journey. I am looking forward to his joining us at this pivotal time for Cheil X”. 

 
Amit Nandwani, who continues in his national leadership role, brings over 22 years of experience across agencies like Leo Burnett, Ogilvy, McCann, and DDB Mudra, having led the creative charge for brands including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Iodex, Star Sports, Philips, and Amazon. He also brings directorial sensibility to his work, having been in charge of over 20 commercials for leading brands. 

 

“With Souvik and Amit at the helm of our creative function, we’re bringing together two leaders who’ve helped shape iconic campaigns for some of the biggest Indian and global brands. They’ve led large teams, built brands across categories, and bring complementary strengths to the table.” 

 
In a move that reflects Cheil X’s broader evolution, the agency also announced an expanded mandate for Rajit Gupta, who currently leads Cheil X Mumbai creative. Rajit will now also helm the agency’s brand experience and design capabilities across India, integrating spatial, experiential, and environmental design as part of the agency’s solutions ecosystem. 

 
Chemjong said, “It’s said that great advertising moves people. What’s also true, is that great advertising people, also moves people! And with Jeetu coming in, talent has begun to move steadily towards Cheil X. The first of course being Souvik. And one just has to look at the breadth of his work to understand the creative flair. 

 
With him teaming up with our rock-solid Amit Nandwani and expanded role for Rajit Gupta, Cheil X is well on its way to become a force that’ll be difficult to ignore in this new-age advertising landscape”. 

 
Dabas added, “We’re building an agency designed to solve business problems through creativity. Our focus is on ideas that impact every moment—ideas that move beyond campaigns to show up consistently across platforms, experiences, and touchpoints. With our new creative teams driving different dimensions of our creative ambition, Cheil X is entering its most exciting chapter yet.”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/cheil-swa-appoints-jitender-dabas-as-ceo-of-cheil-x-61283.htm">Cheil SWA appoints Jitender Dabas as CEO of Cheil X</a>

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