Leadership
Industry News: Senior Executive & Leadership Changes
Change, as they say, is inevitable. And so it is with the elevation of these senior executives and industry leaders into positions of eminence. Here’s our roundup of the movers you need to be aware of.
Vinay Subramanyam
Kellogg India has appointed Vinay Subramanyam as the Head of Marketing for its business in India and South Asia markets. Subramanyam will be responsible for scaling category development, driving strategic initiatives, and overseeing the organisation’s brand and marketing initiatives. With experience spanning more than two decades, he has worked across VIP Industries, General Mills, and Britannia Industries. His previous role was that of Chief Marketing Officer for Pidilite Industries.
Tejas Chaudhari
Tejas Chaudhari has been promoted to the position of Performance Marketing Lead – e-commerce at Unilever. His responsibilities include leading performance marketing for e-commerce and omni business, and handling media investments. Chaudhari’s decade-plus experience has seen him work across Audi India, Lodha Group, Quantastic, and Tata CLiQ. His previous position at Unilever was that of Performance Marketing Manager – e-commerce.
Rajeshwari Srinivasan
FabIndia has roped in Rajeshwari Srinivasan as its CEO. She replaces the retiring Viney Singh, and boasts experience of over three decades working across Rallis India, Tata Consumer Products, and The Indian Hotels Company. Her previous position was that of Chief Strategy Officer, Titan Company.
Kapil Batra
Kapil Batra has joined Wieden + Kennedy as its National Creative Director and will oversee its Delhi operations. Across two decades in the industry, Batra has been responsible for campaigns such as PayTM Karo, the Share a Coke campaign (Friend Request & Landlord), the awarded Dettol soap bubbles activation, the Rudali campaign for Radio Mirchi, the PayTM Sweet Change activation and work for brands like Yatra.com, Maggi, Domino’s Pizza, Alpenliebe, Chlormint, Happydent, Flipkart and Star Sports. His most recent role prior to this was that of Head – Creative at McCann Erickson.
Akanksha Shamwani
Jio has appointed Akansha Shamwani as Lead – Technology and Product Marketing for 5G. She has worked for more than a decade across companies such as Capgemini, Sony Pictures Network India, Viacom18, and MX Player. She moves on from her position as Head – Business Partnerships at BYJU’S.
Dalveer Singh and Ajay Mehta
Dalveer Singh, Head of Experiential Marketing – APAC at GroupM India, has stepped down from his position at the organisation, with Ajay Mehta, MD of GroupM’s iTV taking over Dialogue Factory’s rural and experiential offerings along with the out-of-home offerings. Mehta has an industry experience of 25 years.
Ankit Desai
Multinational consumer goods company Marico has promoted Ankit Desai to the position of Head – Media, Digital Marketing and Brand Public Relations (India and Global Centre of Excellence). Desai has industry experience of two decades, having worked at Dainik Jagran, GroupM, Imagine TV, and Hotstar.
Nitesh Bhasin
Nestlé has promoted Nitesh Bhasin to the position of Marketing Head, Maggi value added light meals & accompaniments. His previous role was that of Senior Brand Manager, Maggi sauces and on-the-go portfolio, Nestlé. He boasts an experience of more than a decade, having worked across Airtel, Educate Girls, Johnson & Johnson, and Marico.
P.Rajendran
Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate has brought P.Rajendran on board as its Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. He has an industry expertise spanning more than two decades, having worked across Eureka Forbes, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Housing and Development, North Star Realty, KlickBrick Housing Consultants, and Tata Value Homes.
Neeraj Kanitkar
Fundamental, a newly minted creative agency, has appointed Neeraj Kanitkar as its Co-founder and Executive Creative Director. His most recent role was that of Executive Creative Director at DDB Mudra Group. His industry experience is of more than a decade, having worked across Law & Kenneth, Contract Advertising, and Taproot Dentsu.
Antara Kundu
Forest Essentials has appointed Antara Kundu as its Head of Marketing and Communications. She has an experience of more than 15 years having worked across Nielsen, Unilever, Colorbar USA, Avon, and Kama Ayurveda. Her most recent role was that of General Manager – marketing, brand and customer acquisition at The Body Shop.
John Thangaraj
FCB India has elevated John Thangaraj to the position of Group Chief Strategy Officer. Previously their Chief Strategy Officer, Thangaraj’s responsibilities will include overseeing strategic thinking for clients across all group companies. Thangaraj boasts industry experience of more than two decades and has worked across 20:20 Media, Logan Meo Walters, Quantum Consumer Solutions, Adidas, Rediffusion Y&R, and Mindshare.
Nisha Ganneri
VMLY&R has appointed Nisha Ganneri as its Senior Vice President of Strategy. She has an experience of two decades, having worked across T-Series, Adfactors PR, Idea Cellular, Kirloskar Oil Engines, Suzlon Energy, Geodesic, Leo Burnett, Creativeland Asia, DDB Mudra Group, Ogilvy & Mather, Publicis, and GroupM. Prior to this, she was a Creative Strategist at Essence.
Simran Channey Gaglani
Viacom18 Sports has appointed Simran Channey Gaglani as its AVP of Brand Solutions. Gaglani has industry experience of more than a decade, having worked across Accord PR, Sula Wines, Studio 18, Maxus, Vinod Chopra Films, The Walt Disney Company, Knight Riders Sports, and Hotstar. She was previously National Lead – Brand Solutions and Sports Alliances at ShareChat.
Anuja Trivedi
Shemaroo Entertainment has appointed Anuja Trivedi as its Chief Marketing Officer. Prior to this, she was the Executive Director and Content Studio Strategy Head at Disney Star. Trivedi’s two-decade long industry experience has seen her work across PwC, Morgan Stanley Advantage Services, McKinsey & Company, and World Gold Council.
Vivek Kumar Anand
Digital agency DViO Digital has promoted Vivek Kumar Anand to the position of Chief Business Officer. In his new role, Anand will continue to head strategy, performance, media and tech divisions. Prior to this, he was Director of Business and Innovation. He has an industry experience of more than a decade, having worked across On Net Office, AFC System, and RMJ Institute of Capital Market.
Nitinjit Singh Bawa
Cordelia Cruises has appointed Nitinjit Singh Bawa as its Head of Marketing. He was previously AVP – Marketing at MX Player. His decade-plus industry experience has seen him work across Rediffusion DY&R, PVR, Novo Cinemas, Times Internet, and MX Player.