Key Leadership Moves Across Industries

As India’s economy accelerates, leading brands are sharpening their competitive edge with transformative leadership hires.  

New entrants like Akasa Air have tapped cross-industry experts to elevate brand equity and digital experience. JSW Paints has anchored its post-acquisition surge through seasoned storytelling and marketing prowess. Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor India is doubling down on strategic HR leadership to future-proof its talent pipeline amid a rapidly evolving auto landscape. Moves such as these signal an era where integrated leadership fuels scale, trust, and culture. 

Akasa Air Appoints Naarayan T V as CMO 

On August 29, 2025, Akasa Air appointed Naarayan T V (ex-IDFC Bank, PayPal) as Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Committee member. He will oversee marketing, corporate communications & ESG, customer experience, eCommerce, customer analytics, and partnerships.  

With over 20 years of cross-industry experience—including e-commerce, fintech, banking, D2C broking, and consumer brands—Naarayan is poised to elevate Akasa’s brand as it matures from agile upstart to serious challenger.  

His proven campaigns at IDFC and PayPal, and recognition such as the DMA Asia Trail Blazer Award in 2023, underscore his blend of creativity, analytics, and strategic storytelling. Akasa’s CEO, Vinay Dube, emphasized that Naarayan’s leadership will be instrumental in shaping the airline’s next phase of growth, deepening customer trust through integrated brand and digital experiences. 

Rohit Talwar Brings Legacy Expertise as new CMO at JSW Paints 

Rohit Talwar, the seasoned brand architect behind Castrol India’s storied marketing and cricket sponsorship successes, has joined JSW Paints as its Chief Marketing Officer, reporting to the CEO of Decorative Paints.  

With a 21-year tenure at Castrol—spanning roles from Sales Manager to Global Commercial Vehicle Brand Head—Talwar brings deep institutional knowledge of consumer and B2B branding. His experience includes cementing Castrol’s presence in emerging markets like Vietnam.  

As India’s decorative paints market gears up to potentially double from $10 billion to $20 billion, Talwar’s arrival signals JSW’s ambition to transcend functional messaging, weaving lifestyle, trust, and creativity into its value proposition. 

Hyundai Motor India Onboards Akshay Rakshit to Head Talent Acquisition & Strategy  

Akshay Rakshit has assumed the role of Head of Talent Acquisition & Strategy at Hyundai Motor Company (India).  

Drawing on his HR leadership across BMW, Maruti Suzuki, Honda, and Exide, Rakshit will spearhead strategic hiring, employer branding, youth pipelines, HR transformation, and policy innovation for both Hyundai and Genesis brands.  

In a dynamic auto industry marked by electrification and connectivity, assembling agile, future-ready talent is mission-critical. Rakshit’s comprehensive remit reflects a shift: HR is not just operational—but strategic, cultural, and anticipatory.