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.
Vikas Gupta
Previous: Chief executive officer, SuperStore – Nykaa
Present: CEO, VLCC
Beauty and skincare company VLCC has appointed Vikas Gupta as the chief executive officer. The announcement comes after Carlyle, a global investment firm with US$ 369bn in assets under management, announced a strategic partnership with VLCC through the acquisition of a majority stake in the company in Dec 2022. Gupta started his career as a management trainee with HUL in 1998 and spent 21 years with Unilever, leading brand marketing for Lux, Dove, Dirt Is Good brands. He was also the executive director of Home Care for Unilever Indonesia. He joined Nykaa in 2021.
Sangeeta Barde
Previous: Managing partner, Havas Life Sorento
Present: Chief executive officer, Havas Life Sorento
Sangeeta Barde has been promoted as the chief executive officer of Havas Life Sorento. As part of her new role, Barde will drive the success model for offshoring and achieving strategic and impactful globalisation initiatives and will also be the regional head of HH&Y Middle East. Barde comes with experience of more than three decades and has worked across USV and Unichem Laboratories.
Ajay Simha
Previous: Marketing director, Nivea India
Present: General manager, e-commerce, L’Oreal India
L’Oreal India has roped in Ajay Simha as the general manager of e-commerce. In his role, Simha will be responsible for the overall growth of L’Oreal India’s e-commerce vertical. Simha has had stints at ABB, Hewlett Packard India Sales, Hindustan Unilever and Beiersdorf.
Tejashree R
Previous: Senior client lead – ShareChat
Present: Senior director – Influencer Marketing, Mindshare
Media agency Mindshare has appointed Tejashree R as senior director – influencer marketing. She has worked with Times Internet, Chatterbox Technologies and Voxxy.
Amitesh Rao, Abhinav Tripathi, Sambit Mohanty and Souvik Datta
Previous: Executive vice president and head, McCann Delhi; Creative head, McCann Mumbai; Creative head, McCann Worldgroup
Present: Executive director – North and West; creative head – digital, and the creative responsibilities of McCann Delhi
McCann Worldgroup has restructured its leadership team to provide strategic direction and creative prowess to clients which can help them navigate the business landscape, which is constantly changing. Amitesh Rao has been promoted to the role of executive director for the north and west regions. Rao, who is armed with an experience of more than two decades, has worked across RPG Enterprises, McCann Erickson, Applied Research International, Publicis India, JWT, Rediffusion Y&R, MTS India, and TBWA\India.
Abhinav Tripathi will now handle the responsibility of creative head – digital. Tripathi has an experience of over two decades and has worked across SunTours, FCB Ulka, Ogilvy, Leo Burnett and TBWA\India
Sambit Mohanty and Souvik Datta will handle the creative responsibilities of the agency’s Delhi branch. Mohanty has worked at Lowe Lintas, Publicis Advertising, Vyas Giannetti Creative, Leo Burnett, Elephant Design, Bates Asia, DDB Mudra, and JWT India. Datta has worked at MullenLowe Lintas Group, DDB Mudra Group, TBWA, Contract India, Creativeland Asia and Contract Advertising India.
Aditya Madhavan
Previous: Brand director, e-commerce AMA (APAC, Middle East and Africa), and e-commerce delivery, haircare APAC, P&G
Present: Brand director, digital commerce and media, haircare APAC, P&G
Procter & Gamble has promoted Aditya Madhavan to the role of brand director, digital commerce and media, haircare for the APAC region. Madhavan comes with an experience of more than a decade and has worked across Mindshare, OMD Worldwide, MediaCom, Essilor Group and iflix. Madhavan started his career at P&G in 2018 as ASEAN media planning and operations manager (Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam), and emerging APAC e-com.
Santosh Krishnamoorthy
Previous: Agency lead, LinkedIn Marketing Solutions
Present: Senior manager and head of agency development, LinkedIn Marketing Solutions
LinkedIn Marketing Solutions has promoted Santosh Krishnamoorthy to the role of the senior manager. Along with this, he will also continue to be the head of agency development. Krishnamoorthy comes with an experience of over two decades and has worked across Le Royal Meridien, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, NDTV Media, BBC Worldwide, ESPN and Zirca Digital Solutions.
Devika Sachdev
Previous: Marketing manager – new business development (Organic and Inorganic), General Mills
Present: Head of advertising and brand management, Bajaj Electricals
Bajaj Electricals has onboarded Devika Sachdev as head of advertising and brand management. Her responsibility will be to drive the communication agenda and frame integrated marketing communications strategies across Bajaj, Morphy Richards and Nirlep brands. Sachdev is armed with over two decades of experience and has worked with DMA Consultants, Marico, Bajaj Consumer Care, Godrej Consumer Products and Aditya Birla Group.
Dolly Jha
Previous: Managing director, Nielsen Media
Dolly Jha has moved on from her role at Nielsen India. Jha is armed with an experience of more than two decades and has worked at IMRB International and ITC Limited.
Nikhil Gandhi
Previous: Chief operating officer, MX Player
Present: Executive Director, Arise IIP
Nikhil Gandhi has joined Arise IIP as executive director. Gandhi has held leadership roles at Viacom18, Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd., UTV, The Walt Disney Company, Times Network and TikTok.
Rakesh Kaul
Previous: Chief executive officer and director, Hindware Home Innovation
Present: Managing director and CEO, Livpure
LivPure has roped in Rakesh Kaul as the managing director and chief executive officer. Paul’s responsibilities will include leading and focusing on sharpening the strategy and execution to improve the business trajectory. Further, Kaul will also oversee and focus on product innovation, category expansion, business model innovation and scaling up the organisation’s service business.
Rachna Bhola
Previous: General Manager, MAISON D’ AURAINE
Present: Brand director, BORN HI
Integrated digital marketing agency BORN HI has appointed Rachna Bhola as brand director. Her mandate will include developing the creative vision and business strategy for clients. Bhola is armed with an experience of more than 15 years and has worked across Accenture, IBM, Digiqom, YAAP, #ARM Worldwide and FoxyMoron.
Aparna Rao
Previous: Head, India, Bayer GBS, Bayer
Present: Lead, India, Cargill Business Services
Cargill Business Services has appointed Aparna Rao as the lead for the shared services division of Cargill. Her responsibilities include providing strategic leadership, spearheading critical initiatives, and driving a people-first culture. Rao comes with work experience of over two decades and has worked across Hewlett-Packard, Tesco and Monsanto Company.
Pranab Mohanty
Previous: Vice president, Midea India
Present: Chief executive officer, Hisense India
Hisense India has roped in Pranab Mohanty as the chief executive officer. Mohanty’s mandate will include leading the growth and development of Hisense India’s business. He will also drive the company’ strategic initiatives and strengthen the brand presence in India. Mohanty comes with an experience of three decades and has worked across H. Fillunger & Co., Electronica Mechatronics Systems, Toshiba India, Somotex Ghana and Sales India.
Sunder Rajan
Previous: SVP – APAC Operations, Exela Technologies
Present: Chief executive officer, ImmersionX
Technology and design agency ImmersionX has appointed Sunder Rajan as chief executive officer. Rajan’s mandate will be to manage and lead business expansion in artificial reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and metaverse technology offerings. Rajan comes with an experience of more than two decades and has worked with Piramyd Retail, Onida, Kale Consultants, HOV Services, Wolters Kluwer, Prag ITech, Prag Robotics and Institute of Medicine & Law.
Alok Arya
Previous: Chief marketing officer, IIFL (India Infoline Group)
Present: Chief marketing officer, Research & Ranking
Research & Ranking, the equity investment advisory brand, part of Equentis Wealth Advisory Services has roped in Alok Arya as the chief marketing officer. Arya comes with an experience of more than a decade and has worked with The Coca-Cola Company, Mohan Meakins, NTPC, Tata Housing Development Company, Future Group India, Google and Piramal Group.
Vikram Surendran
Previous: President, Eureka Forbes
Present: Chief executive officer, MIRC Electronics
MIRC Electronics has brought Vikram Surendran on board as the chief executive officer. Surendran’s responsibility will include strengthening the Onida brand and working to enhance its overall customer experience. He is armed with an experience of more than three decades and has worked with Eureka Forbes and Hindustan Unilever.
Compiled by Kashmeera Sambamurthy