Bengaluru, 12 September 2024: Essar Energy Transition (“EET”, the “Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ruth Herbert as Managing Director, Business Development and Strategic Initiatives, effective 16 September 2024.

Ruth will lead the development and execution of strategic initiatives to support EET’s long-term growth objectives – identifying new business opportunities, forging strategic partnerships and ensuring that the Company’s initiatives are in line with the evolving energy landscape.

Ruth brings with her over 15 years of energy industry experience, most recently as Chief Executive of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, where she helped to shape government policy and fostered partnerships that significantly advanced the industry’s progress.  CCSA grew from a 50-member organisation to a 120-member organisation, produced its first UK-wide CCUS delivery plan and grew its presence and profile in the UK and Belgium during her three-year tenure.

Ruth has extensive UK Government experience, previously holding several key positions at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, where she played a pivotal role in the UK’s energy policy, including leading negotiations on the EU Directive on CO₂ Storage, international CCUS, and policy coordination, stakeholder engagement and programme management for the UK’s Electricity Market Reform.  Ruth has been a member of the UK government’s CCUS Council and its Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge Advisory Council, as well as the UKCCSRC Advisory Council.

Ruth has also served as Director of Strategy and Development at the Low Carbon Contracts Company, where she was responsible for shaping the company’s strategic direction, developing its business plans, managing government affairs, and leading external communications.  She holds professional qualifications in Programme Management, Sustainable Energy, and is a Master of Physics from the University of Oxford.

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Unveils a new campaign to drive brand resonance

India, 11 September, 2024 – Lauritz Knudsen Electrical and Automation, formerly known as L&T Switchgear, has partnered with L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, a part of Publicis Groupe India, as its new advertising agency. It has unveiled a powerful campaign to enhance brand resonance and align with the new identity following its acquisition by Schneider Electric in 2020. The campaign seeks to strengthen the trust and heritage associated with the L&T Electrical & Automation brand under its new name – Lauritz Knudsen.

Directed by renowned filmmaker Ashim Ahluwalia and featuring an inspiring anthem by music maestro Shankar Mahadevan, the magnum opus film opens with a compelling shot of L&T Switchgear’s original signage. It then takes the viewer on a journey through houses, hospitals, agricultural lands and various geographies to show how L&T Switchgearhas contributed to the country’s growth through its partnerships and products. The film seamlessly transitions between scenes via their products, finally culminating on the same sign, now under a new name: Lauritz Knudsen.

Rajat Abbi, VP-Global Marketing, CMO, Schneider Electric India said, “Lauritz Knudsen Electrical and Automation, Formerly L&T Switchgear, boasts a remarkable 70+ year legacy in powering the electrical industry and resonating with the heartbeat of the nation. Despite the name change, our core identity remains unchanged – it’s only the trust of our customers and partners that now carries a new name. Collaborating with L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, we’re happy that the team aligned with our values and helped us bring our vision to life. Effective storytelling is pivotal to any campaign, and our new brand film weaves together our entire journey and our key offering, beautifully. We eagerly anticipate the creativity that L&K Saatchi & Saatchi will bring to the table next.”

Rohit Malkani, Chief Creative Officer, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, said, “One doesn’t often get to work with a musical genius, a renowned filmmaker and a voice that has moved millions, all in one TVC! That’s precisely what Lauritz Knudsen offered us in terms of an opportunity. The film has really been the icing on the cake after a toughly contested pitch. The challenge was to not just establish the new name and identity strongly but also tell the story of L&T Switchgear and its journey in building India. The result is a seamless piece of storytelling, weaving all practices in one symphony.”

Atin Wahal, Executive Director, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, said, “It is our privilege to partner with Lauritz Knudsen Electrical & Automation, a brand with a rich 70-year legacy in India, at this pivotal stage of their rebranding journey. At L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, we prioritise understanding our client’s business and delivering impactful results. This campaign underscores the brand’s legacy of trust while highlighting its continuous evolution towards a brighter future. The campaign is reassuring, uplifting and beautifully integrates the core values of both the brands.”

The campaign has been rolled out across TV and digital platforms, ensuring broad reach and engagement. It also includes a partnership with India’s renowned game show Kaun Banega Crorepati. The campaign is being broadcast in multiple languages — Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada — demonstrating the brand’s pan-India presence.

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Bengaluru, 22^nd August 2024 – Waaree Energies Limited, India’s largest manufacturer of solar PV modules with an aggregate installed capacity of 12 GW as of June 30, 2023 (Source: CRISIL Report), announces the appointment of Mr. Aniruddha Khekale as its Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Mr. Aniruddha Khekale’s appointment is expected to support the company’s growth trajectory and enhancing its people-centric ethos, fostering a culture of excellence throughout the organization.

Mr. Aniruddha Khekale brings decades of experience in human resource management, business transformation and talent and cultural excellence. His career is marked by his experience to lead HR functions across diverse sectors, driving organizational transformation, leadership development, and strategic HR initiatives. His experience expected to guide the Company as it continues to expand its footprint in the renewable energy industry.

Mr. Aniruddha Khekale, CHRO at Waaree Energies Limited said, “The opportunity to establish a strong foundation of people and culture for an organization is incredibly exciting and that is what attracted me to join Waaree Energies Limited. As CHRO, I am dedicated to leveraging my experience in human resources and leadership development to build a high performing, engaged workforce. My goal is to identify and nurture the critical capabilities our organization needs, and to implement approaches to attract and retain talent.”

In his new role, Mr. Aniruddha Khekale will lead company’s human resources strategies, digital transformation, talent management programs, and employee engagement initiatives. His appointment is expected to assist in aligning workforce capabilities with organizational goals, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. The Company extends a warm welcome to Mr. Aniruddha Khekale as he embarks on this journey with us.

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–          Domestic: One-way fares starting INR 1,578 for Economy, INR 2,678 for Premium Economy, and INR 9,978 for Business Class

–          International: Return fares starting INR 11,978 for Economy, INR 13,978 for Premium Economy, and INR 46,978 for Business Class

Bengaluru, 12 August 2024: Commemorating India’s 78^th Independence Day, Vistara – India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of the Tata group and Singapore Airlines, today, announced a network-wide ‘Freedom Sale’, applicable across all the three cabin classes – Economy, Premium Economy, and Business Class. This special sale offers Vistara customers the opportunity to make travel plans across the airline’s domestic as well as international network, at attractive fares.

Bookings under the sale are open until 2359 hours on 15 August 2024. The one-way domestic fares start from INR 1,578 for Economy, INR 2,678 for Premium Economy, and INR 9,978 for Business Class (convenience fees applicable). On Vistara’s international network, all-inclusive return fares begin at INR 11,978 for Economy, INR 13,978 for Premium Economy, and INR 46,978 for Business Class. All fares are inclusive of taxes, applicable for travel till 31 October 2024 (blackout dates apply).

Mr. Deepak Rajawat, Chief Commercial Officer, Vistara, said “Our Independence Day Sale comes just at the right time, allowing our customers to plan their travels, both within India and internationally, ahead of the festive season. With a wide booking window, we are hopeful that our customers will be able to take maximum advantage of this special promotion and experience the world-class service of India’s most loved airline at attractive fares.”

Bookings under the sale are now open on Vistara’s website, iOS and Android mobile apps, at Vistara’s Airport Ticket Offices (ATOs), through the airline’s call centre, Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), and through travel agents. Direct channel discounts, corporate discounts/soft benefits will not apply to these promotional fares, and vouchers cannot be used for these bookings. The seats on sale are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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New Delhi: 7th August 2024: Mr. Vijay Savant will succeed Mr. Rajesh Nagar as the new CEO & MD of GS Caltex India Pvt. Ltd. Mr. Savant joins GS Caltex from LG Chem, where he served as Global Project Development Director. He holds a BA in Economics and an MBA in Marketing from Somaiya College and brings a robust 25-year background in the industry, having held pivotal roles at Reliance Industries, BP, and LG Chem.

Commenting on his new role, Mr. Savant said, “I am deeply honored to step into the role of CEO & MD at GS Caltex India. This company has set a high benchmark for success through its relentless dedication to quality and innovation, and I am thrilled to build on this impressive foundation. My vision is to guide GS Caltex India into new horizons by exploring and expanding into diverse market segments, thereby enhancing and broadening our service offerings.

As we move forward, our focus will be on delivering exceptional value to our business customers and partners while adhering to the highest standards of excellence and reliability. We will strive to not only meet but exceed expectations, ensuring that our solutions are both impactful and sustainable.

I am eager to work closely with our talented team and to strengthen our relationships with customers and partners. Together, we will continue to advance the GS Caltex brand in India, driving innovation and achieving new milestones. I am grateful for the trust and support extended to me as we embark on this exciting journey together.”

Mr. Savant’s extensive experience and leadership are expected to drive GS Caltex’s growth and diversification and position the company for continued success.

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–      Volkswagen India expands its footprint in Kerala with the inauguration of city stores in Calicut, Trivandrum, Kochi, alongside an additional body shop facility in Kochi and two more Sales & Service facilities at Kodungallur & Palakkad that were inaugurated this year

–      Volkswagen introduces Onam Edition, a special celebratory edition for the Taigun and Virtus that will feature Front Parking Sensors, Dual Tone Horn, Puddle Lamps, TSI Fender Badge and more

–      The brand’s presence in Kerala expands further with the new touchpoint additions. Volkswagen now has 21 sales and 16 service touchpoints located across the state

–      The newly inaugurated city stores in Calicut, Trivandrum, and Kochi will showcase the brand’s premium product portfolio, including the 5-star GNCAP-rated Virtus and Taigun, as well as the globally-acclaimed Tiguan

–      The new body shop facility in Kochi features 11 service bays and offers full-fledged body repair facilities

–      These new customer touchpoints will be managed by a total of more than 110 trained sales and service executives

Bengaluru: Volkswagen India continues to strengthen its network footprint in the state of Kerala with the inauguration of six new customer touchpoints. Expanding its presence in key markets across the state, the new touchpoints include city stores in Calicut, Trivandrum, and Kochi, as well as a new body shop facility in Kochi.

The addition of these outlets marks a significant expansion for Volkswagen in Kerala, growing its footprint to 21 sales and 16 service facilities in the state. This growth underscores the brand’s commitment to providing premium mobility solutions to the growing customer base in Kerala.

Mr. Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, said, “Kerala has always been a key market for Volkswagen India with its dynamic economy and discerning customer base. The opening of these new touchpoints as well as the introduction of special celebratory Onam Edition of Taigun and Virtus, are a testament to our commitment to the Kerala market and our endeavor to provide premium, German-engineered vehicles to our valued customers here. With the expanded network, we are well-positioned to meet the increasing demand from the upcoming festive season while continuing to offer a seamless, transparent, and value-for-money products & services to our customers in Kerala.”

The new city stores will showcase Volkswagen India’s premium product portfolio of the 5-star GNCAP safety rated Taigun, Virtus as well as the Brand’s globally acclaimed Tiguan SUV. The Calicut city store features a two-car display, while the Trivandrum and Kochi outlets will each house displays of three cars from the Brand’s product portfolio.

The new body shop facility in Kochi, is equipped with 11 service bays and will also offer comprehensive services including Express Service and full-fledged body repair facilities This facility is designed to provide efficient, high-quality service to meet the needs of Volkswagen customers in the region.

Under the leadership of Mr. Ajit Bhaskaran, Managing Director of Pheonix Cars, there has been addition of two more Sales & Service  facilities both at Kodungallur & Palakkad in the last six months in addition to the new city stores in Calicut .

Mr. Sabu Johny, Managing Director of EVM Motors will be leading the City Stores in Kochi and Trivandrum alongside the body shop in Kochi. Together, these touchpoints will cumulatively be staffed by a team of more than 110 skilled and trained sales and service executives, ensuring a seamless and customer-centric experience.

Rejoicing the upcoming festive spirit, the Brand has launched a special celebratory Onam Edition on the Virtus and Taigun that will feature Front Parking Sensors, Dual Tone Horn, Puddle Lamps, TSI Fender Badge and more.

The network expansion of Volkswagen in Kerala reflects the Brand’s ongoing dedication to increasing accessibility and enhancing the customer experience across India. With 200+ sales and 140+ service facilities nationwide, Volkswagen continues to set expand its presence amid a growing appetite for premium mobility in India.

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–  Bring deep domain expertise across retail & e-commerce industries

Mumbai, August 05, 2024: ace turtle, India’s leading technology-native retail company today announced the appointment of three distinguished leaders to its senior management team. Rahul Rajan has been appointed as Chief Business Officer – Retail of fashion brands, Agnes Raja George as AVP and Business Head of Wrangler & Central Planning and Jitender Singh as AVP & Business Head of Lee. These strategic hires are set to bolster ace turtle’s growth and further its goal of revolutionizing retail through technology.

Commenting on the appointments, Nitin Chhabra, CEO, ace turtle said, “We are excited to welcome Rahul, Agnes and Jitender to our leadership team. All of them bring extensive experience in retail and technology along with proven track records that will be invaluable as we continue to drive strong business growth. We continue to leverage our unique technology-driven operating model to launch new brands and scale the business of existing brands across India strengthening our position in the Indian retail industry and delivering exceptional value to our customers.”

Rahul Rajan, Chief Business Officer – Retail will help drive growth across online and offline retail channels for all the fashion brands in ace turtle’s portfolio. He joins ace turtle with 15 years of experience, including seven years as a successful business operator and previously as a strategy and investment professional. Rahul’s expertise spans P&L management, strategy and business planning, business development and creating product and tech roadmaps. He joins ace turtle from Flipkart where he played a pivotal role in building new businesses in beauty, FMCG and fast fashion, and scaling complex multi-billion-dollar apparel businesses. He holds an MBA from IIM Mumbai.

Agnes Raja George joins ace turtle as AVP & Business Head of Wrangler and Central Planning. With close to 23 years of experience in the fashion retail industry, Agnes specializes in P&L management, brand building, marketing, inventory planning, cash flow management and supply chain management. He has a proven track record in managing brands across department stores, exclusive brand stores, online marketplaces, and multi-brand outlet trade in India. Before joining ace turtle, Agnes founded and scaled the women’s wear brand De Moza and held various leadership roles at Landmark Group India, Aditya Birla Fashion and Lifestyle.

Jitender Singh, AVP & Business Head of Lee, brings 22 years of experience across online and offline channels, and across sports & fitness, lifestyle, FMCG and consumer durable categories. He has a strong background in building and leading direct and matrix teams to drive sustainable business growth. Before joining ace turtle, Jitender was Senior Director at Myntra, where he significantly grew the HRX and Nautica brands. His previous experience includes roles at Decathlon, 3M, Café Coffee Day, and TTK Prestige.

Since 2023, ace turtle has expanded its leadership team significantly to enable rapid and sustainable growth as it continues to expand its licensed brands portfolio. The company is the exclusive licensee of iconic global denim brands Lee® and Wrangler®, globally renowned toy retail chain Toys“R”Us® and Babies“R”Us® and California-based casual wear brand Dockers® for India and other South Asian markets.

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New Delhi, 11^th July 2024 – HealthPresso, a leading digital platform reshaping health content for healthcare professionals, is pleased to announce the appointment of Manuj Sanduja as Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). With his extensive experience and expertise, Manuj will play a pivotal role in driving innovation and digital transformation in the healthcare industry.

As an accomplished professional with over 17 years of experience in client acquisition, product management, and cutting-edge IT solutions, Manuj is well-positioned to lead HealthPresso’s global expansion efforts and spearhead groundbreaking advancements in healthcare content automation.

HealthPresso’s mission is to revolutionize health content for healthcare professionals, making it more accessible and efficient. Manuj’s appointment marks a significant step in achieving the vision as HealthPresso seeks to leverage the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to redefine the future of health content.

“I am excited to embrace this expanded role. Looking forward to collaborating with an exceptional team to lead HealthPresso in harnessing AI and automation technologies and to revolutionize the way healthcare professionals’ access and utilize health content. Together, we will redefine the industry and drive healthcare innovation worldwide”, said Manuj.

His diverse expertise in brand strategy, financial performance evaluation, and marketing will be instrumental in driving HealthPresso’s vision forward. With a dual background in engineering and management, Manuj possesses a unique blend of technical and managerial skills, enabling him to effectively manage both products and teams.

At the heart of HealthPresso’s strategic agenda lies HumetaTM, an advanced AI model that automates content creation for healthcare practitioners. By eliminating tedious manual processes, HumetaTM empowers healthcare professionals with timely, accurate, and personalized health content at their fingertips.

Dr. Swadeep Srivastava, Founder & Chief Belief Officer of HealthPresso, expressed his confidence in their CTO’s appointment, stating, “Manuj Sanduja’s role as Co-Founder and CTO is a significant milestone. His visionary approach and global experience will play a pivotal role as we navigate the next phase of our growth. With Manuj’s leadership, HealthPresso is well-positioned to drive digital health innovation.”

The HealthPresso team is enthusiastic about his strategic insight and industry expertise, which is expected to expand their influence and revolutionize health content. With Manuj leading the way, HealthPresso is committed to being at the forefront of the digital health revolution.

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Bengaluru – 03rd July, 2024: CEAT, a leading tyre manufacturer, today announced the elevation of Vishal Pawar to the role of Senior Vice President – Global Sales and Supply Chain. This significant leadership change marks a new chapter in CEAT’s growth trajectory.

Vishal Pawar, who was leading the Replacement Sales as Vice President, will succeed Saurav Mukherjee, who has resigned after a successful stint spanning over four years in the role. His contributions have been instrumental in shaping the company’s global sales and supply chain strategies.

Vishal Pawar brings extensive experience to his new role. An engineering graduate from the College of Engineering Pune and a management graduate from SIBM, he began his career with TAFE Limited in Chennai as a Management Trainee. He first joined CEAT in 2005 as Category Head before moving into sales and serving a successful stint as the Zonal Sales Head for the South.

In 2019, Pawar transitioned to Garware Technical Fibres before returning to CEAT, where he rose to become Vice President of India’s largest aftermarket sales division. His wealth of experience and proven track record make him the ideal candidate to lead CEAT’s global sales and supply chain efforts.

Mr. Arnab Banerjee, MD & CEO of CEAT, said, “We are thrilled to have Vishal step into this critical role. His deep understanding of the industry, combined with his strategic vision and leadership capabilities, makes him the perfect fit to drive our global sales and supply chain initiatives. I am confident that under his leadership, CEAT will continue to strengthen its market position and achieve new heights. I would also like to express our sincere thanks to Saurav Mukherjee for his significant contributions to the company. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

Mr. Vishal Pawar said, “I am excited to take on this new role and shall work towards taking CEAT to the next level in terms of driving market share and making it a premium brand in the years to come. My primary focus will be on capability development and strengthening processes, which I believe makes the strong foundation of any sustainable business.”

Following the movement of Saurav Mukherjee from the company on July 31, 2024, Vishal Pawar has taken on his new role with effect from July 1, 2024.

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Bengaluru, 01 July 2024: In its bid to strengthen its Agriculture and Climate practice, Primus Partners India (Primus) – a leading management consulting services provider – announced the appointment of Mr. M Ramakrishnan as a Managing Director.

In his role as Managing Director, Mr. M Ramakrishnan (Ram) will focus on developing solutions to elevate Primus Partners’ expertise and market position in Agriculture & Climate practice. Ram comes with strong expertise and experience of working across industries and consulting. In his last few engagements at Zetta Farms and Gramaphone, Ram drove sustainable farming practices with a thrust on improving farmer income and optimizing water/input use. As an Angel Investor, he has supported early-stage start-ups and also helped them raise funds.

Commenting on the appointment Mr. Nilaya Varma, Co-Founder and CEO, Primus Partners said, “Agriculture and Climate are two areas that will impact our growth and our ability to manage climate-driven challenges. Ramakrishnan’s years of experience in Agritech and Sustainability will come in handy to provide strategic consulting to our clients. This strategic appointment will further position Primus as a leading consultancy firm, navigating the evolving challenges in the Agriculture, Climate and Sustainability space.”

Commenting on the appointment Mr. Sameer Jain, Managing Director, Primus Partners said, “Primus strongly believes that India’s Climate Agenda needs to be devolved to each sector, state, industry and individual. Over the last few years, Primus has built strong competence in the areas of Climate-Health, Climate-WASH, Climate-Urban. Ram will help further strengthen the Agriculture & Climate practice.”

Having started his career as a consultant in a BIG4, Mr. M Ramakrishnan expressed happiness in his homecoming back to Consulting, having been in Industry for close to a decade.  “I am very impressed at how Primus Partners has emerged as one of the largest Indian management consulting firms, is solutions driven, and am very excited to contribute and share my experience and knowledge” added Mr. M Ramakrishnan.

The addition of Mr. M Ramakrishnan to Primus Partners’ leadership as Managing Director signals a new era for the firm’s Agriculture & Climate offerings. His experience and strategic vision will be key in shaping Primus Partners path in the Agriculture & Climate landscape. This move not only enhances Primus Partners capabilities but also reaffirms its commitment to provide clients with exceptional expertise in these increasingly important sectors.

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