Talent tracker of the week: Leadership moves across media, marketing and corporate

New Delhi: The past week saw a series of leadership appointments and organisational changes across advertising, media, marketing, technology, consumer goods and corporate communications. Companies including Dentsu, Bacardi, Mercedes-Benz India, IBM and Godrej Agrovet announced senior executive appointments, while agencies and consultancies unveiled leadership transitions aimed at driving growth, business transformation and market expansion.

Raj Nayak named Chairman and MD of YAAP after founder Atul Hegde’s demise

YAAP Digital has appointed Raj Nayak as Chairman and Managing Director following the death of founder Atul Hegde on July 7. The board unanimously approved the appointment. Nayak, who has been on YAAP’s advisory board for the past two years, will lead the company’s strategy and operations alongside the existing leadership team. With over three decades of experience across media, broadcasting and advertising, he has held leadership roles at STAR TV, NDTV Media and Viacom18. YAAP said it will continue its digital-first growth strategy under Nayak’s leadership while carrying forward Hegde’s vision.

First Partners announces leadership update, Atul Ahluwalia becomes Non-Executive Chairman

Communications consultancy First Partners has announced a leadership transition, appointing Atul Ahluwalia as Non-Executive Chairman, Dilip Yadav as Vice Chairman & CEO, and Santanu Gogoi as Managing Director. Founded in 2016 by the trio after their tenure at Weber Shandwick, the firm said the changes are aimed at leading its next phase of growth. First Partners specialises in corporate communications, public affairs, crisis management and leadership advisory. The consultancy became the exclusive India affiliate of SEC Newgate Group in 2024 and was named India Agency of the Year by PRovoke Media in 2025.

Areion Group appoints Suresh Khatanhar as Group Chief Executive Officer

Areion Group has appointed former IDBI Bank Deputy Managing Director Suresh Khatanhar as its Group Chief Executive Officer. With over four decades of experience in banking and financial services, Khatanhar will lead the group’s strategic direction, business growth initiatives and operational excellence across its businesses. At IDBI Bank, he oversaw retail banking, treasury, centralised operations, risk management, government business, audit, legal and governance. His appointment comes as Areion Group looks to strengthen its leadership and expand its presence across asset management, special situation resolution and retail banking.

NODWIN Gaming appoints Teemu Koski as CEO of NODWIN Gaming MENA

NODWIN Gaming has appointed Teemu Koski as Chief Executive Officer of NODWIN Gaming MENA, effective July 1, 2026. Reporting to NODWIN Gaming International CEO Merlin Wiedeking, Koski will lead the company’s strategy, operations, business development and expansion across the Middle East and North Africa. He joined the company as Chief Business Officer, MENA, in August 2025 and will continue to oversee its global data monetisation business. Before joining NODWIN Gaming, Koski spent over 15 years at Elisa Corporation, where he founded and led Elisa Esports.

Godrej Agrovet appoints Gaurav Pande as CEO of Creamline Dairy Products

Godrej Agrovet has appointed Gaurav Pande as Chief Executive Officer of Creamline Dairy Products, the company behind the Godrej Jersey dairy brand. Pande will lead efforts to strengthen market leadership, drive business transformation, accelerate innovation and expand the brand’s presence across key markets. He brings more than 22 years of experience across the foods, QSR and consumer durables sectors, with expertise in scaling consumer businesses, portfolio premiumisation and go-to-market transformation. Creamline Dairy Products has a strong presence across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Honasa Consumer elevates Shivang Jain as CEO of BTM Ventures

Honasa Consumer has elevated Shivang Jain as Chief Executive Officer of BTM Ventures, the parent company of men’s grooming brand Reginald Men. Previously Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Chief of Staff at Honasa Consumer, Jain will now lead the strategic direction and business operations of BTM Ventures following Honasa’s majority stake acquisition in December 2025. He brings over a decade of experience in corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions and business transformation, with previous stints at Avendus Capital, EY and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Ajay Gupte joins Dentsu as Chief Operating Officer, South Asia

Dentsu has appointed Ajay Gupte as Chief Operating Officer for South Asia, where he will work with CEO Harsha Razdan to drive the company’s strategic priorities and operating model. Gupte will focus on business execution, growth opportunities, organisational capabilities and integrated client delivery across marketing, technology and consulting. He brings nearly three decades of experience in media, marketing and digital transformation. Before joining Dentsu, Gupte served as President, Client Solutions at WPP Media South Asia and CEO of Wavemaker South Asia. He has also held leadership roles at TVS Motor Company and OMD.

Bacardi appoints Mahesh Kanchan as India and Southeast Asia MD; succeeds Vinay Golikeri

Bacardi has appointed Mahesh Kanchan as Managing Director for India and Southeast Asia, effective October 1. He succeeds Vinay Golikeri, who has been elevated as Regional President for Asia, Middle East and Africa and Global Travel Retail. Kanchan, currently Managing Director for Southeast Asia, brings over 30 years of experience across the alcoholic beverages and FMCG sectors and will oversee Bacardi’s India and Southeast Asia operations. Golikeri led the regional business for more than three years and will now take on broader responsibilities across the AMEA region and global travel retail.

Mandrake Tech Labs appoints JioStar’s Rubbal Datta as CEO-Designate

Mandrake Tech Labs has appointed JioStar executive Rubbal Datta as CEO-Designate. He will join the boutique media firm in August 2026. Datta brings over 26 years of experience across government relations, media and sports broadcasting, having held senior roles at JioStar, Sahara India TV Network, Moser Baer, EuroKids and Mahindra & Mahindra. At Mandrake, he will focus on strengthening the company’s government communications business, expanding AI-led media solutions and driving growth into new business areas. Founded in 2021, Mandrake has executed campaigns for organisations including the Ministry of Ayush, NFDC and the WHO Traditional Medicine Summit.

Former Grey India CCO Harsh Kapadia joins Stagwell’s Code and Theory in New York

Former Grey India Chief Creative Officer Harsh Kapadia has joined Stagwell-owned Code and Theory in New York as Head of Enterprise Creative. He will establish and lead the agency’s newly created Enterprise Creative division, supporting enterprise clients including Adobe and IBM while integrating creative leadership with technology and business transformation initiatives. Kapadia joined Grey India in April 2025 after serving as CCO at MRM New York. His career spans over two decades across India, Australia, the UK and the US, with experience on brands such as Google, LEGO, Ford, P&G, Reckitt and Motorola.

IBM appoints Tuhina Pandey as Vice President, Marketing for Asia Pacific

IBM has appointed Tuhina Pandey as Vice President, Marketing for Asia Pacific, expanding her responsibilities across one of the company’s fastest-growing regions. She will lead IBM’s marketing strategy across APAC, working closely with partners to drive growth and address clients’ business challenges. Pandey previously served as Director, APAC Communications and CMO for IBM India and South Asia, after joining the company in 2020 as Communications Leader. Before IBM, she held leadership roles at Tech Mahindra and also worked as a business journalist with NDTV Profit.

J Brrothers appoints former JioStar executive Vishal N Sharma as India head

US-based cannabis company J Brrothers LLC has appointed former JioStar marketing director Vishal N Sharma as Head of India Operations. He will lead the company’s India-based Global Capability Center, supporting its US business across branding and marketing, inventory management, finance, reporting and data analytics. Sharma joins after a seven-year stint at JioStar and brings over 20 years of experience across media, telecom, pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics and FMCG. Founded in 2013, J Brrothers operates cannabis brands Shaka, Springtime and Zone, with 19 dispensaries and cultivation facilities across five US states.

Nandita Godbole succeeds Amrit Baid as Head of Marketing at Mercedes-Benz India

Mercedes-Benz India has announced a leadership reshuffle in its Sales and Marketing team, effective September 1. Nandita Godbole has been appointed Head of Marketing, succeeding Amrit Baid, who will lead the Retail Finance and Pre-Owned Cars business. The company also named Sanjay Kochar as General Manager, Product Planning and Sales Planning, replacing Jamsheed Bhadha, who moves to a new role in Dubai. The changes are aimed at strengthening customer experience through greater use of real-time data, AI and integrated retail finance while supporting internal leadership development.

Nishant Daptardar and Sonal Karolia Satav launch Beyond Communication Solutions

Communications professionals Nishant Daptardar and Sonal Karolia Satav have launched Beyond Communication Solutions, an integrated communications, marketing and brand strategy consultancy based in Mumbai. The firm will offer services across public relations, brand strategy, corporate communications, reputation management, influencer marketing, film marketing and digital campaigns. Daptardar brings nearly 15 years of experience in communications and entertainment marketing, while Satav has over a decade of expertise in entertainment communications and publicity. The consultancy will cater to sectors including entertainment, consumer brands, technology, healthcare, education, lifestyle, startups and creator-led businesses.