Hires & Promotions: Abbott, Welspun Living, Visa, BLS International, Dentsu

Adidas' Sanchita Johri Joins Abbott as Head of Media, CRM and Consumer Experience

Sanchita Johri has joined Abbott as the Head of Media, CRM and Consumer Experience. She shared the news on her LinkedIn post.

In her previous role, Johri played a significant role in creating a blueprint for teams within the centre of excellence, developing profiles and job descriptions and supporting country teams in recruiting team members across various roles. Under her leadership, the team at her previous organization witnessed growth in media investments year on year, along with increased efficiency and reduced media budgets to net sales ratios annually since 2020.

Prior to her role at Abbott, Johri served as the Director of Digital Activation, Media & CRM for Emerging Markets MENA, India, South Africa, Turkey & Israel at Adidas, where she contributed for three and a half years. Her diverse professional background also includes associations with organizations such as Johnson & Johnson, Reliance Digital Retail, and SVG Media.

Welspun Living Onboards Naiyya Saggi to its board as an Independent Director

Welspun Living has appointed Naiyya Saggi to its board as an Independent Director, effective from April 25th, 2024.

Saggi will serve her first term as an Independent Director for four years, ending on April 24, 2028. With an illustrious career spanning 16 years, she is the founder of BabyChakra and currently Group Co-Founder and President of The Good Glamm Group, a digital-first beauty & personal care conglomerate. Naiyya Saggi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the boardroom. She is an accomplished leader in consumer-centric industries and holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School, where she was a Fulbright and JN Tata Scholar. Naiyya also did her BALLB (HONS) from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore. Naiyya is a pivotal figure in the start-up ecosystem, known for building new-age consumer brands, communities and for being one of India's top voices for women in technology. In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavours, Naiyya is a member of The National Taskforce for Regulatory Issues at DPIIT Ministry of Commerce & an elected Governing Council member of The Tech Entrepreneurs Association of Mumbai, a body representing the $50 BN Mumbai tech ecosystem and comprising 50 Unicorn & Soonicorn founders. Naiyya is also an Advisor to STEER World, a globally recognised advanced manufacturing Deep Tech company. She is also an Advisory Board member of The Contract Manufacturing & Private Label Association. Naiyya has been a mentor at Facebook's #SheLeadsTech & Google for India, an advisor to the Govt of India's National Startup Awards and is also a prolific angel investor.

Naiyya is one of the few Indian entrepreneurs featured for her journey of building & merging her first company BabyChakra in a Harvard Business School case study. Recognized as one of India's Top Entrepreneurs and Women in Tech, Naiyya has received accolades from the Economic Times, Entrepreneur India, Business World, Wharton India Economic Forum and many other international and domestic forums. She initiated a partnership between Mint, Startup India, and others to publish a ground-breaking report on '100 Women Entrepreneurs Building India'. Passionate about financial inclusion, she founded "The Mompreneur Platform' Asia's largest initiative to support 1 lakh mom micro-entrepreneurs in collaboration with Startup India & Hindustan Times.

"Dipali Goenka, CEO & MD of Welspun Living, on the appointment of Naiyya Saggi, said, 'Naiyya's joining marks a strategic milestone for Welspun Living. Her profound expertise, honed through years of entrepreneurial journey in consumer-centric industries, brings a fresh perspective to our board. Naiyya's strategic insights, particularly gleaned from her B2C and e-commerce experience align seamlessly with our vision for propelling Welspun Living's B2C growth trajectory. With AI and ML disrupting the space, the importance of digital takes centre stage. Naiyya's deep understanding of the digital landscape and consumer behaviour will help us leverage the power of technology and innovation to create delightful experiences for our customers.

Naiyya Saggi, in her statement on the appointment, says, “It is my privilege to join Welspun Living Ltd. as an Independent Director. Welspun's commitment to excellence and innovation is commendable, and I look forward to contributing to its continued success. I believe my experience in consumer-focused industries, bringing in a robust digital DNA in brand building and my passion for sustainable, inclusive growth with profit and purpose align perfectly with Welspun's values. I look forward to collaborating with the board and management team to drive strategic initiatives and create value for all stakeholders.”

WhatsApp India's Vidisha Chatterjee Joins Visa As Senior Director, Head of Corporate Communications, India & South Asia (INSA)

Vidisha Chatterjee, Former Communication Director at WhatsApp India has joined Visa Inc. as Senior Director, Head of Corporate Communications, India & South Asia (INSA) as her next move. She moved on from WhatsApp last year and announced her next move with Visa Inc. after a year.

Vidisha is an impactful and leading professional with over 20 years of experience in building trust, scaling businesses and delivering impact with global brands across content, business, marketing and communications. The most notable fact about her career is that she was the first Director of Communications for WhatsApp India.

Chatterjee is a strategic advisor on business transformation, team-building and leadership mentoring. In the past, she has worked with Colgate Palmolive as Head of Communications, in India, Genesis Burson-Marsteller, India Today, Apollo

International, BBC Star TV and more.

Pallavi Mohan Joins BLS International as Corporate Communications Head (Global)

BLS International appoints Pallavi Mohan as the Corporate Communications Head (Global).

With over two decades of experience in marketing and communications (MARCOM), Mohan has worked with organisations such as Samsung Electronics, DLF Limited, Café Coffee Day and Target (New York, USA). Her career spans across five countries, providing her with a deep understanding of diverse market dynamics. In addition to corporate communications, Mohan brings expertise in digital marketing, social digital marketing, international events, business operations, public relations and corporate social responsibility. 

Mohan holds an MBA in Marketing & IT from India and an MS in Digital Marketing from New York, USA. Her academic achievements are complemented by her extensive practical knowledge, which includes teaching engagements at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC).

Dentsu's Sapna Arora Steps Down

Sapna Arora, Chief of Client & Solutions at dentsu, has stepped down from her role. She joined dentsu in 2023 and has been with the company for over a year. 

Before her tenure at dentsu, Arora served as the CMO, PRO and Brand Head - Emerging Markets at OLX India. Her professional journey also includes roles at Bennett Coleman and Co Ltd (Times Group), Nestle, Reckitt Benckiser and Procter & Gamble. 

At dentsu, Arora played a pivotal role in driving profitable growth for the agency, focusing on marketing, business and digital transformation agendas for clients. With over two decades of experience in the consumer tech business, she is a seasoned business leader. Arora's expertise extends to advising startups, assisting them in launching and scaling their businesses.