Hires & Promotions: FCB Ulka, Dish TV, Okaya Electric Vehicles

FCB Ulka appoints Ajay Ravindran as national planning director

FCB Ulka, part of FCB Group India, has named Ajay Ravindran as the national planning director.

Ravindran has a 360-degree view of brand strategy, having worked on the entire gamut from advertising to social media, content, media planning, and market research. He specialises in new-age planning, bringing together storytelling, social media culture, and technology, the agency said.

In his previous role as the head of brand marketing for Razorpay, Ravindran oversaw numerous campaigns that seamlessly integrated technology, creativity, and storytelling, demonstrating his ability to deliver successful and innovative strategies. Over his career, he has worked on brands like Unilever, Britannia, Colgate, Vodafone-Idea, Dell, Titan, TVS, 3M and many others. He is a multi-time EFFIE award winner. He has led planning teams in agencies like Ogilvy, VML, MullenLowe Lintas Group & Grey with distinction.

On the appointment, Kulvinder Ahluwalia, CEO of FCB Ulka says, "We are thrilled to have Ajay join us as our National Planning Director. His exceptional blend of creativity and strategic insight will play a pivotal role in enhancing our capabilities and driving impactful brand solutions for our clients. We believe his leadership will strengthen our strategic initiatives and inspire our teams to push the boundaries of creativity."

"I believe the true power of Brand Marketing lies not just in creating 'buzz' or some fuzzy 'brand love' but unlocking hidden growth opportunities for businesses. And the new age we live in provides us with an array of avenues to do this – technology, digital, data, content, CX. FCB Ulka provides the finest playground to practice this craft. An enviable client roster, entrenched relationships, and a burning desire to do the very best for the businesses we work on. Just a few minutes into the conversation with Dheeraj, Nitin, Kulvinder and Hemant, I just had one question: "When can I start?" Ravindran expresses on his appointment.

Dish TV appoints Amit Kumar Verma as CFO

Dish TV has appointed Amit Kumar Verma as its chief financial officer. The appointment will be effective from October 1, 2024, the company informed the BSE.

Verma will succeed Rajeev Kumar Dalmia who will superannuate on September 30, 2024.

According to the information, the appointment of Verma was approved by the company’s Board of Directors in a meeting held on September 18.

Verma is a seasoned professional with over 22 years of rich experience in finance, taxation, fundraising, compliance & control and treasury management.

Currently, Verma has been associated with the Company as Head of Treasury & Taxation since January 2010 and plays a pivotal role in overseeing key financial functions such as business strategy, banking and treasury, financial planning, annual budgeting, cash flow management, compliance, and taxation.

Before joining the company, his professional experience included roles at CNBC TV18, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited, and Ray & Ray Chartered Accountants.  

Verma is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree and a Bachelor of Business Administration, along with various certifications, including International Financial Reporting Standards from ICAI.

Vikas Negi joins Okaya Electric Vehicles as AVP - head of marketing 

Vikas Negi has joined Okaya Electric Vehicles as the AVP - head of marketing.

His previous stint was at Samsung India as the deputy general manager marketing. Negi served there for a year. His role encompassed digital marketing, brand experience, ATL campaigns, and comprehensive brand management. By weaving compelling narratives and leveraging deep consumer insights, heenhanced Samsung's market leadership and elevated its brand prominence in India.

Before that, he was with Kia India, Cheil and dentsu.

Negi's career spans over two decades. With a foundation built on experience with leading multinational advertising agencies, he honed my skills in crafting integrated campaigns that propel brand growth and deepen market penetration.