Hires & Promotions: Mercer, Dentsu Creative India, Niraamaya Life, M1 Nxt

Mercer appoints Siddhartha Gupta as President

Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan, reshaping retirement and investment outcomes has named Siddhartha Gupta as its India President. Gupta recently served as Mercer Mettl’s Chief Executive Officer.

Gupta will report to Sanjay Kedia, Marsh McLennan’s India Chief Executive Officer and will join the leadership teams for Marsh McLennan in India and Mercer in India, Middle East and Africa region.

Kedia adds, “Under Siddhartha’s leadership, Mercer Mettl, our international talent assessment arm, has achieved remarkable growth, becoming the largest online assessment entity in India and one of the world’s fastest-growing HR and ed-tech startups. With his proven track record of success and deep understanding of the talent landscape, he is poised to drive innovation and propel Mercer’s success in India.”

Gupta comments, “I am excited to take on this role and lead efforts to further strengthen Mercer's position as a trusted partner for organisations seeking to unlock their workforces’ full potential. Together with the talented teams at Mercer, I look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional value to our clients.”

Dentsu Creative India appoints Abhijat Bharadwaj as CCO - Dentsu Creative Isobar

In a strategic move to elevate its creative vision, Dentsu Creative India has appointed Abhijat Bharadwaj as the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Dentsu Creative Isobar.

Bharadwaj's appointment underscores Dentsu Creative Isobar's commitment to creating compelling brand experiences anchored in creativity in today's digital-first, multi-platform world. His leadership will play a pivotal role in setting new creative benchmarks, fostering a culture of innovation and nurturing a dynamic team of next-gen creatives.

Co-reporting to Amit Wadhwa, CEO, Dentsu Creative India and Sahil Shah, President, Dentsu Creative Isobar, Bharadwaj will work very closely with the leadership team to drive the agency's creative agenda forward. He will focus on further strengthening the creative prowess and the exceptional talent pool that Dentsu Creative Isobar has built over the years working with many iconic Indian and global brands.

Commenting on his appointment, Amit Wadhwa says, “Abhijat is not just an exceptional creative talent but a visionary leader for this new age. His passion for excellence in both work and team building will set new industry standards. Alongside our formidable team of creative leaders, we are confident that Abhijat will propel us to new heights of success and recognition.”

Sahil Shah adds, “Abhijat’s entry unlocks a new level of growth for us. In today’s day and age, brands need a creative agency that solves problems, regardless of platforms or mediums, because that’s how non-linear and multi-platform the consumer is. And in this new era, I believe we have a phenomenal talent pool, with strong creative capabilities and the right culture to be in the pole position. With Abhijat leading our creative from the top, I am certain we are now a team to beat.”

With over 17 years of advertising experience, Bharadwaj has led successful campaigns for prominent brands such as Star Sports, Swiggy, AM/NS, Mercedes-Benz, and Godrej. 

Bharadwaj shares, “Joining an iconic global brand like dentsu is truly exciting. My goal is to unlock new opportunities for Dentsu Creative Isobar in India and build a best-in-class team that delivers creative solutions and exceptional value for our clients.”

Dentsu Creative India recently reimagined its creative business to align with the evolving needs of its clients. Dentsu Creative India now encompasses three portfolio brands: Dentsu Creative Webchutney, Dentsu Creative Isobar, and Dentsu Creative PR. Dentsu Creative Isobar is a creative agency of the new age with deep and native digital expertise, also offering digital++ solutions like tech-enabled experiences, social listening & ORM, paid media planning, multi-platform UI/UX, SEO, branded content & influencer partnerships, and digital commerce.

Ashwani Gandhi joins Niraamaya Life as CEO

Niraamaya Life has roped in Ashwani Gandhi as the new Chief Executive Officer. With over 18 years of experience, he brings a strong background in the digital space, having worked with globally renowned brands such as Pfizer, Paras Pharma (Reckitt Benckiser), Himalaya as well as global startup Believe Pte. He is also an alumnus of IIM Lucknow & holds multiple management degrees from prestigious institutes. 

Gandhi will lead the three business verticals - retreats, D2C, and products verticals, aiming at transforming Niraamaya Life into a digitally native wellness platform. He plans to enhance retreats with personalised wellness programs, expand D2C reach through innovative ecommerce strategies, and introduce new wellness products driven by product innovation. Central to this initiative is the 'Niraamaya Life' Wellness App, offering services like yoga, ayurveda, sleep management, and mindfulness to promote overall health and tranquillity.

‘I'm thrilled to join the Niraamaya family, a well-established and strong brand with a prominent position in the global market in the wellness segment. Our move into the direct-to-consumer space is a natural progression, and I am eager to lead this transformative journey. By expanding our offerings and innovating across all verticals, including the introduction of the ‘Niraamaya Life’ D2C App, we are looking to further enhance and elevate the wellness experience for our patrons worldwide, creating an ecosystem that nurtures health and well-being," says Ashwani Gandhi

In its ongoing pursuit of excellence, Niraamaya Life is set to unveil its own line of consumer products, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to luxury wellness. Niraamaya Life aims to emerge as the preferred choice for wellness enthusiasts globally, presenting an array of offerings to foster holistic well-being.

Munindra Verma joins M1 NXT as CEO

M1 NXT, an International Trade Financing Services (ITFS) platform has named Munindra Verma as the Chief Executive Officer.  Verma, earlier worked with Yes Bank wherein he served as Chief Product Officer and Head of Strategy & Transformation in Transaction Banking Group at Yes Bank.

Verma, a seasoned banking professional with over 26 years of experience in corporate and transaction banking, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise. At M1 NXT, Verma will focus on building and establishing the company’s position as a trusted Trade Finance solution provider. He will be responsible for expanding the network of Global Financiers on the M1 NXT platform thereby enhancing liquidity for enterprises based in India/abroad. Verma will also lead efforts to integrate digital technologies that streamline trade processes, enhance transparency, and reduce transaction costs for banks, exporters and importers which could make M1 NXT a global ITFS platform of repute.

Sundeep Mohindru, Promoter & Director Mynd Group shares, “Welcoming Mr. Munindra Verma to Mynd Group, marks an exciting chapter for us at M1 NXT. With his extensive experience and proven track record in Corporate and Transaction Banking, we are confident that Mr. Verma will lead M1 NXT to new heights. His expertise in building innovative financial solutions will be instrumental in establishing M1 NXT as a trusted provider of international trade finance solutions for Indian businesses. We look forward to the transformative impact he will have on our growth and market presence.”

“Joining M1 NXT presents a remarkable opportunity to contribute to India’s aspiration of a seven trillion-dollar economy by 2030. We will aim to ease global trade by tapping global financing opportunities to meet India’s development needs. With the IFSCA prioritising trade finance and the government's focusing on growing India’s cross-border trade, India is poised to become a global export leader. Our efforts will be to integrate digital technologies that streamline trade & financing processes making M1 NXT the most trusted brand for International Trade Financing, driving growth and strategic initiatives across all dimensions," mentions Verma.