Hires & Promotions: Stellantis India, McDonald's, Visa, Warner Music, Marriott Hotels

Stellantis India appoints Kumar Priyesh as Jeep India boss

Stellantis India has appointed Kumar Priyesh as the brand director for Jeep.

Priyesh is a seasoned professional with over two decades of expertise in automotive sales, marketing, and network development.

He has played a pivotal role in steering and implementing effective business strategies, driving growth for leading automotive companies in India. He is an alumnus of Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, with a degree in Production Engineering.

Aditya Jairaj, CEO and MD, Stellantis India says, “We are thrilled to welcome Priyesh to the Jeep India team. His rich experience and strategic acumen will play a pivotal role in propelling the Jeep brand to new heights in the Indian market. We eagerly anticipate his leadership and the transformative impact he will bring to fortify Jeep’s presence in the country.”

Priyesh adds, “I am honoured to be a part of Jeep India, a brand known for its legacy and commitment to excellence. I look forward to contributing to the brand’s growth journey in India, leveraging my experience, and working closely with the team to deliver exceptional products and experiences to our valued customers.”

Shishir Mishra elevated as brand director for Citroën in India

Stellantis India has elevated Shishir Mishra as the brand director for Citroën in India, effective immediately.

In his new role, Mishra will be responsible for steering the brand's strategic initiatives and further strengthening Citroën's presence and impact in the Indian automotive market.

This move reflects Stellantis's commitment to nurturing and empowering talent from within its ranks.

Mishra has over 24 years in the automotive and banking & financial services industry.

Before he was appointed the brand director, Mishra served as the head of sales & marketing synergy functions for Jeep & Citroën in India, where he played a pivotal role in leading aftersales operations, dealer network development, finance & insurance, demand and distribution, and selling online.

Commenting on Mishra's appointment, Aditya Jairaj, CEO & managing director, Stellantis India, remarks, "We are delighted to appoint Shishir Mishra to lead Citroën in India. His experience, coupled with his proven track record of delivering results, makes him the ideal candidate to intensify Citroën's brand strategy in this dynamic market. I am confident that under his leadership, Citroën will continue to innovate and excel, further solidifying its position towards a leading automotive brand in India."

Priya Rege Jaggi joins McDonald's as associate director of marketing

Priya Rege Jaggi has joined McDonald's as associate director of marketing after her stint at Meta as head of consumer marketing for Instagram and Facebook.

Jaggi has extensive experience in B2C, digital marketing, sales, product development, customer acquisition, revenue growth, and retention. She is skilled in data analysis, leading to key metrics, lead generation, and meeting revenue targets. Her prior roles required her to lead cross-functional and cross-country teams and make analytical judgments.

She was also the founder of Vantage Designs, a website design and marketing company, from June 2018 to December 2019. She has mostly handled tasks related to budget management and brand marketing across most of the organisations.

Jaggi completed her postgraduate diploma in business management from SP Jain Institute of Management & Research and holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from St. Xavier's College.

Visa appoints Shruti Gupta as VP and head, commercial & money movement solutions (CMS), India and South Asia

Visa has appointed Shruti Gupta as VP and head, commercial & money movement solutions (CMS) for India and South Asia. In her role, Gupta will head Visa’s business and corporate solutions including commercial solutions, integrated money movement and Visa government solutions. Her responsibilities include developing and implementing a multi-year growth strategy in collaboration with the leadership team in India and South Asia.

Gupta brings to Visa over two decades of experience at Citi spanning commercial, risk management and strategy with MNCs, local corporates and the startup ecosystem. She began her professional journey in 2000 with Citi India, and in 23 years, assumed various roles across lending and non-lending segments, business development and relationship management. Her most recent role was Managing Director for the multinational segment of Citi commercial banking.

“I am delighted to welcome Shruti Gupta to the Visa family. With rich and deep experience in the banking and finance domain, particularly in commercial solutions and strategy, Shruti adds a wealth of knowledge to our team. We are pleased to have her expertise reinforce our efforts in shaping the future of money movement in the market”, says Sandeep Ghosh, group country manager, Visa India and South Asia.

"Visa has consistently led innovations in the payment ecosystem and I am eager to contribute to its continued positive evolution. I believe that a strategic approach is pivotal to business development with commercial clients and look forward to applying this philosophy for sustained success on this journey with Visa," comments Gupta.

Warner Music India appoints Vaibhav Nagpal as head of partner relations, music acquisition

Warner Music India has appointed Vaibhav Nagpal as the new head of partner relations and music acquisition with immediate effect. He joins from Hungama Digital Media and will directly report to Jay Mehta, managing director for Warner Music India and SAARC.

Nagpal brings 14 years of rich and diverse experience in the digital media entertainment industry, with a focus on partnerships, acquisition, and music distribution. He spearheaded the content and partner relation verticals at Hungama Digital Media Entertainment.

Commenting on the appointment, Mehta states, "We are delighted to welcome Vaibhav to our team. His expertise will be instrumental in the company’s pursuit of its strategic goals. We are eager to continue expanding our footprint through exciting new partnerships and are confident that Vaibhav’s rich experience will align with our objectives towards growth."

In his new role, Nagpal shares, "I'm excited to join Warner Music India's dynamic team and leverage my experience and knowledge in this crucial phase of growth in the company. With new partnerships and efforts in acquisition and distribution, the label presence is bound to only get stronger."

Shana Susan Ninan appointed cluster director of marketing for 17 Marriott hotels in India

SAMHI Hospitality has named Shana Susan Ninan as cluster director of marketing for their 17 Marriott hotels in India.

With a career spanning 16 years, Ninan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to enhance the portfolio of Marriott brands such as Sheraton, Renaissance, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton spread across 9 cities, the company said in a release.

In her role, Ninan will oversee marketing communication activities, lead public relations initiatives, formulate digital/print marketing strategies, and ensure seamless brand integration across the diverse portfolio of SAMHI-MI hotels.

Ninan's professional journey includes pivotal roles in flagship hotels, professional colleges, and media establishments. Her last assignment was with Hyatt Hotels, where she served as the director of marketing for Kerala, contributing significantly to the brand's success. She also played a significant role in overseeing the pre-opening for Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty and Hyatt Regency Thrissur and Trivandrum.