Brand Makers – Page 19

CRED’s contrarian bet: Targeting only India’s wealthy in a nation of over a billion

In 2018, Shah launched CRED, a members-only app designed to incentivize timely credit card bill payments through rewards.

By focusing on India’s wealthy elite and eschewing quick profits, CRED’s founder is making an unconventional bet on the future of financial technology.

2025 – The Year Of…: Ethically designed AI use cases, says HDFC Bank’s Ravi Santhanam

Ravi Santhanam, Group Head, Chief Marketing Officer & Head – Direct to Consumer Business, HDFC Bank

HDFC Bank’s End of Scam Sale campaign simulated a fake website, fake ads and even a deepfake of actress Nora Fatehi, to expose the tactics used by scammers to prey on consumers.

CARS24 promotes Himanshu Ratnoo as CEO of Used Cars India

Ratnoo will oversee the company’s C2B and retail operations, focusing on scaling growth and driving innovation.

The announcement was made by Vikram Chopra, Founder and CEO of CARS24, in an internal email to the organization.

DBS Bank India appoints Rajat Verma as CEO; Verma to take charge in March 2025

In this new role, Verma will be part of DBS’ Group Management Committee.

Verma, who is presently Head of Institutional Banking Group at DBS India, will succeed Surojit Shome upon his retirement next February

Media mogul Charles F. Dolan, founder of HBO and Cablevision, dies at 98

HBO, under Dolan's leadership, is credited with reshaping television, producing legendary series like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, and The Wire

Launched in 1972, HBO became the first premium cable channel to offer movies and special events directly to homes, revolutionizing the television landscape and paving the way for future content providers.

2025 – The Year Of…: Consolidation and Innovation, says Kalyan Jewellers’ Ramesh Kalyanaraman

Ramesh Kalyanaraman, Executive Director, Kalyan Jewellers

One of the highlights in 2024 was the complete acquisition of Candere, which has been pivotal in advancing the phygital strategy of Kalyan Jewellers, says Ramesh Kalyanaraman.

Ola Electric’s CMO Anshul Khandelwal resigns

The CMO has stepped down from his role just months after the EV manufacturer undertook a major reorganisation.

Financial transactions at Mahakumbh anticipated to be between Rs 2 lakh crore and Rs 3 lakh crore

According to staffing and recruitment services firms, the 45-day spiritual festival is projected to generate around a million gig and temporary jobs this season.

State officials view the Mahakumbh as a cornerstone of their broader strategy to establish Uttar Pradesh as India’s premier destination for religious and cultural tourism.

2025 – The Year Of…: First-party data, mindful hedonism in premiumization, gaming, says Hephzibah Pathak, Ogilvy India

"Generative AI will bring down perspiration but create more space for inspiration. Technology will always be an enabler and support to the human mind. Human imagination is the most essential currency. AI enables anyone to participate but without human imagination, it can homogenise the creative process," highlighted Hephzibah Pathak, executive chairperson, Ogilvy India.

Hephzibah Pathak, executive chairperson, Ogilvy India, also highlighted how first party data will fuel branded personalised experiences and optimise content throughout the consumer journey.

2025 – The Year Of…: Authenticity, co-creation, purpose-driven campaigns, says Sai Narayan, Policybazaar

"Gen AI helped us curate tailored content across languages which addressed diverse consumer preferences and needs more effectively. Our team also leveraged AI to process vast datasets which helped us identify emerging trends and optimise our campaigns," Sai Narayan, chief marketing officer, Policybazaar.

Sai Narayan, Chief Marketing Officer of Policybazaar, discussed the strategic integration of AI in the company’s operations, emphasizing how it has enabled the team to identify emerging trends and optimize their campaigns.