MAM
Ace Turtle teams up with Funky Monkeys to launch Indoor Play Areas across its Toys“R”Us stores in India
Mumbai: ace turtle, a technology-native retail company and Funky Monkeys, India’s premier indoor play center today announced their partnership to launch Indoor Play Areas at Toys“R”Us stores across the country. The first collaborative venture between Funky Monkeys and ace turtle will unfold within the expansive 12,500 sq ft. Toys“R”Us flagship store is located at Linking Road, Bandra in Mumbai.
The new space will showcase the best of what each brand offers and will ensure that kids who visit have the time of their lives from the moment they set foot in! Funky Monkeys will be opening its play center on the top floor of the Toys“R”Us flagship store, offering its signature play and birthday party experiences for kids. Spanning multiple floors with a wide assortment of international and Indian toy brands, the Toys“R”Us flagship store, launched in December 2023, has redefined the toy shopping experience. With the new addition of the Funky Monkeys Play Area, families and kids can now look forward to a greater experiential shopping experience in the store.
“Partnering with Toys“R”Us India is a unique opportunity for Funky Monkeys to offer our unparalleled play experiences for kids in a fun, safe and clean indoor environment. Toys“R”Us globally has been the most trusted destination for children and parents looking for toys for more than 70 years and we are excited to partner with them and share our expertise in Indoor Play Management,” said Funky Monkeys Play Centers founder & managing director Binita Bodani Putcha.
“We look forward to opening many more Centers along with Toys“R”Us as they expand to other cities across India. Kids and parents can now experience a world-class integrated experience of shopping for toys and playing within the same space!” said Sanjay Ghadiali, Co-Founder & Director, Funky Monkeys Play Centers.
Commenting on the partnership, ace turtle CEO Nitin Chhabra the exclusive licensee of Toys“R”Us in India said, “We are excited to have partnered with Funky Monkeys Play Centers, India’s premier indoor play centre & birthday party venue for kids and to launch a play area at our Bandra store. At India’s largest high-street toy store, we aim to offer more than just a visit – we want families to enjoy a memorable and delightful time together, creating moments of joy and recreation. We look forward to providing the globally renowned and signature toy shopping and playing experience to kids and their parents in Mumbai.”
Funky Monkeys Play Centers are exclusively designed for children aged 6 months to 14 years and offer hands-on discovery and learning through spontaneous and unstructured ‘Free Play’, while incorporating elements of fun and entertainment. Each centre has two play zones – a Toddler Zone & a Junior Zone, offering a unique environment for kids to ‘Play & Learn’ in along with a full-service café and birthday party area.
In 2023, ace turtle unveiled the first Toys“R”Us store in India in Hyderabad and the flagship Toys”R”Us store in Mumbai both of which have received phenomenal responses from customers. ace turtle plans to expand the retail footprint of Toys“R”Us to other cities in India this year. Additionally, customers across India have been shopping for their favourite toys from the online store.
Brands
Tech Mahindra names Jeetu Anandani VP & country head – enterprise & strategic accounts
Veteran tech leader to drive enterprise growth across Australia and New Zealand
MELBOURNE: Jeetu Anandani has stepped into a larger leadership role at Tech Mahindra, taking charge as vice president and country head for enterprise and strategic growth across Australia and New Zealand.
Based in Melbourne, Anandani will steer the company’s enterprise portfolio in the ANZ region, focusing on expanding business across high-growth sectors such as retail, energy and utilities, health insurance and logistics. The move signals Tech Mahindra’s intent to deepen its presence in one of the world’s most competitive enterprise technology markets.
In his new role, Anandani will lead growth initiatives, build strategic partnerships and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders across industries. His mandate also includes accelerating business development efforts in sectors such as manufacturing, travel and logistics while helping clients navigate digital transformation and AI-led change.
The promotion caps a steady rise within Tech Mahindra. Anandani most recently served as communications, media and entertainment head for BPS across the Asia Pacific and Japan region, where he worked on expanding enterprise deals and strategic partnerships. Before that, he held the role of account director, managing key client relationships and delivery programmes.
Prior to joining Tech Mahindra in 2020, Anandani spent nearly eight years at Telstra as country manager in Mumbai, overseeing operational growth and partnerships. His earlier career includes leadership stints at Tata Consultancy Services, Vodafone and JPMorgan Chase.
With more than two decades of experience across telecom, banking and IT services, Anandani now takes the helm of Tech Mahindra’s enterprise push in ANZ, a region where demand for AI, digital transformation and large-scale technology partnerships continues to gather pace.
