MAM
Phil Nelson takes on expanded role at Turner Asia Pacific
MUMBAI: Turner International Asia Pacific has announced that Phil Nelson has been appointed senior vice president and managing director, Southeast Asia Pacific and north Asia.
Previously responsible for strategic planning and north Asia, Nelson now has operational oversight for the commercial functions of Turner’s business in Southeast Asia Pacific in addition to Japan and Korea. Reporting into him from these three regional areas are Tom Perry, Ron Lee and Robi Stanton, respectively.
Commenting on this elevation, Asia Pacific president Ricky Ow said, “In his new role, I am certain Phil will enable us to optimize our brands and operational efficiency. With his experience of the media business in Asia Pacific, Phil’s role at the heart of Turner’s commercial operations will undoubtedly put us in a stronger position for future growth. His expanded remit will allow us to identify even more new opportunities across the region.”
Nelson joined Turner Asia Pacific in 2010 as the head of business development responsible for business and corporate development as well as strategic planning across all Tuner businesses throughout Asia. In 2013, his role was expanded to include the north Asia business.
Prior to joining Turner, Nelson was managing director of AOL Asia, based in India and responsible for the digital pioneer’s business and operations throughout the region. Previous positions with AOL included general manager, AOL India and various executive positions in programming, technologies and finance based in AOL’s US headquarters.
Before entering the corporate sector, Nelson was a commander in the US Navy and was stationed throughout the world including Japan, the Middle East and Washington DC. Nelson holds an MBA from Harvard University. He was born in Singapore and has spent most of his life in Asia.
Brands
Aman Gupta’s OFF/BEAT secures Rs 100 crore seed funding round
Bessemer backs new venture betting on AI and India’s digital shift
MUMBAI: Aman Gupta has raised Rs 100 crore in seed funding for his new venture OFF/BEAT, with Bessemer Venture Partners leading the round as it bets on a new wave of AI-led, consumer-first businesses in India.
The funding marks an early but significant push for OFF/BEAT, which is positioned to tap into a rapidly evolving market shaped by a digitally native generation and advances in artificial intelligence. The venture aims to build at the intersection of culture and technology, where brand identity and innovation increasingly go hand in hand.
Gupta, best known for co-founding boAt and scaling it into a Rs 3,000 crore-plus business, is now looking to apply those learnings to a new playbook. His focus this time is not just on building a consumer brand, but on leveraging AI and global networks to accelerate growth.
OFF/BEAT founder Aman Gupta said, “Having built from scratch before, I know what capital can do and what it cannot. This time, I was looking for partners with a global perspective who can help me leverage technology and AI, because that is where the future lies. Bessemer’s track record with companies like Anthropic, Shopify, Canva and LinkedIn says it all.”
The choice of investor reflects that ambition. Bessemer Venture Partners has backed global technology players such as Anthropic, Shopify, Canva and LinkedIn, bringing not just capital but strategic support and global reach.
Bessemer Venture Partners partner Anant Vidur Puri said, “We back founders who see around corners. Aman saw how a new India would come to think about aspiration, identity and quality, and built boAt as proof. He is now applying that same instinct to a market being reshaped by AI and by a generation with entirely new expectations.”
The investment comes at a time when India’s startup ecosystem is being reshaped by both consumer behaviour and technological disruption. Founders are increasingly expected to understand not just products, but the cultural shifts that drive adoption.
For OFF/BEAT, the journey is just beginning, but the signal is clear. In a market where attention is fleeting and expectations are rising, building something truly distinctive may be the only way to stay on beat.
