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Samsonite International SA appoints Ramesh Tainwala as Global COO
MUMBAI: Samsonite International S.A., world’s largest manufacturer and leading luggage brand for more than 100 years, today announced the appointment of Mr. Ramesh Tainwala as Chief Operating Officer with immediate effect. In his new role, Mr. Tainwala will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business of the company globally and continue to be directly involved in the management of the company’s business in China, Philippines and Australia. Mr. Leo Boo Suk Suh will be taking over from Mr. Tainwala as President, Samsonite Asia and Middle East.
Mr. Ramesh Tainwala, COO, Samsonite International S.A, said ““I am delighted to take on my new role at a time when increasing number of people are traveling and every market across the world presents interesting challenges. In this backdrop, I hope I will be able to strengthen Samsonite’s leadership position globally.”
Mr.Tainwala served as Executive Director and President, Asia-Pacific and Middle East of Samsonite International SA since February 10, 2011. In his role as President, Mr. Tainwala’s principal responsibility was to manage and develop the Group’s business in Asia Pacific. The responsibilities of this role included the Group’s manufacturing operations in India as well as marketing and sales in the Middle East, West Asia and Australia. Mr. Tainwala has been the General Manager of the Group’s Middle Eastern Operation since January 2007 and has been the chief operating officer of the Group’s Indian operation since June 2000.
MAM
De Beers launches ‘A Diamond Is Forever’ centenary book
Visual retrospective traces 100 years of iconic slogan and cultural impact.
MUMBAI: De Beers just dropped a century’s worth of sparkle between two covers because when a four-word line becomes forever, even the book needs a forever title. De Beers Group has released A Diamond Is Forever: The Making of a Cultural Icon 1926–2026, a landmark visual retrospective celebrating 100 years of shaping the modern perception of natural diamonds. The book traces how the brand transformed diamonds from elite heirlooms into universal symbols of love, commitment and personal achievement, with rare archival material, campaign highlights and cultural commentary.
At its core is the legendary 1947 slogan “A Diamond Is Forever,” penned by N.W. Ayer copywriter Frances Gerety. The four words redefined diamonds as eternal promises, earning the title of the 20th century’s greatest advertising slogan from Advertising Age in 1999. The book explores how this idea and others like the “Two Months’ Salary” guideline and the “Right Hand Ring” influenced social rituals, female independence and consumer behaviour worldwide, including in India, where diamonds shifted from gold-centric traditions to emotionally resonant milestones.
Beyond marketing, it showcases collaborations with artists like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Raoul Dufy, alongside icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. Later campaigns, including the 1990s “Shadows” series set to Karl Jenkins’ Palladio, reinforced diamonds as timeless and unique. The narrative also addresses today’s focus on provenance, sustainability and ethical stewardship, positioning natural diamonds as symbols of both enduring love and responsible luxury.
The book arrives as De Beers marks a century of innovation in luxury marketing, from the Great Depression to the era of conscious consumption, offering a rare window into one of advertising’s most enduring brand stories.
In a world where trends fade fast, De Beers didn’t just sell diamonds, it sold forever, and now it’s bound the proof in pages that will outlast even the hardest carat.
