Brands
Life by Follis premium teas arrive in India
Mumbai: Europe’s exquisite tea maestro, Life by Follis, has arrived in India, offering a fusion of unparalleled taste, ethical sourcing, and innovative flavours that will redefine your cup. Get ready to embark on a flavour adventure with 11 exquisite offerings. From the iconic Including innovative flavours such as iconic Sparkling Strawberry, sweet Raspberry Cream, exotic Coconut Pineapple, and the captivating Orange Rosemary, there’s a taste sensation waiting for every palate. Targeted at the discerning customer and trade, the brand aims to build a robust presence across categories in the country.
Life by Follis handpicks only the finest Nilgiris leaves, meticulously curated for an experience that transcends borders. Formulated in Sweden, Europe, their teas are a symphony of tradition and innovation, promising a journey with every sip.
The brand boasts complete transparency, tracing each leaf from plant to cup. Their commitment to organic and Fairtrade practices ensures you get not just the best tea, but also you’re supporting ethical sourcing and empowered tea communities in the Nilgiris. The brand carries certifications for both Organic and Fairtrade practices.
Founder Håkan Kjellström expressed the excitement about launching these exceptional teas in India, saying, “We are thrilled to introduce our premium tea collection to the vibrant and diverse market of India. Our commitment to quality and innovation aligns with the rich tea culture of this nation. It’s our strong belief that Life by Follis will add to the Indian tea segment. Life by Follis is very strong on sustainability and all our teas are certified Organic & Fairtrade. Life by Follis will be the largest double-certified tea brand in India. We aim to focus on the premium segment and intend to start with online channels and from there move ahead to HoReCa and FMCG.”
BRDG Group director Magnus Toveberg said, “We are elated to bring the authentic flavours of our Swedish tea brand ‘Life by Follis’ to the vibrant and diverse tea-loving nation of India. The Indian tea market is vast and sophisticated, with consumers who appreciate a wide variety of flavours and brewing methods. We believe these teas, with their distinct Scandinavian character and emphasis on wellness, will resonate with a growing segment of health-conscious and adventurous tea drinkers.”
Fairtrade India CEO Abhishek Jani shared, “Life by Follis is bringing to Indian tea lovers an exciting and innovative range of teas which contributes to their wellness and through the Fairtrade commitment also make a tangible contribution to the wellbeing of the plantation workers in the Nilgiris. These teas are sourced from estates which ensure better working conditions, prohibition of exploitative or discriminatory practices and an investment in the plantation worker’s community in projects ranging from better education facilities to healthcare and other infrastructure.”
Life by Follis premium collection will be available in India from 15 January, available online at https://lifebyfollis.in and leading marketplaces such as Amazon and Tata Cliq Luxury. Soon, select offline stores across India will welcome tea enthusiasts to experience the European touch firsthand.
BRDG Group, the Mumbai-based global brand management company, brings Life by Follis to India. They specialise in working with leading fashion, lifestyle, and beauty brands, leveraging pan-India marketing and distribution strategies to achieve shared business objectives. They’ll ensure this European luxury gets a warm Indian welcome, brewing success for Life by Follis in every cup.
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
