MAM
BlackCab agency network’s artful campaign for Avartana’s culinary marvels
Mumbai: BlackCab, a leading force in content production and social media strategy, has successfully curated a groundbreaking campaign for the launch of Avartana, ITC Maratha’s latest culinary venture in Mumbai. Avartana represents an exclusive blend of traditional and progressive renditions of southern Indian cuisine, rooted in the gravitas of the unique tastes, aromas, and flavours of southern Indian spices.
The BlackCab team collaborated closely with ITC Maratha for the launch of Avartana, a renowned restaurant already established in other cities and now expanding its presence in Mumbai. Their partnership focused on two key areas: content production and social media strategy. The content production team carefully planned how they would create content for Avartana’s first appearance in Mumbai, considering the best way to approach the project and what they wanted to convey, ensuring a captivating launch.
BlackCab leveraged its network agency model using its specialised short-form content studio Secret Sauce Studios to produce the content for the Avartana launch. The project saw them capture an array of photos and videos together with architectural shots that emphasize the restaurant’s beauty. The project focused on bringing out and articulating the thought and inspiration behind Avartana’s five different multi-course menus. The BlackCab team spent time with the chefs to understand why the ingredients play such a vital role in the dining experience at Avartana. Following this, the team crafted a content strategy that would bring the space to life.
A workshop was conducted with the chefs and Secret Sauce Studios co-founder Alok Verma, to help learn the nuances behind the menu and bring out storytelling in the direction of the videos and each of the photographs clicked. The storytelling prowess of BlackCab continues to radiate, creating a unique experience by unfolding captivating narratives and stories across various platforms and leaving a lasting impression on the audience. This campaign for ITC Maratha represents BlackCab’s superior understanding of a discerning audience. BlackCab hopes to tap into the audience through the content and strategy created for Avartana.
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.
