MAM
Ipsos India appoints Unni Hariharan, executive director of tech & e-commerce
Mumbai: Keeping in view the transforming market dynamics and tech focus and digital becoming an essential ingredient for business, eCommerce and engagement, and with many new entrants in this space, Ipsos India has pulled in Unni Hariharan to lead tech and e-commerce, with immediate effect.
Hariharan is the designated executive director, and his remit is to identify and enhance opportunities with leading players in the tech and e-commerce sector and will work with clients pan India. He reports to Shalini Sinha, country service line leader, brand health tracking (BHT) and creative excellence (CRE).
Elaborating more on the development, Shalini Sinha, country service line leader, BHT and CRE said, “It is our constant endeavour to hire sectoral experts as they are best placed in providing a strong and strategic counsel to clients for market leading business decisions. Hariharan has domain expertise and has worked extensively with clients in technology, e-commerce and D2C space and we foresee him growing our presence with the roster of clients in these areas and leveraging opportunities.”
Ipsos India CEO Amit Adarkar said, “Covid19, hastened adoption of technology with lockdowns and access to brick and motor stores almost unavailable for many months and then the fear of going to public places occupying the mindset of consumers, there was a boom in e-commerce, D2C players and digital adoption for almost bingeing on everything – from shopping to social media browsing and surge in OTT subscriptions etc. Ipsos India views this as a great opportunity area, bringing in Hariharan will help us enhance our quality of work and our client delivery mechanism.”
Hariharan moved from Nielsen and has about two decades of work experience across leading market research agencies. He is an alumnus of Goa Institute of Management.
Brands
Raj Cooling Systems launches Agreyas appliances brand
Emraan Hashmi named brand ambassador for consumer appliance push.
MUMBAI: A company known for cooling solutions is now heating up its ambitions in the home appliances market. Raj Cooling Systems Pvt. Ltd. has launched a new consumer appliances brand, Agreyas, marking its entry into India’s rapidly expanding home appliances sector valued at more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore. The move represents a strategic diversification for the company, which has traditionally focused on cooling solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Through Agreyas, the firm plans to tap into growing consumer demand for energy efficient and technology driven household appliances.
To build brand visibility, Agreyas has appointed Emraan Hashmi as its brand ambassador. The campaign has been developed under the banner of Zoommantra Productions, with actor and filmmaker Rohit Roy contributing to the creative direction.
The brand’s initial portfolio will include mid premium air conditioners, washing machines, geysers and other white goods designed to cater to modern Indian households seeking efficient and reliable appliances.
Raj Cooling Systems, founder and chairman Kalpesh Ramoliya said the launch aligns with the company’s broader expansion plans.
“The launch of Agreyas is in line with our vision to build a strong presence in India’s consumer electronics and home appliances market. The brand has been developed as a standalone identity to meet the evolving needs of Indian consumers,” he said.
Hashmi said the collaboration comes at a time when Indian buyers are increasingly looking for innovative and functional home solutions.
“I’m looking forward to working with Agreyas at a time when consumers are seeking more innovative and efficient home products. The brand reflects changing consumer behaviour around functionality, innovation and ease of use,” he said.
Raj Cooling Systems plans to invest around 10 million dollars in developing the brand, with an additional 5 million dollars earmarked over the next three to five years for product development and distribution expansion.
Agreyas will follow a multi channel distribution approach, selling through online platforms, retail outlets and dealer networks aimed at both urban and semi urban markets across India.
With the launch, the company is positioning Agreyas as a standalone consumer facing brand while continuing to leverage its existing manufacturing, engineering and research capabilities built through its core cooling solutions business.
