MAM
Teamwork Communications Group celebrates a milestone in communication and PR
Mumbai: Teamwork Communications Group, on 12 December, celebrates its 14th anniversary, commemorating the foundation of the leading public relations agency. Established in 2009 with a healthcare-centric approach, the agency has evolved into a dynamic force, catering to diverse sectors such as edtech, fitness, FMCG, and hospitality. This year witnessed a noteworthy 100% increase in the company’s workfocrce and the addition of 75 new clients into their fold.
Teamwork’s success story spans from securing the GSTN mandate during India’s transition to the Goods and Service Tax to serving industry giants like Hero Cycles, Bonn Group of Industries, and Apollo 24/7, consistently outshining others in the field. The agency now boasts a distinguished clientele that includes industry luminaries such as the Quality Council of India (QCI), Ministry of Jal Shakti (Government of India), Bikano group, FUJIFILM India, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, Ibis Hotels, Jindal Aluminum, APL Apollo Steel Tubes, Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Career Launcher, and many more.
Founded in 2009 by PR specialists Nikky Gupta and former journalist Kamal Narayan, Teamwork has not only expanded its reach from traditional media relations to social and digital media but has also cemented its position as a proficient agency in crafting inventive media strategies and campaigns tailored to meet the evolving demands of the current era. Additionally, the company has successfully implemented crisis management through its in-depth communication strategies to address challenges faced by its clients.
Gupta expressed her gratitude, stating, “Teamwork came to life and flourished with the relentless effort of its team. We value the contribution of our ardent workforce in bringing us to where we are today. However, this is just the beginning, and we are confident that together we can achieve so much more.”
She added, “In the coming years, we plan to expand our influence to the other part of the country by establishing offices and hiring talent there. We are thankful to our clients for entrusting us with building, preserving, and enhancing their brand image. Our secret to success lies in weaving compelling narratives that resonate with people and building campaigns that address any issue at the grassroots level.”
Narayan said, “It’s a great moment as we complete 14 years in the PR industry, expanding into multiple domains apart from healthcare. It’s been an exciting ride as we set new benchmarks with our focused marketing and PR practices for our clients, some of whom have associated with us for a long time. We are also proud to have sailed through the turbulent waters of the COVID-19 pandemic which shook almost every sector. We provided uninterrupted services to our clients during this testing time and tweaked our HR policies to care for our employees, the backbone and strength of Teamwork. As we continue to rise above the clouds, scaling new heights, we look forward to leveraging new technology and AI in the workspace while aiming to create an ideal atmosphere for our team and clients.”
Adding to its accolades, Teamwork Group secured two Kaleido Awards by ET Brand Equity in 2022, was recognised among the Top 25 PR Agencies by Exchange4Media, and earned the title of Healthcare Agency of the Year at E4M IPRCCA.
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.
