Brands
Tic Tac rolls out two new flavours to drive local relevance
Mumbai: Tic Tac, the confectionery brand of Ferrero India, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sweet-packaged products, has announced the nationwide launch of two of its latest flavours, Tic Tac Strawberry pills in the core, and Jeera-Black Salt pills from the Tic Tac Seeds range.
These unique flavours are set to redefine the way Indians savor mint, the sweet refreshing taste of strawberries and the exotic depth of Indian traditional flavour Jeera-black salt. These new flavours have a refreshing taste profile, with a dose of minty freshness, coupled with mild sweetness.
Based on Tic Tac’s consumer insights, Strawberry ranks as one of the most popular flavour within the fruit category, while Jeera-Black Salt is the preferred flavour among Indian consumers in the mouth freshener category. Responding to a longstanding demand, Tic Tac introduced these innovative flavours to cater to the sweet and savory mouth freshener markets, perfect for post-meals, after-workouts, and on-the-go moments.
The Jeera-Black Salt variant is the product of extensive research and development done at our R&D lab in Baramati, Pune. This harmonious blend of aromatic jeera and distinctive black salt is launched exclusively for the Indian market, thus capturing the essence of Indian culinary traditions, and delighting the Indian taste buds.
Packaged in a pocket-sized pack, Tic Tac Strawberry in the core and Jeera-Black Salt from the Tic Tac Seeds range are designed for convenience and sharing with friends. Tic Tac now will be available and displayed in the iconic Tic Tac refill jar design that is known for its distinctive appearance and reusability.
“At Tic Tac, we continue to delight consumers with a wide range of unique taste experiences. Tic Tac’s delectable flavours Strawberry in core and Jeera-Black Salt from the Tic Tac Seeds range are proudly crafted in India, offering a unique blend of bold and complex flavours while maintaining local relevance,” said Ferrero India marketing head, pills & gums Zoher Kapuswala.
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.
