Brands
Black White Orange (BWO) to partner with Playboy in India
Mumbai: BWO has announced it has entered into an arrangement with Playboy Enterprises International, Inc. (“Playboy”), part of PLBY Group, Inc. and one of the largest and most recognisable lifestyle brands in the world, to strategically develop and manage Playboy’s merchandise licensing and collaboration programs in India, across a variety of categories including fashion and accessories, beauty and grooming, home, innerwear and shopping experiences.
“It was clear to all of us at Playboy that BWO’s entrepreneurial and creative approach to licensing coupled with their solid understanding of the cool Gen-Z and Millennial audience driving India’s shopping growth, made them the perfect fit for our future business expansion in the market,” said Playboy chief business development officer & licensing Allison Kopcha.
The consumer landscape in India, like other markets, has shifted towards Millennial and Gen-Z audiences embracing a lifestyle that celebrates personal freedom, self-expression, and exploration – all values that align closely with the Playboy brand DNA. The Indian market today is dominated by consumers under the age of 35, who represent more than 65 per cent of the country’s total population and are driving significant online shopping growth.
Black White Orange co-founder & COO Mitali Desai added, “Leveraging Playboy’s unique assets such as the iconic Rabbit Head logo and its vast heritage archive assets will enable us to deliver a diverse range of Playboy-branded lifestyle products and incredible shopping experiences with strategic partners to target today’s younger audience seeking bold yet playful style in a way that only the iconic Playboy brand can.”
Playboy’s current portfolio of licensing partners in India includes Jay Jay & Kwality Restaurants, BluOrng, The Noble Sculptor, Balenzia, Daily Objects, and Bonker’s Corner. Consumers can look forward to exciting categories going live at retail very soon!
Brands
Rohini Laya Venkateswaran named executive director at Gillette India
P&G veteran with two decades of experience steps into leadership role
NEW DELHI: Rohini Laya Venkateswaran has been appointed executive director at Gillette India Pvt. Ltd., bringing with her more than two decades of experience across sales, strategy and brand leadership within the consumer goods sector. In her new role, she will help steer the company’s strategic direction and growth while strengthening its footprint in the grooming and personal care category.
Venkateswaran joins the board after a long career at Procter & Gamble, where she spent nearly 21 years shaping sales strategy, building brands and driving market expansion across India and international markets.
Most recently, she served as chief sales officer for India at P&G. Prior to that, she was vice president and country manager for east gulf markets, overseeing operations in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar while also guiding sales strategy across the Gulf region, including the UAE.
Earlier in her career, she led sales strategy and planning for India while serving as marketing leader for brands such as Olay and Old Spice. During this stint, she focused on reshaping go-to-market channels and building awareness through digital, social and influencer-led campaigns to drive growth.
Her journey at P&G also included roles such as director sales strategy and planning leader India, associate director modern retail and ecommerce, regional manager for Delhi and Rajasthan, and several key account and trade marketing roles across the country. She also spent time in the United States working on the P&G Walmart international team, collaborating on global retail initiatives.
Venkateswaran holds an MBA in marketing from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from RV College of Engineering.
With her mix of sales acumen, brand-building experience and global exposure, Venkateswaran’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on growth and market leadership for Gillette India.
