MAM
American Express ropes in actress Kate Winslet for global campaign
MUMBAI: American credit card company American Express has announced that it has added actress Kate Winslet to its roster of personalities starring in the Company’s global card brand campaign My life. My card.
The first phase of the campaign launched in November 2004. It had featured the likes of two time Oscar winning actor Robert DeNiro and comedian and celebrated television show host Ellen DeGeneres.
Winslet’s 30-second spot premiered on television in the US a few days ago during the finale of CBS’ sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond and is now running on numerous US networks. Winslets spot will run in key international markets shortly. Her television spot opens in London’s Camden Market and slowly reveals Winslet meandering through the booths of vendors selling a variety of wares including vintage books, fresh fruit and children’s toys.
As she peruses, mementos catch her eye that remind her of the many lives she has led through the multitude of characters she has played on the silver screen. We hear Winslet reflect on the incredible journey she has taken in film, and the most important role she will ever play — herself.
Winslet spoke about her relationship to American Express saying, “When approached by American Express to participate in the campaign, I was open to the opportunity because I have always had a great experience as a Card member. Furthermore, I have enjoyed their engaging campaigns over the years and I am pleased to now be a part of it.”
The My life. My card campaign is the company’s first ever umbrella campaign to support all issuers of American Express-branded cards. Therefore regardless of issuer, the campaign positions the key attributes of the brand to reflect the Company’s tradition of service and integrity, while redefining membership for today’s affluent, high-spending customers. The campaign features imagery familiar to all American Express Card members — the
signature panel and American Express blue box logo found on all Cards — but no visuals of any individual Card products.
American Express chief marketing officer John Hayes said, “The My life. My card campaign profiles exceptional card members. We believe Kate Winslet, whose irrefutable talent has been enjoyed by millions of fans around the world, makes a compelling addition to the individuals who have partnered with American Express for this effort”.
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.
