MAM
IOC’s marketing & sponsorship plans for 2012 Olympic Games
MUMBAI: A master schedule for the delivery of projects and programmes for the London 2012 Olympic Games was announced at an orientation seminar involving the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog).
London 2012 CEO Keith Mills dwelt on the London 2012 marketing and sponsorship plans. He says, “We plan to outline our sponsorship strategy in the first half of next year. This will enable companies to understand the categories of sponsorship that are available and the tremendous and unique marketing opportunities that come from combining the worlds most powerful brand with one the world’s most iconic cities.
“I am sure that British businesses will understand the unique opportunity to be associated with the Olympic brand through sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games.”
Mills also highlighted the importance of protecting sponsor investment and praised the IOC’s comprehensive brand protection programme as the foremost event property scheme in the world.
“Olympic partners, sponsors and providers are the lifeblood of the Olympic Movement and have made outstanding contributions to success of the Olympic Games and deserve our continued support and protection” he added.
IOC director of television and marketing services, Timo Lumme endorsed London 2012’s plans aimed at protecting the investment of companies wishing to become Olympic sponsors.
He says, “Strong controls on the use of the Olympic symbols and brand are essential for creating the right environment for attracting and supporting companies who wish to become Olympic sponsors. The London Olympic Games organisers have adopted the right approach and I am confident that Locog will draw an impressive roster of sponsors and suppliers.”
Key revenue sources for London Olympic Games Organisers were outlined. These include revenues from IOC administered broadcasting rights and the Worldwide Olympic Partners (Top) programmes. The London organisers are required to maximise revenues to stage the games from ticket sales, licensing (including merchandise, coins and stamps) and domestic sponsorship and suppliership programmes.
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.
