MAM
Ranjan Kapur throws light on future advertising trends at AAAI seminar
MUMBAI: Perhaps the most enthralling of all the speakers at the Advertising Agencies Association of India’s (AAAI) Diamond Jubilee celebrations’ conference was WPP country manager Ranjan Kapur, who gave the keynote address and had the audience in rapt attention.
Speaking on what makes successful brands, he said that brands were not made in the era of shortages, but in the era of plenty. “Those brands that were built in the era of shortage must reinvent themselves and reassess the brand loyalty that they have in the market. The brand of the future will be built in the 21st century,” he said.
Kapur also emphasized on the fact that one thing that the industry needed to watch out for were media independents. “They are going to become the 360 degree agencies of the future as they have strategic planning muscle, are rich on data and are privy to ad spend of companies,” he said.
He stressed on the fact that in three to five years’ time, there will be a divide among people who want to be rich and those who want to be famous. “It is in our hands to grab the opportunity to become rich and famous at the same time,” Kapur said.
Another emerging section that the industry must watch out for was mobile telephony. “The way we consume content is going to change. Mobile telephony is going to play a big role in our lives. Every form of content from every medium will be privy to the mobile very soon,” he said.
“The Indian broadcast industry lacks interactivity and is moreover a one way medium. The day they complete the loop, it will be great and mobile telephony will help in doing that. One reason why American Idol or Indian Idol is so popular is because of the interactivity. Broadcast media should enter the mind space of the consumer away from home. Mobility and content combined is the way ahead,” Kapur emphasised.
MAM
Manappuram Finance appoints Sreekanth P V as group head – operations
22-year veteran from Bajaj Finance to drive efficiency and customer experience.
MUMBAI: Manappuram Finance just upgraded its operations engine because when customer delight needs turbocharging, even the gold loans get a smoother ride. Manappuram Finance Ltd has appointed industry veteran Sreekanth P V as group head for operations & customer experience at the grade of president. In his new role, Sreekanth will lead efforts to strengthen operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, streamline processes, drive service innovation and scale the company’s digital ecosystems across all business verticals.
Sreekanth brings over 22 years of experience in operations management, digital platforms, product innovation and customer experience within the financial services sector. Most recently he served as deputy executive vice president for digital platforms at Bajaj Finance Ltd, where he led the development of a unified app and web platform strategy and built a cohesive digital ecosystem.
Manappuram Finance, chairman and managing director V. P. Nandakumar said, “We are pleased to welcome Mr Sreekanth P V to the leadership team. He brings extensive experience in operations management, digital platforms and customer experience. As we continue to strengthen our operational capabilities and enhance customer engagement, his expertise will play an important role in driving efficiency, innovation and service excellence across the organisation.”
The appointment reflects Manappuram Finance’s ongoing focus on building a stronger leadership bench and elevating operational standards as the company scales its lending and customer engagement capabilities.
In a sector where every rupee counts twice, Sreekanth isn’t just joining the team, he’s the new conductor making sure the entire orchestra of loans, digital flows and customer smiles stays perfectly in tune.
