MAM
Samsung puts fresh thrust on digital media products
MUMBAI: Samsung India launched a slew of exciting, high tech, lifestyle oriented digital media products – digital audio players, digital slim cameras and digital camcorders, redefining the concept of personal entertainment and mobility.
Leading the industry in terms of innovative design, the company also announced the launch of its incredibly slim 32″ ‘SlimFit’ TV in the Indian market.
An industry first from Samsung, this ultra-slim SlimFit TV is approximately 200 mm slimmer than conventional CRT based televisions and represents a design innovation in conventional CRT based televisions. To market its innovative, lifestyle products, Samsung has introduced a new concept in retail by setting up the first Samsung ‘Digital Zone’ in Kolkata.
Emphasising style in technology, Samsung is launching five high tech digital audio players that boast superior mobility, hip designs, enhanced memory and outstanding performance.
The five new digital audio players – YP-C1, YP-T7, YP-T8, YP-F1 and YH-J70 are priced in the range Rs 4,900 to Rs 22,900. With the introduction of the new range, Samsung has an offering of 10 compact, technologically advanced and fashionable digital audio players in its portfolio, priced in the range Rs 4,900 to Rs 22,900. The Samsung digital audio line-up includes both flash based and hard disc based digital audio players, with all models offering colour LCD display.
While the Samsung YP-F1 has a fashionable necklace and clip design, interchangeable shells, FM tuner and recording functionality, the Samsung YH-J70 with 20GB/30 GB hard disc drive serves as an all in one MP3 player FM tuner/voice recorder/mass storage /line –in encoding device with USB host for connecting digital devices and a G Sensor for protecting the hard disc drive. The YH-J70 can store upto 10,000 songs.
While the YP-T7 comes with a 1.3″, 65,000 colour LCD screen, the YH-J70 comes with a 1.8 inch 260,000 colour TFT LCD screen. The Samsung YP-T8’s built in flash memory of 1 GB lets the user play games, watch videos, view pictures, peruse text and of course play lots and lots of music. From crystal clear audio to images, voice to video, a vast collection of colours to speedy USB connections, the Samsung range of digital audio players seek to expand the possibilities of music mobility with technology.
Samsung India deputy managing director R Zutshi said, “The new lifestyle products call for innovative marketing strategies and that is the reason, we are looking at retailing these products not only through conventional multibrand outlets but also through our exclusive Brand Stores, select IT Channels as well as our exclusive Samsung Digital Zones.”
Samsung set up its first Samsung Digital Zone in Kolkata, for marketing its hi end Consumer Electronics and Digital Lifestyle products. The company plans to set up six-seven more Samsung Digital Zones in the country this year.
Samsung India also announced the launch of 9 digital still cameras (DSC). The new, elegant and advanced DSC range from Samsung includes DSCs with camera resolution ranging from 4.0 mega pixel to 7.1 mega pixel; internal memory ranging from 16 MB to 64 MB; SD/MMC card compatibility; PictBridge or Direct Printing Capability and a large TFT LCD screen.
The flagship model of the range, Digimax V700 comes with a 7.1-mega-pixel high-resolution digital camera with a Schneider lens for crystal clear images. For enhanced movie shooting, the Digimax supports MPEG -4 format, the high compression, and high quality movie clip format. The Samsung Digimax I5 Slim 5.0 mega pixel high resolution digital camera comes an internal memory of 50 MB. It has a unique Safety Flash feature that gives enhanced image clarity and more natural images in places without a sufficient light source. This Slim DSC is priced at Rs 22, 990. The Samsung DSC range is priced between Rs 8490 to Rs 24,990.
Samsung which launched the unique Samsung miniket, with six in one functionality in the month of May 2005, announced the launch of Miniket X, which is the ideal sports accessory to capture all the action in style.
This Sports Miniket is equipped with a strap that fits on the head, arm and waist of the outdoor enthusiast. Outdoors sports shooting is available with the moisture proof function. The Miniket X, VP-X110 comes with pocket size rubber coated body, 1GB Built in memory; six multi functions – movie, still, MP3, voice recording, PC camera and storage and USB 2.0 for faster downloads .The Miniket X is priced at Rs 49,000.
States Zutshi, “We expect the contribution of Digital Media products to our total AV business to grow from 15 per cent this year to over 30 per cent by 2007.”
Brands
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail reshuffles top deck; Nikhil Modha to take over as CFO
Phased transition sees Marco Agnolin head OWND!, Nikhil Modha lined up as CFO as company readies next growth leg
MUMBAI: Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail is redrawing its leadership map, lining up a new generation of executives across key roles as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
The company has named Suraj Bahirwani as chief executive (designate) of Pantaloons, effective April 1, 2026, with a full transition to the top role slated for October 1, 2026. He will also be designated as senior managerial personnel.
A two-decade veteran of the Aditya Birla Group, Bahirwani joined as a group management trainee in 2002 and has since held a string of leadership roles across retail and manufacturing. His resume spans stints at Aditya Birla Retail, a tenure as chief operating officer of Pantaloons, and most recently, head of global sales at the group’s cellulosic fibres business, where he drove international expansion and strengthened value-added portfolios.
Academically, he holds a PhD from the University of Mumbai, a postgraduate management diploma from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, and is a chartered accountant. Over the years, he has picked up multiple chairman’s awards, including distinguished achiever, exceptional contributor and accomplished leader.
The transition at Pantaloons will be staged. Incumbent chief executive Sangeeta Tanwani will continue until September 30, 2026, steering the handover before moving into an advisory role to the managing director from October 1, 2026. She is set to retire on January 31, 2027, at which point she will step down as whole-time director and key managerial personnel.
Alongside, the company has brought in Marco Agnolin as chief executive of OWND! and senior managerial personnel, effective April 6, 2026. Agnolin arrives with over three decades of global experience, having held senior roles at Inditex, where he helped expand Zara in Italy, and later served as chief executive of Bershka and Diesel. His track record spans fast fashion, brand turnarounds and youth-focused retail.
On the finance side, Nikhil Modha has been appointed chief financial officer (designate) and senior managerial personnel from April 1, 2026. He will assume full charge as chief financial officer and key managerial personnel from January 1, 2027.
Current chief financial officer Jagdish Bajaj will oversee a phased transition until December 31, 2026, before retiring and stepping down from his roles.
The reshuffle signals a calibrated succession plan rather than a sudden overhaul, with the company staggering exits and appointments to ensure continuity even as it refreshes leadership across verticals.
As Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail juggles legacy brands and new-age formats, the message is clear: steady hands for the present, sharper ones for the future—and no pause in the push for scale.
