MAM
Mudra’s Jude Fernandes promoted to executive director; Aniruddha Banerjee comes on board
MUMBAI: The Mudra Group has announced a slew of senior management changes. The current president at Mudra Mumbai office Jude Fernandes has been promoted to executive director. Filling his shoes in Mumbai is Aniruddha Banerjee (Ani).
In his capacity, Fernandes will have additional responsibilities that will include helping define the group’s strategic direction, strengthening Mudra’s offering to clients and improving the product, states an official release.
Commenting on Fernandes new position, Mudra Group CEO and managing director Madhukar Kamath said, “Jude has been a source of great strength for the Mudra Group. He is our rock and a true leader. His promotion is recognition of his fabulous work over the years, particularly as the head of Mudra Mumbai. It is also a statement of our aggressive growth plans, we need talent of his quality to help us define the Group’s strategic direction, strengthen our offering to clients and improving our product.”
Fernandes has spent over two decades in advertising – 14 of which he has spent at Mudra handling businesses such as the Godrej Group, LIC, the Pantaloon Group, SBI, Philips, Air India, HPCL, MTDC, Johnson & Johnson and Reliance ADAG among others.
Fernandes said, “I’ve had a long and rewarding association with Mudra and have enjoyed every minute of it. The Mudra Group is looking at some very aggressive growth over the next few years, and I love the idea of being part of that. My new role promises to be a lot of fun.”
Aniruddha Banerjee has also come on board, taking Fernandes’ old position. On the addition of Banerjee to the management team Kamath said, “As far as Ani is concerned, he comes to us with an impeccable track record. I think he is an excellent advertising mind, a great account man and a terrific team leader. He is just the right guy to continue the good work Jude has done. I have great regard for Ani’s proven abilities in organization building, and I’m sure he’ll revel in the challenge of taking Mudra Mumbai to the top”
Banerjee brings with him experience and has stints at Everest, Leo Burnett, Bates Worldwide (then Clarion) and Contract.
Banerjee said, “I am tremendously excited about the challenge of leading Mudra Mumbai. The agency already has an enviable roster of clients and from what I hear, a couple of large ones in the pipeline and more importantly great relationships with each one of them. I’ve been handed a healthy operation and good talent. I couldn’t ask for more!”
MAM
BLS International launches #VisaReady campaign to guide applicants
Initiative targets visa myths, delays and rejections with practical guidance
MUMBAI: Visa woes may soon meet their match because paperwork, it seems, is finally getting a user manual. BLS International has rolled out a new awareness drive, #VisaReadyWithBLSInternational, aimed at simplifying the often confusing visa application process and reducing delays caused by misinformation and incomplete documentation. The campaign, led across social media platforms, zeroes in on a long-standing pain point for travellers: lack of clarity around procedures, timelines and requirements. By offering step-by-step guidance, documentation checklists and clear Dos and Don’ts, the initiative attempts to turn what is typically a stressful process into a more predictable one.
At its core, the campaign also seeks to bust common myths that frequently derail applications issues that often lead to avoidable rejections or last-minute complications. The idea is to equip applicants with practical, actionable insights so they can plan better and submit stronger applications within expected timelines.
The push will not remain limited to digital channels. BLS International plans to extend the initiative across its Visa Application Centres globally, reinforcing awareness at key touchpoints where applicants engage with the process.
BLS International joint managing director Shikhar Aggarwal framed the campaign as more than a communication exercise, emphasising the company’s attempt to embed guidance and preparedness into every stage of the applicant journey.
Operating in over 70 countries and working with more than 46 client governments including embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions, the company has built a sizeable footprint in visa and consular services. With this campaign, it is now leaning into education as much as execution, signalling that in the world of visas, clarity might just be the new currency.
