MAM
Rekha Murthy joins Rediff.com board as Independent Director
MUMBAI: Rediff.com India has drafted in heavyweight technology veteran Rekha Murthy as an independent director, bolstering its board as the AI-focused platform firm pushes into payments and enterprise software and keeps its IPO options open.
The appointment signals sharper intent at Rediff.com, which is repositioning itself from a legacy internet brand into a data and AI-led business with ambitions beyond content and advertising.
Murthy brings close to 35 years of global leadership experience across technology, enterprise software and consulting. She has held senior roles at IBM, PeopleSoft, digital equipment corporation, Wyse Technology, Korn Ferry International and Harvard business publishing, spanning markets in India, Asia Pacific and the US.
She sits on the boards of multiple international companies. She is also the founder of far vision consulting and works closely with global start-ups as an investor, advisor and mentor.
At Rediff.com, Murthy is expected to play a central role in shaping AI-led strategy, tightening governance and preparing the company for life in the public markets, should it pull the trigger on a listing.
An alumna of Harvard business school and IIM Bangalore, with an engineering degree from Bangalore university and a diploma from NYU, Murthy has built and scaled businesses across sales, product, strategy and P&L leadership. She has also helped launch three start-ups, adding entrepreneurial bite to boardroom gravitas.
As Rediff.com plots its next chapter, the message is unmistakable. This is not a nostalgia play. With murthy on the board, the company is signalling it wants to think bigger, move faster and finally act its age in the AI era.
MAM
McDonald’s India NE names Sara Arjun brand ambassador
Actor returns for nostalgic Buddy Meal campaign at Rs 119 for two.
MUMBAI: Sara Arjun just came home to McDonald’s because some love stories start with a childhood ad and end with sharing fries as grown-ups. McDonald’s India – North and East has appointed actor Sara Arjun as its brand ambassador, bringing her back to the brand that first captured her on screen as a child. The collaboration launches with a playful TVC introducing the Buddy Meal, a value offering priced at Rs 119 for two burgers (McAloo Tikki or Veg Surprise), two Cokes and one medium fries.
The film recreates the classic “girlfriend-boyfriend” banter from her original McDonald’s ad, with Sara joking about today’s “demanding” relationships before her buddy admits he just wants a simple McAloo Tikki. The voiceover lands the punch: “Shukar hai McDonald’s Buddy Meal for 2 hai… starts at just Rs 119,” closing on the tagline “Khao Meal, Baat Karo”, a celebration of uncomplicated joy and shared moments.
MMG Group and CPRL vice chairman Anant Agarwal said, “Sara’s return to McDonald’s is a wonderful reminder of the deep emotional connections many customers have grown up with. With the Buddy Meal, we are celebrating friendship, nostalgia and the simple joy of sharing a McDonald’s meal together at great value.”
Sara Arjun added, “McDonald’s has been a special part of my journey since childhood. Returning to the brand for this campaign feels incredibly nostalgic. The Buddy Meal captures the simple joy of sharing food and laughter with friends.”
Available for a limited period across McDonald’s restaurants in North and East India via dine-in, takeaway, drive-thru, the McDonald’s App and leading delivery platforms, the Buddy Meal taps into the brand’s legacy of creating relatable, feel-good moments.
In a fast-food world chasing trends, McDonald’s brings back a familiar face and a simple truth: sometimes the best dates don’t need grand gestures just good burgers, cold drinks and great company at a price that leaves everyone smiling.
