Brands
Timex marketing head Varun Malik says time’s up
MUMBAI: Time waits for no man, and neither does Varun Malik. The head of marketing at Timex group India has wound up his tenure at the watchmaker after a mere seven months, clocking out on 11 December following a swift ten-day notice period.
Malik, who joined the company only in June to oversee a glittering stable of luxury and premium brands—Timex, Guess, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo and Daniel Wellington—cited personal reasons and a desire to explore fresh professional horizons. His departure leaves a portfolio spanning over 3,000 retail touchpoints and the company’s direct-to-consumer business without its brand steward.
The exit is particularly striking given Malik’s pedigree. Before his brief Timex stint, he spent three years as head of marketing at Shalimar Paints, where he orchestrated campaigns garnering 95 million-plus views and a testimonial series watched 10 million times. Prior to that, a six-year run at Reebok India saw him build running communities and sponsor marathons, plus stints at the Times Group, DLF, Samsung and Red FM.
The company disclosed the departure to the Bombay Stock Exchange in a regulatory filing, with Dhiraj Kumar Maggo, vice president for legal, human resources and company secretary, signing off on the notification. No replacement has been announced.
One wonders whether Malik’s next venture will prove more timely—or if his seven-month watch at Timex was simply a case of being fashionably early to the exit. Either way, the clock keeps ticking.
Brands
Safex Group appoints Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer
Former Standard Chartered executive to steer finance
NEW DELHI: Safex Chemicals has appointed Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for the next phase of expansion in specialty chemicals and global agrochemicals.
In her new role, Malhotra will lead the group’s financial strategy, capital architecture and governance framework as Safex scales operations across multiple verticals including branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing.
A chartered accountant and graduate of Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Malhotra brings more than two decades of experience in business finance, strategic planning, corporate banking and client management.
Before joining Safex, she served as executive director, financial markets at Standard Chartered, where she led teams across India and Sri Lanka and worked closely with large corporates, global subsidiaries and commercial banking clients. Her expertise includes capital structuring, treasury operations, risk management and financial markets led financing solutions.
Safex Group promoter director and joint managing director Piyush Jindal, said the appointment comes at a pivotal time for the company. “Safex stands at an inflection point as we build an integrated platform across branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing. Richa’s experience across global financial institutions will strengthen our financial discipline and help unlock value across the group,” he said.
Malhotra said she was looking forward to contributing to the company’s next chapter of growth. “Safex has built a strong reputation over 35 years with its focus on integrity, innovation and agricultural insight. I am excited to be part of the organisation as it expands its footprint in India and global markets,” she said.
The appointment comes as Safex continues to strengthen its financial foundations and scale operations internationally, positioning itself for future growth milestones.
