Brands
Limelight Diamonds opens new Meerut store as expansion sparkles
MEERUT: Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds has added fresh sparkle to North India with the opening of its newest exclusive store in Meerut, marking another stride in the brand’s rapid nationwide expansion. With more than 50 exclusive stores and over 40 shop-in-shops across 45 cities, Limelight continues to lead India’s shift towards sustainable fine jewellery.
The store, inaugurated by director Karam Chawla alongside regional partners Deepak Jain and Deepanshu Jain, sits on Meerut’s bustling Begum Bridge Road. Inside, customers will find Limelight’s signature curation of elegant necklaces, striking solitaires, contemporary earrings, bracelets and versatile everyday wear.
Designed in the brand’s trademark minimal, modern style, the new space offers an immersive shopping experience that highlights the brilliance and craftsmanship behind its certified lab grown diamonds.
To mark the launch, Limelight is offering a special privilege: 15 per cent off on diamond value, 15 per cent off on making charges, and a complimentary gold coin on purchases above Rs 1 lakh.
Founder and managing director Pooja Sheth Madhavan, said the opening reflects the brand’s mission to build the lab grown category with clarity and scale. “Meerut marks an important milestone as we strengthen our presence with more than 50 stores. Uttar Pradesh has shown a tremendous appetite for modern diamond jewellery, and our expansion here mirrors the growing trust in the category. Our vision is to make lab grown diamonds a preferred and progressive choice for today’s consumer.”
Karam Chawla added that changing aspirations are driving Limelight’s northward growth. “Cities like Meerut are redefining luxury with a focus on innovation and informed choices. The response from Uttar Pradesh has been extremely encouraging, and we believe Meerut will become a key market for consumers seeking jewellery that blends brilliance with forward-thinking values.”
Regional partner Deepak Jain said Meerut’s customers are ready for a brand that combines quality with modernity. “Limelight’s emphasis on transparency, craftsmanship and innovation aligns perfectly with the city’s evolving taste. This store will quickly become a trusted destination for exceptional diamond jewellery.”
With the Meerut launch, Limelight continues to accelerate its retail footprint, bringing its blend of contemporary design, cutting-edge technology and sustainable luxury to more jewellery lovers across India.
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
