MAM
Jagannath continues Thoughtworks journey as VP for India and Middle East
MUMBAI: He’s no stranger to building brands that think big and now, he’s doing it across continents. A L Jagannath, fondly known as Jaggi in industry circles, will continue his journey at Thoughtworks as vice president, marketing and partnerships for India and the Middle East, marking the next phase in a storied career that has spanned tech giants, global brands, and award-winning marketing milestones.
Based in Bengaluru, Jagannath will refine regional strategy and steer a high-performing team at the hyper-growth technology consultancy, tasked with scaling the business threefold over three years. His focus will span account-based marketing (ABM), brand leadership, talent branding, and partnerships with tech majors such as AWS, Google, and Microsoft Azure, all geared towards deepening Thoughtworks’ presence and influence in the region.
Before ThoughtWorks, Jagannath spent over six years at VMware, where he led India marketing and later switched lanes to head sales for the Dell-EMC alliance, a move that saw him grow the business sevenfold, from USD 8 million to 50 million dollars in just three years. His performance earned him a place among VMware’s global top one per cent and back-to-back wins at the President’s Club in 2018 and 2019.
Earlier, as director of marketing for India and SAARC at VMware, he was part of the leadership team that executed “Mission 101”, doubling India’s business by USD 100 million within three years and cementing the brand’s dominance in virtualisation. His marketing strategy also helped the company maintain a 70 per cent-plus market share for its core products, while driving over 3,000 new customer acquisitions.
Jagannath’s career map reads like a who’s who of modern marketing. At LinkedIn, he built demand generation programmes that tripled the pipeline from USD 20 million to USD 60 million, creating alliances with corporates such as Wipro and Infosys. At Sun Microsystems, he led marketing for the systems business and rolled out India’s first B2C campaigns for the brand. His early years at Reliance Infocomm saw him launch Reliance WebWorld, test-market gaming services, and even partner with Microsoft to introduce Halo to Indian gamers way before esports was mainstream.
A marketer with both creative instinct and commercial acumen, Jagannath has also earned industry recognition as CMO of the Year (2012 and 2016) and most influential marketing leader by the World Marketing Congress. His stints at DDB Mudra, where he worked on iconic Indian brands like Dhara and Rasna, shaped his storytelling sensibilities early on.
Now, as he continues his journey at ThoughtWorks, Jagannath is setting his sights on scale, innovation, and synergy. “This new chapter is about refining our regional strategy, collaborating across markets, and delivering greater value for our clients and partners,” he said.
For someone who has turned every role into a masterclass in marketing reinvention, Jaggi’s next innings promises to be no different another leap in a career built on big ideas, bold moves, and brand brilliance.
Brands
Hyundai Venue crosses 1 lakh bookings, adds HX8 Diesel AT variant
New top-spec automatic diesel trim brings ventilated seats, OTA updates and paddle shifters.
MUMBAI: Hyundai Venue just hit the jackpot and upgraded the prize because when you cross 1 lakh bookings, you don’t just celebrate, you throw in paddle shifters and ventilated seats for the ride. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) announced that the all-new Hyundai Venue has achieved 1 lakh bookings, cementing its strong position in the compact SUV segment. To mark the milestone and further enhance customer choice, the company introduced the new HX8 Diesel Automatic (AT) variant.
The HX8 Diesel AT is powered by the proven U2 1.5L CRDi diesel engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It adds a host of premium comfort, safety and convenience features, including:
- Ventilated front seats
- Dual-tone leatherette seats with VENUE branding
- Electric 4-way driver seat adjust
- Controller Over-the-Air (OTA) updates
- Hyundai Bluelink connected car technology
- Electric parking brake with auto hold
- Rear disc brakes
- Ambient lighting on crash pad and central console
- Drive mode select (Eco, Normal, Sport)
- Traction control modes (Sand, Mud, Snow)
- Paddle shifters
HMIL, managing director & CEO Tarun Garg said, “We are delighted that the new Hyundai Venue has crossed 1 lakh bookings, reaffirming the strong trust Indian customers place in our brand. The introduction of the new HX8 Diesel Automatic variant further strengthens the Venue lineup, offering customers the perfect blend of diesel efficiency, torque-rich performance and effortless convenience.”
Backed by Hyundai’s extensive sales and service network, the Venue continues to appeal to buyers seeking a feature-rich, comfortable and future-ready compact SUV. The new variant reinforces HMIL’s focus on delivering advanced technology, safety, comfort and value while adapting to evolving customer preferences.
In a segment where bookings are the real horsepower, Hyundai isn’t just counting milestones, it’s handing drivers an automatic upgrade that makes every journey feel like the victory lap.
