Brands
Wagh Bakri appoints Bhawesh Thakar as Chief Digital & Information Officer
Ahmedabad: Wagh Bakri Tea Group has hired a heavyweight for its digital ambitions. Bhawesh Thakar has joined the tea major as chief digital and information officer, tasked with sharpening its technology spine and turning data into competitive edge.
Thakar arrives with more than 25 years in IT across FMCG and consumer businesses, bringing a mix of infrastructure depth, security oversight and business-facing technology leadership. At Wagh Bakri, he will work with the leadership team on digital transformation, data-led decision-making and technology capabilities aligned with growth plans.
Announcing the move, Thakar said he is keen to collaborate closely with the company’s leadership to drive transformation and harness data. He credited mentors, colleagues and teams across his career for shaping his outlook as a technology and business leader, and said he looks forward to contributing to Wagh Bakri’s legacy of trust and innovation while engaging with partners and the wider tech community.
Before the switch, Thakar spent over seven years at AWL Agri Business Limited, where he led IT infrastructure and security and also handled governance, risk and compliance as chief information security officer. His remit covered large-scale infrastructure, security verticals and enterprise controls.
Earlier, he held multiple roles at Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, including head of devops and national head for IT solutions engagement and delivery. There he partnered the supply-chain function, scoped and delivered enterprise IT solutions and helped shape a future digital supply-chain vision. He also managed ERP roll-outs across Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and led solution design across warehousing, transportation, production and planning streams.
His longer stint at the Coca-Cola bottler included roles as business solution lead and national manager for back-office applications, where he worked on demand forecasting, supply planning, customer replenishment and warehouse systems. As regional manager for IT operations in the south, he oversaw infrastructure services across states and drove early ERP and pre-sales automation projects. His career began on the ground as a plant IT head and earlier as a service engineer handling network and server support for large clients such as Castrol.
Thakar’s stated career focus has been techno-commercial leadership: long-term IT strategy, simpler and sharper business solutions, and new systems to manage complex operations. His toolkit spans strategic technology planning, global IT delivery, programme management, ERP implementation, data-centre management, supply-chain solutions and leadership communication.
For Wagh Bakri, the hire signals a push to modernise a legacy brand. For Thakar, it is another large platform. And in a consumer market where even tea competes on technology, the kettle is clearly on the digital boil.
Brands
KKR sixes to power EV charger rollout under VIDA campaign
Cricket meets clean mobility as big hits spark India’s charging growth
NEW DELHI: VIDA, the electric mobility arm of Hero MotoCorp, has teamed up with Kolkata Knight Riders to launch a campaign that turns cricketing flair into real-world impact.
Titled ‘6 for 6’, the initiative promises to install a 6kW fast EV charger for every six hit by KKR during the ongoing Indian Premier League season. The idea is simple but powerful, as each big hit on the field contributes directly to expanding India’s fast-charging infrastructure.
The campaign builds on VIDA’s growing network, which already spans over 5,300 fast-charging points across more than 430 cities. With EV adoption gaining pace, the brand is using cricket’s mass appeal to accelerate both awareness and infrastructure growth.
Explaining the thinking behind the move, Hero MotoCorp emerging mobility business unit chief business officer Kausalya Nandakumar said, “Cricket has an incredible ability to unite and inspire millions across the country. With the ‘6 for 6’ campaign, we are turning every big hit on the field into a step towards a cleaner and a more accessible mobility future.”
She added that VIDA’s expanding fast-charging network and removable battery technology are designed to make EV ownership more convenient and practical for everyday users.
From the franchise’s side, the campaign is also about giving on-field moments a larger purpose. Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive officer Venky Mysore said, “The ‘6 for 6’ campaign exemplifies the potential of sport as a platform for meaningful, real-world impact. By linking every six to the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, this partnership transforms fan excitement into tangible progress.”
As part of the rollout, VIDA has introduced co-branded charging stations in KKR’s signature colours, with a flagship installation unveiled alongside team players. The chargers are designed for quick top-ups, powering VIDA scooters from zero to 80 percent in about an hour, while also being positioned along key highways to support longer journeys.
The initiative also taps into VIDA’s removable battery system, which allows users to charge using standard household plug points, adding flexibility to the charging ecosystem.
By blending the thrill of cricket with the urgency of clean mobility, VIDA and KKR have found a neat way to make every six count twice, once on the scoreboard and again on India’s road to an electric future.
