Brands
UniVicoustic names Nataraju Shiva to steer business growth
Industry veteran to drive expansion, partnerships and strategy across global markets
MUMBAI: UniVicoustic has brought in seasoned industry hand Nataraju Shiva as head of business & strategy, a newly minted role aimed at sharpening its global ambitions and widening its footprint.
Formed through a partnership between Unitile and Vicoustic, UniVicoustic is looking well beyond its roots in acoustic panels. The company is steadily recasting itself as a full-spectrum spatial solutions player, catering to offices, hotels, hospitals, schools and premium homes with design-led, sound-smart environments.
Shiva steps in at a moment when the company is tuning up for scale. With operations spanning more than 70 countries and India emerging as a key growth engine, his mandate is clear: build a sharper strategy, deepen ties with architects and designers, and unlock new markets without missing a beat.
A three-decade veteran of the built environment and workspace solutions space, Shiva is no stranger to building businesses from scratch. His past stints include shaping brands such as Wipro Furniture, Wipro Lighting and Spacewood Office Solutions into credible names in India’s design and office ecosystem. Along the way, he helped set benchmarks in sustainability, certifications and design innovation.
In his new role, he will focus on aligning strategy with execution across markets, strengthening the specification network, and ensuring UniVicoustic’s offerings stay globally competitive. The brief also includes weaving innovation, wellbeing and sustainability into the company’s core playbook.
Shabbir Rajkotwala said Shiva’s track record of building purpose-led businesses makes him a natural fit as UniVicoustic eyes its next phase of growth.
For Shiva, the opportunity lies at the crossroads of design and human experience. He noted that the future of spaces will be shaped by how well they balance productivity, wellbeing and sustainability, adding that UniVicoustic is well placed to lead that shift.
The appointment signals more than just a leadership change. It reflects a broader pivot as UniVicoustic moves from being product-focused to becoming a solutions-driven platform, ready to craft spaces that sound as good as they look.
Brands
JP Morgan names Rahul Badhwar as senior country officer for India
HSBC veteran to drive growth and strategy as US bank strengthens India presence
MUMBAI: JP Morgan has appointed Rahul Badhwar as its senior country officer for India, signalling a renewed push in one of Asia Pacific’s most critical markets.
Badhwar, who joins from UK-based HSBC, brings three decades of experience in sales and trading, most recently serving as global head of corporate sales for markets and securities services in London. His career spans stints in India, Dubai and Hong Kong, giving him a strong international perspective.
He will replace Kaustubh Kulkarni, who left JP Morgan in September 2025 to join rival Citigroup. Badhwar will be based in Mumbai from July, report to Leenart, and join JP Morgan’s Asia Pacific Management Committee.
According to an internal memo reviewed by PTI, Badhwar’s responsibilities include expanding the bank’s full suite of offerings to clients, strengthening governance and controls, and supporting talent development and community initiatives.
JP Morgan operates across trade solutions, investment banking, and equity capital markets in India, employing more than 55,000 people nationwide. Badhwar’s appointment is expected to reinforce the bank’s strategy and growth ambitions in a market critical to its Asia Pacific operations.
