MAM
PR Professionals wins the digital media mandate for Bihar Watershed Development Society
Mumbai: PR Professionals (PRP), India’s integrated communications agency, the flagship of the PRP Group has been awarded the digital media mandate for the Bihar Watershed Development Society (BWDS) in a multi-agency pitch. The scope of work includes managing the overall social media presence of BWDS and enhancing their online reputation. PRP will leverage its expertise in digital communication strategies to further strengthen the outreach and impact of BWDS in the digital sphere.
The Bihar Watershed Development Society (BWDS) is a state-level agency established under the Directorate of Soil Conservation, Agriculture Department, and Government of Bihar. It plays a crucial role in planning, implementing, and monitoring all Watershed Development programs in the state.
Bihar Watershed Development Society (BWDS) CEO Bankatesh Narayan Singh shared, “We are happy to have PR Professionals as our social media partner in our mission to work towards improving rainfed degraded land, strengthen local institutions, and enhance watershed project efficiency.”
“We are delighted to have been chosen as the digital media partner for the Bihar Watershed Development Society. We believe that effective communication and leveraging digital platforms are crucial for creating awareness and driving positive change. We look forward to working closely with BWDS to achieve their goals and make a meaningful impact in the field of watershed development.” shared Dr. Sarvesh Tiwari, Founder & Managing Director, PR Professionals.
PR Professionals won the PR mandate of Patna Metro, it also inaugurated its new office in Patna in line with its expansion in the state of Bihar. The BWDS’s mandate has further strengthened PRP’s footprints in the state of Bihar. PRP at present is handling the digital and PR mandate of Bihar State Education Board (BSEB), Bihar Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute (BAMETI), Paras Hospitals, and GSTN among others in Bihar.
PR Professionals was awarded as the fastest growing PR agency of India at India Public Relations and Corporate Communications Conference and Awards 2022. Delivering quality and excellence since 2011, PR Professionals is a 360-degree public relations and communication agency that has also initiated multiple philanthropic activities as well. It excels at providing end-to-end branding and tailor-made public-relations solutions that enable businesses to become market leaders. Starting with humble beginnings, PRP now has 12 offices in India and six offices in offshore locations. Its 150-member-strong team shares Tiwari’s passion for making a difference in society.
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.
