MAM
Zomato co-founder & CPO Akriti Chopra resigns after 13 years
Mumbai: Akriti Chopra has resigned from her position as co-founder and chief people officer of Zomato, effective 27 September 2024, after a 13-year tenure. She was instrumental in establishing and scaling the company’s legal and finance teams during her previous role as CFO. Before joining Zomato, Chopra spent three years at PwC in the tax and regulatory practice.
Chopra’s resignation follows a series of departures from Zomato’s leadership; Gunjan Patidar, the former chief technology officer, left in January 2023, and co-founder Mohit Gupta resigned in November 2022 after being promoted to co-founder in 2020 from CEO of the food delivery business. Zomato stated that Chopra is stepping down “to pursue other interests”.
In her exit email, which was uploaded on the stock exchange, Chopra wrote, “Deepi, as discussed, I am formally submitting my resignation effective today, September 27, 2024. It’s been an incredibly enriching journey over the past 13 years. Thank you for everything. I’m always a call away. Wishing you and Eternal the very best.”
In a series of departures, Chopra becomes the fifth co-founder to leave the company in about two years, following Patidar, Pankaj Chaddhah, Gaurav Gupta, and Mohit Gupta. Chaddhah exited in 2018, while Gaurav Gupta left in 2021.
MAM
Mangaldeep partners with Vrindavan Vibes at ISKCON Vrindavan event
Fragrance brand backs youth led kirtan gathering that drew 4000 plus devotees.
MUMBAI: If devotion had a soundtrack, Vrindavan recently turned the volume up. Mangaldeep Incense has partnered with Vrindavan Vibes at ISKCON Vrindavan, an emerging devotional gathering that blends traditional kirtans with a youthful, community driven atmosphere. The first day of the celebrations alone drew more than 4000 devotees, signalling the growing appeal of participatory spiritual events among younger audiences.
More than a festive collaboration, the association reflects a broader cultural shift in how spirituality is being experienced today. Vrindavan Vibes Jamming, described as a kirtan utsav, brings together youth, families and devotees for collective singing within a sacred temple setting, turning devotion into a shared, immersive experience.
For Mangaldeep, the partnership positions the brand as a long term enabler of community led devotion. Vrindavan, long regarded as the spiritual home of Lord Krishna, remains a vibrant centre for bhajans, temple gatherings and devotional music that attracts pilgrims and visitors from across the country.
As part of the collaboration, Mangaldeep has introduced a fragrance led experience within the venue. This includes ambient fragrance pillars designed to enhance the devotional ambience, a curated Khusbhoo Path experience, a selfie booth for visitors to capture shared memories, and specially designed souvenirs for devotees attending the event.
Mangaldeep divisional CEO of the matches and agarbatti division Rohit Dogra said the initiative reflects the changing ways in which faith is being expressed.
“At Mangaldeep, devotion has always been at the heart of everything we do. Today we are witnessing a beautiful shift in how spirituality is expressed, particularly among young India where bhajans and kirtans are becoming vibrant collective experiences of faith and belonging. Our partnership with ISKCON Vrindavan for Vrindavan Vibes reflects this evolution,” he said.
Bhajan and kirtan gatherings are increasingly emerging as spaces for emotional connection and cultural identity, especially for younger audiences looking for a sense of grounding in an otherwise fast paced world. Participants at the event described the gathering as a moment of calm and shared joy, as chants and music brought thousands together in a collective expression of faith.
By aligning with Vrindavan Vibes, Mangaldeep is positioning itself not just as an incense brand, but as a facilitator of shared spiritual experiences, extending its presence from homes and temples to large scale community led devotional platforms.
