MAM
Ather Energy announces key appointments to support next phase of growth
Mumbai: Homegrown electric scooter brand Ather Energy has announced two key appointments with an aim to strengthen its leadership team as the company embarks on its next phase of growth. In view of its long term business objectives and goals, the company has appointed Gurinder Singh Sukhija as head of ownership management and Murali Sashidharan as head of communications and government relations.
“‘Ownership experience’ is the part of the journey that starts once the customer takes delivery of the vehicle. I am delighted to welcome Gurinder. His rich experience across industries and functions will be super-useful in helping him take the Ather ownership experience to even greater heights. Functionally speaking, Gurinder will lead the Customer Service, Vehicle Service and Ownership Products verticals,” said Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela on the appointments.
Sukhija comes with over 24 years of experience in diverse industries like banking, telecom, infrastructure (ATM) and transport networks. His core expertise lies in customer support management across geographies and managing in-house and outsourcing partners.
Prior to joining Ather, he was working with Ola as senior director and head-customer and partner support operations. He has held previous roles at CMS Infosystems, Transaction Solutions International, Mphasis among others.
Announcing Sashidharan’s appointment at Ather Energy, Ravneet further said, “Murali, with his extensive experience in corporate communication will head the Public Relations function, leading media relations, influencer marketing and public affairs. He will also manage the interface with government and industry bodies. Murali brings a wealth of experience and will play a critical role in this high-growth phase for the brand. I am delighted to have both of them join us at this critical stage of our journey.”
Sashidharan comes with 20 years of experience in goal-oriented communication strategies focussed on driving engagement with stakeholders and establishing strong brand recall across audiences. His last assignment was with Ola where he managed the communications strategy for their mobility and electric businesses. He has also led the communication mandate for Ola’s launch in London. Murali has also worked with Sony Pictures Network India, Adfactors PR, MSL 20:20, Royal Sundaram and Six Degrees PR.
To cater to growing demand, Ather Energy has commissioned its second manufacturing facility in Hosur recently taking its manufacturing capacity to 400,000 units from its current capacity of 120,000 units. It has also invested heavily in the charging infrastructure to ensure a seamless and hassle-free transition to EVs, the company said.
According to a statement, the company has registered strong year-on-year growth, and has expanded its retail footprint to 26 cities and plans to expand to around 150 Experience Centers in 100 cities by March 2023.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
