Brands
Rishabh Pant rides in as brand ambassador of Hercules
Mumbai: Hercules, a homegrown bicycle brand from the stable of TI Cycles of India, has on-boarded Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant as its brand ambassador to promote the cycling culture amongst urban teenagers of the country.
Being one of the most promising young cricketers and captain of the Delhi Capitals team in the Indian Premiere League and part of India’s T20 World Cup squad, Pant is admired by millions of fans all across the cricketing world. The association will surely shape the perspective towards cycling and outdoor adventure for the urban youth who idolise cricket and sports in the country, said the brand in a statement.
“Hercules has always been a choice for young boys who wish to discover their spirit of adventure and exploring with friends through cycling,” said TI Cycles of India president KK Paul. “In a similar manner, Rishabh Pant, as an athlete has influenced teenage boys to pursue their goals with passion and determination. With this association, we are on a journey to support that inspiration to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals, relentlessly.”
Hercules strives to fulfill the bicycling needs of the urban teenage boys of the country. Over the years, the brand has introduced a range of cycles such as Top Gear, Rockshox, Dynamite, Brut, Street Cat series, to name a few, said the statement.
“Bicycles were such an integral part of my childhood and I have many fond memories associated with it. I used one to get to school and then to cricket practice, and it was always something that gave me a sense of freedom,” said Pant. “I personally believe that cycling is one of the best ways to bring out the adventure in you and spend more time being active outdoors, hence, I am eager to contribute in my way to educate and encourage our young boys towards adventure through Hercules.”
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.
