MAM
TDI Infracorp bets on data-driven boss to crack Delhi’s property market
NEW DELHI: New Delhi’s property developers love talking about transparency. Rajat Bokolia actually means it. On 7 October, TDI Infracorp appointed him group chief executive across its three entities—TDI Infracorp, TDI Infrastructure and Newstone—betting that his data-driven approach can navigate the national capital region’s (NCR’s) notoriously fickle real estate market.
Bokolia brings 20 years of experience in NCR property, most recently as chief operating officer at Assotech Ltd. He’s also done stints at Raheja Developers, Unity Group’s Park Laureate Buildwell, and Jindal Realty, steering residential and commercial projects across the region. His reputation rests on an unusual skill in Indian real estate: reading market data and consumer trends, then acting on them.
That matters in NCR, where developers often operate on gut instinct and buyer sentiment swings wildly between micro-markets. Bokolia’s pitch is different. He champions what he calls “educated buyers”—punters who make property decisions based on research, trends and long-term value rather than speculation or marketing fluff. It’s a philosophy that aligns neatly with TDI’s stated aim of customer-centricity, though execution will be the real test.
Under Bokolia’s leadership, TDI plans to adopt a “data-first approach” using market research, predictive analytics and consumer insights to stay ahead of demand cycles. It’s the sort of corporate speak that sounds good on paper. Whether it translates into better projects and happier buyers depends on whether Bokolia can turn TDI’s sprawling residential, commercial and mixed-use portfolio into a more focused, responsive operation.
“NCR is one of the most competitive and dynamic property markets in India, and success here depends on foresight, transparency, and execution backed by data,” Bokolia said. He’s not wrong. The question is whether TDI, like its peers, can resist the temptation to chase quick wins over sustainable growth. Bokolia’s track record suggests he might just pull it off.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
