MAM
Hitwicket appoints Anand Ramachandran as creative director
Mumbai: Gaming startup Hitwicket has announced the appointment of Anand Ramachandran as its new creative director. Anand, ex-creative director at Disney Byju’s Early Learn app, brings with him over two decades of experience in game development, interactive entertainment and storytelling. His strategic vision and expertise are set to drive Hitwicket’s global engagement and expand its user base.
Over the past year, Hitwicket has experienced significant growth, exceeding 10 million downloads and targeting a 5X increase within the next two years. With Anand onboard, the company aims to strengthen its position as a global leader in the gaming industry. Anand will play a key role in enhancing the user journey for both current and new players, shaping game design, product roadmap, and ensuring ongoing evolution. He will work closely with the team to improve the overall user experience.
Anand Ramachandran expressed his enthusiasm about joining Hitwicket, stating, “I am thrilled to become a part of India’s leading cricket gaming franchise. As a kid, I was always creating cricket games—with dice, playing cards, and pen and paper—but my rough designs and prototypes rarely saw the light of day. Now, with Hitwicket, I get the chance to bring those childhood actions to life. My goal is to push the boundaries of what’s possible in cricket gaming, infuse new creative ideas to gameplay, and ensure that every player, whether a seasoned pro or a newcomer, finds something exciting and engaging. I look forward to working closely with the talented team at Hitwicket along with the founders Keerti Singh and Kashyap Reddy, to explore new avenues of creativity, innovation, and user experience, and to make this game a global phenomenon.”
A gaming industry veteran, Anand Ramachandran has been a driving force behind some of the most popular games on the market that has shaped the landscape of interactive entertainment. With a remarkable career that includes pivotal roles such as creative director for the Disney Byju’s Early Learn app, director of design at Hike Messenger, and lead designer for Zynga’s first India-launched game, Hidden Shadows, Anand has consistently pushed the boundaries of game design. His impressive portfolio boasts contributions to iconic titles like Mafia Wars, Hidden Chronicles, and Yoville, showcasing his knack for creating engaging experiences that resonate with millions of gamers
Co-founders Kashyap Reddy and Keerti Singh shared their thoughts on Anand’s appointment saying, “We are delighted to welcome Anand to the Hitwicket team. His wealth of experience and creative vision will undoubtedly open new horizons for us in game creativity and design. Having an industry veteran like Anand, who has been instrumental in shaping some of the most engaging and popular games, choose Hitwicket as his next venture gives us the confidence to further solidify our brand’s position in the gaming industry and continue our journey to becoming a global leader in cricket games. We believe Anand’s addition to our team will propel Hitwicket to new heights, enabling us to innovate not just gameplay but also player engagement and community building. Together we are set to explore new creative possibilities and push the boundaries of what a cricket game can achieve.”
Joining Hitwicket, Anand is set to leverage his extensive experience and creative vision to elevate the gaming experience to new heights. As Hitwicket progresses on its journey, the company remains focused on shaping the future of mobile gaming, aiming to be a leading brand from India with global appeal, competing with top gaming brands. With Anand’s arrival, players can expect exciting developments in the game that will engage current fans and attract new gamers to cricket. His appointment is a significant milestone for Hitwicket, bringing innovations and a promising future in the gaming industry. Anand’s expertise will be vital in enhancing the gaming experience for millions worldwide, ensuring that Hitwicket remains distinctive in a market dominated by international titles.
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.
