Brands
Channelplay covers new ground, reaches 75,000 outlets in retail blitz
MUMBAI: In a country where kiranas outnumber cricketers and every street corner hides a shop with more snacks than sense, Channelplay has pulled off a retail miracle. The brand execution and visual merchandising specialist just hit a jaw-dropping 75,000+ retail touchpoints in March 2025 alone—setting a benchmark that might just cause its competitors to spill their sample kits.
With more than 1.5 lakh store visits across over 2,300 towns, including those tier-5 gems even Google Maps second-guesses, Channelplay made retail penetration look like child’s play. From the aisles of swanky large format retail (LFR) outlets to the bustling chaos of regional retail formats, MBOs, exclusive brand stores and the ever-expanding organised trade channels, the company played it like a well-oiled retail orchestra.
“Our commitment to delivering top-tier retail execution has enabled us to reach this remarkable scale. This achievement highlights our operational excellence and ability to drive impactful in-store experiences across geographies. As we move forward, we are focused on further strengthening our partnerships and expanding our retail coverage,” said Channelplay Limited VP Yasir Hussain.
And this is no one-hit wonder. Channelplay has its sights firmly set on expanding to over 1 lakh outlets per month in FY 2025-26. The company is also doubling down on advanced retail execution strategies and brand partnerships that promise to give India’s crowded consumer market an even glossier finish.
For now, with its boots-on-ground strategy and GPS-devouring teams, Channelplay has redefined the rules of retail visibility. And in an ecosystem where shelf space equals power, it just claimed an entire aisle.
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.
