Brands
Lockton India appoints Rahul Bhatia chief of staff for strategic growth
MUMBAI: Lockton India locked in a power move as the world’s largest independent insurance broker appointed Rahul Bhatia as chief of staff, a strategic addition to its leadership as it sharpens its focus on business growth, operational efficiency, and strategic excellence.
With over 17 years of experience spanning wholesale banking and consulting, Bhatia is stepping into this pivotal role with a wealth of expertise in strategy, operations, and financial planning. Translation? He’s got the chops to shake things up.
Before joining Lockton, Bhatia made his mark at Deloitte and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) India, where he held leadership positions that had him steering strategy, operations, and governance. At Deloitte, he served as operations controller & chief of staff, overseeing key functions across multiple locations. Meanwhile, at FAB India, he played a crucial role in designing and implementing strategies, launching new projects, and reinforcing governance frameworks. Add to that his tenure at RBS India, and you’ve got a resume that screams ‘game changer.’
As chief of staff, Bhatia will work directly with the CEO, advising on strategic initiatives and ensuring Lockton India’s business vision turns into reality. His mission? To fine-tune operations, optimise financial planning, and drive long-term growth. In short, he’ll be the brains behind the scenes making sure everything runs like a well-oiled machine.
“Rahul’s vast experience in strategy, financial planning, and corporate advisory makes him a valuable addition to our leadership team,” said Lockton India CEO & country head Sandeep Dadia. “As we continue to scale our presence in India, his expertise will be pivotal in driving operational efficiency and strategic growth initiatives. We are excited to have him on board and look forward to the impact he will bring.”
Lockton India has been on a mission to expand its presence and strengthen its client service capabilities. Bhatia’s appointment aligns perfectly with the firm’s long-term vision of delivering cutting-edge risk management and insurance solutions to businesses navigating an ever-evolving market. Expect bold moves, strategic pivots, and a whole lot of innovation ahead.
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.
