MAM
Signify partners with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 team
Mumbai: Signify has announced a new partnership with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team. Connected by their shared passion for technological innovation and sustainability, the partnership will drive forward the team’s vision of becoming one of the world’s most sustainable professional sports teams.
“We are proud to partner with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1, a team that is determined to lead both on and off the track. We share a passion for responsible innovation to drive progress in our industries and beyond. Our joint commitment to act responsibly will lead us to develop transformative and disruptive new technologies that elevate performance to the benefit of people and the planet.” said Signify CEO Eric Rondolat.
Rondolat continued: “We are excited to have the opportunity to support the winning objective of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1, providing human-centric lighting innovations that can enhance the team’s performance. We are honored to associate our brands with one of the strongest in the world and to deliver unforgettable racing experiences for fans at the track, as well as watching and gaming at home. With many collaborations already begun, I am eager to see this partnership grow.”
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team, team principal and CEO, Toto Wolff commented: “Innovation and performance are at the heart of everything we do. We are also conscious of our wider social responsibilities and therefore embed sustainability in every action. Partnering with Signify is an exciting step that will help us make further progress in both of these areas. Their world-leading lighting technology already powers several night races and their pioneering commitment to climate action is inspiring. We look forward to working together to establish synergies in this area and their support in our ambition to become one of the world’s most sustainable sports teams. We also believe that well-being is linked closely with performance. Signify’s lighting technology and innovation will ensure optimal conditions for our team members, and we are excited to explore how we can optimise these opportunities further.”
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team chief commercial officer Richard Sanders added: “We are thrilled to welcome Signify into our partner family. We are already privileged to collaborate with some of the most innovative companies in the world. Adding another world-leading business to our partner ecosystem in Signify is therefore fantastic. We are excited to collaborate with them through their innovative technology and commitment to sustainability. Together, we are confident that we will create a partnership with a profound impact and lasting legacy.”
Signify and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 are committed to responsible innovation, founded on a shared belief that performance should not come at any cost and that sustainability does not compromise on performance. As both teams continue to drive the transformation of their industries, responsible innovation elevates performance and leads to sustainable outcomes.
Environmental responsibility
Signify has led the transformation and decarbonisation of the lighting sector, and recently announced its 2040 climate transition plan, setting out its vision to reach net-zero by 2040. The company has reduced GHG emissions across the full value chain by 50 per cent since 2019 and continues to advocate for energy efficiency and an accelerated energy transition. With the new partnership, comes a commitment from Signify to share knowledge and expertise to support Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team in developing its Climate Transition Plan.
Well-being and performance
To win in Formula One, every member of the team must perform to their full potential at every moment. Signify’s lighting innovations will augment the team’s efforts to create optimal conditions for drivers, engineers and team members, helping them see, feel, and perform at their best. NatureConnect, EyeComfort and other technologies will bring the power of daylight indoors to aid concentration with light that is comfortable for the eyes and, support the body’s natural rhythm and ability to adjust to a challenging global schedule.
Unforgettable experiences
Signify’s lighting on night-circuits in Singapore and Las Vegas, ensures the fastest show on earth is perfectly lit. And for those not at the track, Signify delivers immersive TV and gaming surround lighting to transport fans at home to the heart of the action.
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.
