MAM
Burger King strengthens partnership with Mumbai Indians
MUMBAI: Burger King India has announced its association with the upcoming T20 League cricketing carnival, in an exclusive category partnership with Mumbai Indians for the second year in a row. As part of the collaboration, Mumbai Indians will sport Burger King logo on its outfit.
Celebrating this season with a delectable twist, Burger King has curated a special whopper named after the partner team which is available on the menu through this season of Mumbai Indians. The Mumbai Indians Masala Whopper is inspired by the flavourful spices of Indian gravies. This unique offering will be available in restaurants located across Mumbai, Pune, and Gujarat in western region.
Further setting the tone for this cricket season, and taking forward its partnership towards a noble cause, Burger King in continuation with its campaign ‘Sixes for Kings’ shall have an additional exciting element this year. Throughout the season, on every six hit and on each wicket taken by Mumbai Indians player, the brand shall give away Whopper meals to the girls of Avasara Foundation. The partner NGO provides the highest quality education to underprivileged girls in Pune.
Commenting on the partnership, Burger King India CEO Rajeev Varman said, “I am delighted to announce our partnership with Mumbai Indians for the second consecutive year. Cricket has always proven to be the most impactful medium to connect with our guests and strengthen our brand visibility. This season we have pushed the boundaries to engage our fans in an exciting in-restaurant experience. With numerous engagement activities and special menu dedicated to cricket fans, we are sure that our guests will have a Whopper of a time with this association.”
A Mumbai Indians spokeseperson said, “Mumbai Indians is excited to partner with Burger King India for second year in a row. Mumbai Indians endeavour to create meaningful partnership for our fans who can experience the cricket fever through the Burger King."
Avasara Leadership Foundation founder Roopa Purushothaman said, “We are grateful to Burger King for taking forward the ‘Sixes for Kings’ initiative this year as well. Our students are truly grateful for these Whopper Meals and the ongoing support to our organization. The ‘Sixes for Kings’ pledge means a lot to all of us.”
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.
