Brands
Reliance Retail’s Tira expands its brands portfolio with ‘Akind’
Mumbai: Tira, Reliance Retail’s omnichannel beauty retail platform, today announced the launch of its skincare brand, ‘Akind’. Co-founded by Mira Kapoor, Akind was unveiled at Tira’s flagship store at Jio World Drive in Mumbai.
Akind understands that everyone’s skin is unique and deserving of personalized care and seeks to simplify skincare by listening to its needs. Through this targeted approach the brand will empower individuals to achieve their skincare goals. Each formulation in the Akind range serves a distinct purpose in improving one’s skin barrier health, falling under three categories:
1 The build range, featuring the clean slate hydrating cleanser, the on cloud nine lightweight moisturizer, and the sleep tight firming serum, focuses on repairing and restoring the skin barrier to its natural state.
2 The balance range, consisting of the fresh start oil-free balancing cleanser, the bounce back soothing & purifying toner, and the get even everyday multi-active serum, helps maintain the skin barrier’s gentle, equilibrium state, resulting in a healthy, lit-from-within glow.
3 The defence range includes the bright idea radiance serum, the no shade sunscreen primer SPF 50 PA++++, and the super smooth sun stick SPF 50 PA+++, designed to protect the skin barrier from external aggressors such as pollution, lifestyle factors, and sun damage.
Commenting on the launch, Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd executive director Isha Ambani said, “We are excited to introduce Akind, Tira’s first skincare brand in the own brands portfolio. This launch represents a significant milestone in Tira’s journey. As we continue to expand and evolve, we remain committed to innovation and excellence, ensuring that every offering enhances our customer’s beauty experience.”
Commenting on the launch, Akind co-founder Mira Kapoor stated, “Not too long ago, I realized that my skincare journey truly began when I started listening to my skin. The Akind range was meticulously formulated with care, trial and error, and extensive research into high-efficacy ingredients that act as targeted solutions for specific problems, and what better way to bring this vision to life than powered by Tira, the ultimate destination for curated beauty brands. With Akind, I want to share the joy of skin type agnostic, barrier-focused, high performance, and price-conscious skincare that helps one meet the best version of their skin, just like I did.
After the successful launch of Tira Tools, the premium curated beauty accessories under the private label, and Nails Our Way, an exclusive line of vibrant nail colors and kits, Reliance Retail Limited (RRL) continues to expand its innovative offerings. The addition of its first skincare brand, Akind underscores Tira’s commitment to providing customers with high-quality, diverse, and trend-setting products across beauty and personal care categories.
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.
