MAM
GolinOpinion appoints Asheesh Malhotra as ED
MUMBAI: Asheesh Malhotra has parted ways with advertising to pursue a career shift. He leaves his role as president at Bates CHI & Partners to join GolinOpinion, the PR division of PointNine Lintas, as the executive director. This marks a significant shift for Malhotra, who’s spent his entire career in creative agencies, as he ventures into the landscape of PR. At GolinOpinion, he will lead the strategic planning function and oversee the agency’s social media centre-of-excellence, the Bridge.
PointNine Lintas CEO Vikas Mehta said: “Convergence of marketing disciplines is here to stay. An omni-channel marketing plan today is incomplete without elements like advocacy and conversations. To stay relevant, PR firms need brand practitioners in addition to PR experts. Asheesh has built blue-chip brands while working with India’s two most respected agencies, Lowe Lintas and Ogilvy. We’re delighted to have him back in the Lintas family and look forward to his contribution in further strengthening PointNine Lintas’ PR service-stack.”
Asheesh joins GolinOpinion from the Ogilvy group where he was the president, Bates CHI&Partners heading its Mumbai and Delhi offices. He was earlier a unit head looking after a large Unilever portfolio as well heading a global hub for Castrol and BP at Ogilvy. A new business junkie, he was also leading the growth agenda for Bates. Prior to that, he spent fruitful eight years in the Mumbai office of Lowe Lintas, leading the ICICI Prudential and J&J businesses.
As the executive director, Malhotra will report to Ameer Ismail – GoinOpinion president & PointNine Lintas chief growth officer. Ismail said, “A senior professional, strategist and well-respected leader who has worn many hats in advertising is going to lead this audacious vision.”
Malhotra said, “Credibility of brands, people and institutions is being challenged every day. In this thin-skinned world, PR holds a huge responsibility of being both, a shield and the statesman that shapes conversations, communities and culture.”
Responsible for a national mandate, Malhotra has joined GolinOpinion with immediate effect and will be based out of Mumbai.
Brands
International Women’s Day ’26: The rise of self-purchased jewellery among working women
By Trisha Paul, head of merchandising, Kisna
MUMBAI: You know that feeling when you buy something with your own money for the first time? Not the first time ever, but the first time with money you actually earned, for something entirely, unambiguously yours.
Fine jewellery has always been given. At weddings, at festivals, at milestones on someone else’s timeline. What is changing is that a growing number of women are buying it for themselves, to mark moments they defined. The question is no longer whether to do it. It is how to do it well.
For women in the early years of a career, a first piece can cost well under Rs. 1 lakh. Many cost a fraction of that. What matters is choosing for your life, your wardrobe, and the milestone you are marking. The woman buying for herself today wants something that works with her life every day, not just for a special occasion. She is thinking about longevity, about versatility, about what still feels right in five years. That shift has changed the entire conversation around what accessible fine jewellery needs to be.
The First Step: Daily Dainty Diamond Neckwear
The right first piece isn’t the most expensive one you can afford. It’s the one you’ll actually wear. A delicate diamond pendant or a fine diamond necklace in 9KT, 14KT, or 18KT gold hits that sweet spot: understated enough to feel effortless, special enough to feel like you.
You’ll reach for it on Monday mornings and Friday nights without a second thought. It works with almost everything in your wardrobe, and over time, it becomes less of a purchase and more of a constant, something that quietly holds both meaning and value.
A Reliable Classic: Diamond Studs That Hold Value
A pair of well-sourced diamond studs in 18KT or 14KT gold is as close to a guaranteed wearable asset as fine jewellery gets. Round brilliant cuts hold their appeal longer than more fashionable styles and resist the ageing effects of trend. Look for independent grading documentation when you buy. The difference it makes to what a piece is worth at exchange is significant, and it is a straightforward thing to ask any reputable retailer for.
Building a Collection That Marks Your Milestones
For women who would rather accumulate meaning incrementally, stackable rings are the most satisfying category. A plain gold band for the first salary. A diamond-set ring for the first promotion. Another for the move or the launch. Each band is its own modest commitment. Together they become a record, worn on your hand, of everything you have done.
Starting Small: Savings Plans and Digital Gold
Not every first purchase needs to be immediate. If you prefer a value-driven approach, begin with a jewellery savings plan from a credible retailer. These plans typically allow you to set aside a fixed monthly amount for 10 months, with the retailer contributing an equivalent 11th month that can be redeemed toward a diamond jewellery purchase. For those who would rather build value gradually and with greater flexibility, digital gold offers another route. It allows you to accumulate gold in small increments online and redeem it against physical jewellery when you are ready. The habit of building towards something is often more valuable than the thing itself.
The Bigger Picture
Fine jewellery in India has always told stories. For a long time, those stories were written by someone else. The piece you buy with your first salary is a story you are writing yourself. It does not need to be expensive to be meaningful. It needs to be right for your life, and bought because you decided it was time.
