Brands
Election fever on brands: What organisations are doing inline with elections 2024
Mumbai: The 2024 Lok Sabha Elections are the central topic of discussion in the country currently. Interestingly it’s not just the political parties or the politicians emphasizing people to practice their democratic right and encourage people to become an active part of electoral discussions but many unconventional brands are taking initiative to start conversations among voters regarding the political landscape.
Amid increasing concern regarding the election outcome and political environment, many politicians are turning to astrology. Astroyogi, the leading and country’s first Astro-consultation platform has recorded a 10x increase in enquiries and consultation about the parliamentary elections as compared to the previous cycle of the lok sabha elections. Families of the politicians are turning to astrologers to seek insights into the potential results and the fate of various political candidates. The spike is witnessed in accordance with the increased uncertainty and higher uptake of astrology apps.
The use of polls to engage the audience on a social discovery app Hunch is capturing the attention of the young population between 18-25 years of age group in the country. The polls are posted on the app by the GenZ users, thereby reflecting the opinion of the larger democratic population of the country by engaging in common exchange of questions like “Who according to you is the most eligible political leader, who should win the elections?”. This community engagement strategy is not only helping in extracting valuable data but is also allowing the people to express, discuss and debate about the political scenario of the country.
In a strategic move to stay relevant and resonate with the electoral atmosphere, Blinkit, the popular quick-commerce platform, has temporarily rebranded itself as “Inkit”. This change is more than just a playful twist on words; it symbolizes the brand’s commitment to being in tune with the public pulse. By doing so, Blinkit is positioning itself as a brand that supports and encourages civic participation.
These are the testimony to how brands are creatively leveraging and engaging in the historic event of quinquennial elections to connect with their audiences, and drive conversations.
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.
