MAM
Adwise 2002 : Ashish Bhasin
Schooled in Bombay in Campion and Cathedral School. B.Sc. (Hons) in Biochem and Zoology from St. Xavier’s College, Bombay.
MMS (Marketing) from Sydenham Institute, Bombay. Joined Lintas 14 years ago. Early part of the career worked on Hindustan Lever business for 8 years, in 7 countries. Set up Lintas operations in Burma and Vietnam and created advertising and brand strategies for other countries like Cambodia, Mongolia and Laos.
Set up an association called Design Bridge at Lintas with Europe’s largest packaging design house. Continues to head that.
Headed the Madras office of Lintas for 2% years. The office almost doubled in size in that period, primarily driven by new business gains.
Moved back to Bombay to take over as the President of Initiative Media India, the media division of Lintas India. Besides handling all the mainline media for the Lintas Group, is also driving various ventures of Lintas in areas like Rural and the Internet. Has set up Linterland, a rural marketing company with a network of over 8500 people and Digital Initiative, Lintas’ net buying and planning division. Is the Managing Director of Aaren Initiative, Lintas’ Outdoor Company.
Was recently adjudged the “Media Marketer of the Year” at the Brief Media Awards.
Frequently addresses seminars, guest lecturer at institutes, regular contributor to Brand Equity and other publications.
Was India’s cultural Ambassador to Pennsylvania, USA in 1992 under a Rotary programme. Is a member of CII’s National Young Business Committee. Is a member of the CII Media Committee and is on the Board of Governors of Media Research Users Council.
Married with an 9 year old naughty son and a 1 year daughter. Loves reading, travelling on leisure (not business) and playing billiards.
Brands
Radico Khaitan appoints Kunal Madan as chief marketing officer
Promotions signal focus on premium spirits, global expansion and homegrown leadership
UTTAR PRADESH: Radico Khaitan has elevated two long-serving insiders to its top leadership team, signalling a bold push into premium spirits and global markets. Kunal Madan steps in as chief marketing officer, while Sudhir Upadhyay takes charge as chief sales officer, both part of what managing director Abhishek Khaitan calls a consciously built next-generation leadership bench.
“At Radico Khaitan, our growth has always been powered by people,” Khaitan said. “True leadership is not imported, it is cultivated.” He added that empowering internal talent ensures continuity while keeping the company globally competitive and future-ready.
Madan, with over 20 years of experience across global sales and marketing, will drive brand architecture, marketing strategy, and the premiumisation agenda, including travel retail. Upadhyay, who has 25 years in the industry and was most recently national sales head, will oversee distribution expansion and execution across markets.
The leadership reshuffle comes amid Radico’s intensified focus on premium spirits, a segment driving higher margins and international growth. Last year, Ajay Kakkar was brought on to head the Premium On-Trade vertical, targeting modern and institutional channels to boost presence in high-growth segments.
Meanwhile, Amar Sinha stepped down as chief operating officer after contributing across multiple growth phases. Khaitan acknowledged Sinha’s role in supporting the company’s trajectory, while Sinha described his tenure as “an absolute privilege,” crediting Khaitan’s leadership for shaping the company’s strategic direction.
With a homegrown leadership bench and a clear premium agenda, Radico Khaitan is set to accelerate its global expansion while doubling down on brand elevation and market impact.
