Brands
Apparel Group snaps up LVMH marketing veteran for India push
MUMBAI: Apparel group has hired Aditi Chakravarty from luxury giant LVMH to spearhead marketing for its sprawling Indian retail empire, signalling ambitious plans to deepen its penetration in the subcontinent’s booming consumer market.
Chakravarty, who joins as head of marketing, brings formidable credentials from her stint at Moët Hennessy, where she orchestrated the rise of India from sixth to third place globally for the luxury spirits portfolio between 2021 and 2024. Her precision-crafted campaigns for premium whisky brands Glenmorangie and Ardbeg achieved “outsized share of voice” in India’s heavily regulated alcohol market.
The appointment positions her to oversee marketing for 14 international brands including Aldo, Charles & Keith, Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret and R&B across Apparel Group’s 250-plus Indian stores and digital platforms.
Her career trajectory reads like a masterclass in modern marketing warfare. At Unilever, she delivered €1.2m in cost savings whilst driving global growth for Lifebuoy, the world’s largest skin-cleansing brand. She then pioneered Hindustan Unilever’s first online-only premium skincare brand, Aviance, scaling it to Rs 50 crore in India’s nascent e-commerce landscape.
The marketing maven’s most impressive feat came at OmniActive Health Technologies, where she led nutritional supplements brand Setu from zero to a Rs 100 crore direct-to-consumer roadmap, delivering eight-fold growth in six months through what she describes as “earned-owned media mix, funnel optimisation, and lifecycle automation”.
Her 15-year career spans blue-chip corporations including PepsiCo, where she cut her teeth in innovation and procurement for brands like Kurkure and Baked Lays, and a spell at DCM Shriram managing key accounts across India’s rural retail chain Hariyali Kisan Bazar.
The hire reflects Apparel group’s determination to leverage India’s consumer boom, as international fashion and beauty brands increasingly view the market as essential to global growth strategies. With her track record of translating “market insights into integrated communication plans that grow brand love, share, and value,” Chakravarty appears well-equipped for the challenge.
Her personal motto—”Work hard. Speak the truth. Get your hands dirty”—suggests Apparel Group has found someone unafraid of the gritty realities of retail warfare in one of the world’s most competitive consumer markets.
Brands
Davidoff appoints Ahaan Panday as first Brand Ambassador for India
Actor to front new chapter as brand launches Cool Elixir fragrance.
MUMBAI: Davidoff has just found its perfect new splash in India and he comes with star power and a cool, confident vibe. The iconic Swiss fragrance house has announced actor Ahaan Panday as its first-ever Brand Ambassador for India, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s journey in one of its most dynamic markets. Ahaan Panday, known for his fresh energy and strong connect with younger audiences, embodies the modern Davidoff man self-assured yet carefree, ambitious yet grounded. His appointment aligns perfectly with the brand’s “gentleman adventurer” philosophy of adventure, refinement, and living life with intensity.
Sharing his excitement, Ahaan said: “Davidoff is one of those brands I’ve always associated with memories growing up. Cool Water was probably the first perfume I ever tried. To now be named Davidoff’s first Brand Ambassador for India feels incredibly special. I’ve always seen Davidoff as a symbol of confidence and staying true to who you are.”
The collaboration coincides with the launch of Davidoff’s latest global fragrance, Cool Elixir: The New Oud Treasure. This bold composition reinterprets freshness with depth and intensity, featuring a noble oud accord layered with lavandin absolute and rose oxide.
For decades, Davidoff has enjoyed cult status in urban India. With Ahaan Panday now leading the charge, the brand is set to strengthen its cultural presence and connect with a new generation of fragrance enthusiasts through a more contemporary and relatable voice.
In the competitive world of luxury fragrances, Davidoff has made a splash by choosing a young, authentic Indian talent to carry its legacy forward. Expect the scent of success — because when Ahaan Panday teams up with Davidoff, the fragrance game in India is about to get even cooler.
