MAM
ASCI to host global summit for Ad self-regulation in Mumbai
Mumbai: The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) is set to host the International Council for Ad Self-Regulation (ICAS) Global Summit from 17 to 21 March 2025, in Mumbai. This will mark the ICAS summit debut outside of Europe and the US. The event will create opportunities for global stakeholders to engage in discussions focused on the future of advertising, new regulatory trends, and evolving standards.
The summit will host advertising Self-Regulatory Organisations (SRO) from over 27 ICAS member countries, along with representatives of six international advertising associations and other industry delegates. The summit will also feature the ICAS Global Self-Regulation Awards, celebrating best practices in advertising self-regulation worldwide. As part of the summit, ASCI Academy will host a thought leadership event called the “Global Adda” that will see the launch of important reports and conduct discussions on the topics of future regulatory trends in advertising, diversity and inclusion with a focus on masculinities, and the opportunities and guardrails around AI in advertising.
Besides the report launches, Global Adda will feature panel discussions, fireside chats, and networking sessions, enabling participants to delve deeper into pressing issues with leaders in the advertising regulatory space. Participating stakeholders will include international advertising SROs, regulators, industry leaders, domain experts, civil society organisations and academic institutions.
ASCI has been significantly contributing to the global work on self-regulation. Recently, it became a founding member of the ICAS Global Think Tank at its launch event in New York. The collaborative platform is committed to promoting self-regulation, critical thinking, and research to advance responsible advertising practices globally. By joining the Think Tank, ASCI will work together on global discussions and action on advertising ethics and evolving standards.
ASCI’s efforts have been recognised globally, receiving multiple awards at the prestigious ICAS Global Awards in recent years. The Council has also been instrumental in adapting international best practices, tailoring them to the Indian ad industry. The ASCI Academy, launched in 2023, has also been recognised for its role in capacity building and thought leadership. This includes initiatives on dark patterns, influencer marketing, diversity, and inclusion, among many others.
ASCI VP, ICAS & CEO, and secretary general Manisha Kapoor said, “Hosting ICAS’s first global summit outside Europe and the US is an honour. We look forward to having global experts share their insights and learn from the Indian industry. Advertising today faces new challenges in building and sustaining consumer trust. This summit will offer an exchange of ideas and best practices that will help us drive important conversations and action in the industry.”
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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.
