MAM
Bacardi India appoints Monojit Mukherjee as the director of external affairs
Mumbai: Bacardi India Pvt Ltd, the privately held spirits company has appointed Monojit Mukherjee as director of external affairs for India and Neighbouring Countries. With an illustrious career spanning 25 years, Monojit brings a wealth of experience in navigating regulatory landscapes and fostering strategic partnerships across central and state governments and industry bodies.
In his latest role at Bacardi, Monojit will spearhead Bacardi’s external affairs strategy, leading engagement with local and state governments and central government to create responsible, consumer-centric, government initiatives, while ensuring full compliance and a commitment to always doing the right thing. Monojit is a highly networked leader, with a strong compliance understanding of the regulatory regime at both central and state levels, as well as working with alcohol associations such as ISWAI, SWA, DISCUS, Spirits Europe and more.
His journey at Bacardi follows his impactful tenure as chief corporate affairs officer at United Breweries Ltd (Heineken India), where he drove business continuity and regulatory challenges, enabled price increases across several states and responsible consumption initiatives. He also spearheaded ease-of-doing-business initiatives in coordination with several key central government ministries, the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT) Invest India & Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Before this, Monojit Mukherjee served as the General Manager – External Affairs at Pernod Ricard India, where he played a key role in driving the company’s growth while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Previously, he held strategic roles at JSW Steel Ltd and GMR Group, contributing to major infrastructure projects like Delhi and Hyderabad International Airports in the country.
Joining India’s leadership team from the company’s Gurgaon office, Monojit will report directly to Bacardi India & Neighboring Countries managing director Vinay Golikeri who said, “We are pleased to welcome Monojit Mukherjee to the Bacardi leadership team. His extensive experience and understanding of the regulatory landscape will be invaluable to us as we navigate the evolving market dynamics of India and neighbouring countries. We look forward to his leadership in driving our external affairs strategy and fostering a regulatory environment that is beneficial for our consumers, our industry, and our business.”
Speaking about his new role, Monojit Mukherjee said, “I am thrilled to join Bacardi’s accomplished leadership team as we embark on a journey of historic growth. I look forward to collaborating with our talented team and industry stakeholders to drive impactful initiatives that guide us towards continued success in the spirits industry.”
Monojit’s appointment marks a pivotal move, providing a voice for Bacardi India within key industry, government, and regulatory decision-making bodies.
MAM
BLS International launches #VisaReady campaign to guide applicants
Initiative targets visa myths, delays and rejections with practical guidance
MUMBAI: Visa woes may soon meet their match because paperwork, it seems, is finally getting a user manual. BLS International has rolled out a new awareness drive, #VisaReadyWithBLSInternational, aimed at simplifying the often confusing visa application process and reducing delays caused by misinformation and incomplete documentation. The campaign, led across social media platforms, zeroes in on a long-standing pain point for travellers: lack of clarity around procedures, timelines and requirements. By offering step-by-step guidance, documentation checklists and clear Dos and Don’ts, the initiative attempts to turn what is typically a stressful process into a more predictable one.
At its core, the campaign also seeks to bust common myths that frequently derail applications issues that often lead to avoidable rejections or last-minute complications. The idea is to equip applicants with practical, actionable insights so they can plan better and submit stronger applications within expected timelines.
The push will not remain limited to digital channels. BLS International plans to extend the initiative across its Visa Application Centres globally, reinforcing awareness at key touchpoints where applicants engage with the process.
BLS International joint managing director Shikhar Aggarwal framed the campaign as more than a communication exercise, emphasising the company’s attempt to embed guidance and preparedness into every stage of the applicant journey.
Operating in over 70 countries and working with more than 46 client governments including embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions, the company has built a sizeable footprint in visa and consular services. With this campaign, it is now leaning into education as much as execution, signalling that in the world of visas, clarity might just be the new currency.
