Brands
Baidu India to hold International university marketing competition
MUMBAI: Baidu’s India office today announced its participation in Baidu Inc.’s first International University Marketing Competition. The competition, which aims to empower the next generation of marketers, will be open to university students in India, China and Indonesia.The Indiaportion of the campaign will encourage local university students tocreateshort marketing videosfor a chance to intern at Baidu’s New Delhi office, and visit the company headquarters in Beijing.
The competition was formally announced at an opening ceremony in Beijing on 16 May. In addition to India, the competition willalso be open to students in China and Indonesia.“The Internet is changing the world quickly, and there’sa huge need for digital marketing talent,” said Baidu’s Educational Business Unit general manager Zhang Gao. “The International University Marketing Competition is a platform for all students to put their best foot forward and showcase their creative ideas”.
To participate in the India campaign, university students will first need to create a video on Baidu’s new video app Talebox. Outstanding videos will then be shared on Baidu’s app store MoboMarket and held to a public vote to select the final winners. The India competition will be held from August 1st to September 30th, 2016.
The Baidu India team plans to visitup to 100 universities across India duringAugust and September to raise awareness for the campaign and engage with local students. The planned visits will cover universities inmany major Indian cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Kanpur, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
For more information on how to take part in the competition, please follow the Baidu India Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/baiduindia/
Brands
Devyani International names Sandeep Anand, Robinder Singh in key roles
Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee businesses see leadership refresh from April
MUMBAI: Devyani International has strengthened its senior leadership bench with a fresh set of appointments across its key brands, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee, signalling a sharper focus on growth and brand momentum.
The company has appointed Sandeep Anand as chief marketing officer and business head for Pizza Hut. His appointment, approved by the board via a circular resolution on April 3, follows a recommendation by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, as reported by CNBC-TV18. Anand will officially step into the role on April 6, 2026.
He takes over from Vijay Gogate, who currently serves as chief executive officer for Pizza Hut within the company’s operations. The move marks a strategic transition as the brand looks to sharpen its marketing and business playbook in a competitive quick service restaurant market.
Anand brings over two decades of experience across the food and FMCG sectors, with a strong track record in brand building and innovation. His career spans roles at major consumer-facing companies including Domino’s, Zydus Wellness, Zomato, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Reckitt and Ranbaxy, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both scale and agility.
Alongside this, Robinder Singh has been appointed business head for Costa Coffee and the company’s airport operations. He too will assume his new role on April 6, bringing more than 18 years of experience in operations, business expansion and customer experience transformation.
The twin appointments come at a time when Devyani International is doubling down on leadership depth to steer its portfolio through evolving consumer preferences and heightened competition. With fresh faces at the helm of two key verticals, the company appears set to brew up its next phase of growth with renewed energy.
