MAM
Belson Coutinho comes on board as VFS Global’s CMO
MUMBAI: Belson Coutinho has joined VFS Global as Chief Marketing Officer effective July 2019, and will be responsible for driving the company’s global Marketing & Branding strategy across its vast network of 147 countries spanning 5 continents. He joins the management team to support the organisation's growth & business plans and will also manage overall Customer Service, Quality, Information Services and Loyalty in his role.
Prior to VFS Global, Belson Coutinho was Sr. Vice President at Jet Airways, heading the airline’s global marketing, digital, social media, eCommerce, loyalty & Voice of Guest strategy.
A highly experienced marketer, Belson Coutinho has been instrumental in setting up and managing Jet Airways' global marketing, digital, social media, eCommerce and Voice of Guest strategy and pioneered various innovative industry-first initiatives in the global aviation industry.
With the continuous increase in visa applicants at VFS Global Visa Application Centres globally, the company is in the process of further extending its customer service to applicants – consolidating various support aspects of Customer Care across all online and offline touch-points, Information Services for applicants and Quality management – to offer a holistic and fully integrated customer experience for applicants and for the company’s client governments. As part of his responsibilities, Belson Coutinho will lead these efforts, in addition to leading the Marketing and Branding function.
Mr. Zubin Karkaria, CEO, VFS Global Group said, "We are pleased to have Belson join VFS Global as our Chief Marketing Officer. He brings a unique combination of experience in marketing, loyalty and customer care with a strong focus on leveraging technology. With his background and expertise in the field, we look forward to having Belson further strengthen VFS Global’s brand in global markets and enhance overall customer experience."
Mr. Belson Coutinho, Chief Marketing Officer, VFS Global said, “VFS Global is the pioneer in visa, passport, identity management and citizen services for client governments and I am delighted to be a part of VFS Global. Building a strong consumer brand and enhanced customer experience will be my key focus and I am excited to leverage my experience across various mediums and markets globally. I look forward to collaborate with our partners, stakeholders and our highly committed & talented colleagues to play an integral role in further enhancing VFS Global’s brand and business globally.”
Brands
Jubilant Foodworks to end Dunkin’ franchise in India
Pizza chain operator will not renew agreement when it expires at end of 2026.
MUMBAI: When the doughnuts stop turning and the coffee goes cold, even a global giant like Dunkin’ can find the Indian market a tough brew to crack. Jubilant Foodworks has decided not to renew its franchise agreement with Dunkin’ when the pact expires on 31 December 2026, according to a Reuters report. The operator, best known for running Domino’s outlets in India, said it would evaluate options for its existing Dunkin’ stores, including a potential sale or transfer of franchise rights, in consultation with the US-based brand.
The decision follows years of underperformance in a market where local tastes and intense competition have made it difficult for international coffee-and-doughnut formats to gain traction. Jubilant, which has increasingly focused on its core pizza business and newer bets like Popeyes, indicated that the exit would not materially affect its financial or operational position.
Dunkin’ accounted for just 0.61 per cent of Jubilant’s revenue in the fiscal year ending 2025 and recorded a loss of approximately Rs 191 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company operated 27 outlets as of December 2025, having shuttered seven stores over the preceding year.
The retreat comes even as Jubilant’s broader business shows signs of momentum. The company reported a 65 per cent rise in quarterly profit for the October to December period, reaching Rs 70.9 crore, up from Rs 42.91 crore a year earlier.
For Jubilant, the exit reflects a sharpening strategic focus. For Dunkin’, it marks another setback in a market that has proven resistant to imported café concepts without significant localisation.
In the cut-throat world of Indian quick-service restaurants, sometimes the sweetest deals are the ones you quietly walk away from leaving more room for the brands that truly rise to the occasion.
