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
Radico Khaitan appoints Kunal Madan as chief marketing officer
Promotions signal focus on premium spirits, global expansion and homegrown leadership
UTTAR PRADESH: Radico Khaitan has elevated two long-serving insiders to its top leadership team, signalling a bold push into premium spirits and global markets. Kunal Madan steps in as chief marketing officer, while Sudhir Upadhyay takes charge as chief sales officer, both part of what managing director Abhishek Khaitan calls a consciously built next-generation leadership bench.
“At Radico Khaitan, our growth has always been powered by people,” Khaitan said. “True leadership is not imported, it is cultivated.” He added that empowering internal talent ensures continuity while keeping the company globally competitive and future-ready.
Madan, with over 20 years of experience across global sales and marketing, will drive brand architecture, marketing strategy, and the premiumisation agenda, including travel retail. Upadhyay, who has 25 years in the industry and was most recently national sales head, will oversee distribution expansion and execution across markets.
The leadership reshuffle comes amid Radico’s intensified focus on premium spirits, a segment driving higher margins and international growth. Last year, Ajay Kakkar was brought on to head the Premium On-Trade vertical, targeting modern and institutional channels to boost presence in high-growth segments.
Meanwhile, Amar Sinha stepped down as chief operating officer after contributing across multiple growth phases. Khaitan acknowledged Sinha’s role in supporting the company’s trajectory, while Sinha described his tenure as “an absolute privilege,” crediting Khaitan’s leadership for shaping the company’s strategic direction.
With a homegrown leadership bench and a clear premium agenda, Radico Khaitan is set to accelerate its global expansion while doubling down on brand elevation and market impact.
