MAM
Cannes 2011: Two Indians at Young Marketers Competition
MUMBAI: Hindustan Unilever’s Mukesh Pawar and ITC Kolkata’s Tanmay Prusty are representing India in the second annual Young Marketers Competition at the 58th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity currently taking place in Cannes, France.
There are 34 participants, sent from 17 countries, competing for the title.
The contest aims to recognise in-house marketers, age 30 or under, from around the world and give them the opportunity to showcase their work in front of industry leaders at the festival.
The competition challenge was revealed on 22 June, when teams were given 30 hours to produce a creative brief on a product or service.
The contest will be judged by leading creatives and strategists. Gold medals will be presented to the winners at an Integrated Awards Ceremony on 25 June.
The jury includes Ketchum senior partner and president of Europe David Gallagher; Ogilvy and Mather U.K. planning director Rachel Hatton; and McCann Worldwide global strategy director Eric Einhorn.
Public relations agency Ketchum is the exclusive sponsor of the competition.
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.
