MAM
Carat retains BMW media biz
MUMBAI: Carat Media has retained the BMW India media account following a multi-agency pitch that saw participation of agencies like Zenith Optimedia, Maxus and BPN.
The elaborate pitch process had four phases which included credentials, strategy and value evaluations.
BMW India marketing director Christian Saffer said, “India is a very important country in BMW‘s global portfolio and we needed to ensure that we were getting the best that the market could offer in terms of media planning and buying. In line with this, we invited agencies to present their point of view on our business. After the pitch we found Carat to be the most suitable and capable of handling our business. Carat came up with solutions focused on our business needs and went beyond traditional media planning. We have worked with Carat for a number of years now and are delighted with the way they came in with a re-energized perspective on BMW‘s media approach in India.”
Carat India MD Kartik Iyer added, “We are totally committed to BMW India and are delighted that they gave us an opportunity to re-look at the way their media was being implemented. Our solutions focused on the brand challenges. We delivered a solution package that would enable BMW India to continue on its path of unchallenged leadership in the country. We do hope to work with BMW India for many more years and look forward to presenting a truly integrated solution and a team more than capable of delivering to the challenges in the future.”
Brands
Safex Group appoints Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer
Former Standard Chartered executive to steer finance
NEW DELHI: Safex Chemicals has appointed Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for the next phase of expansion in specialty chemicals and global agrochemicals.
In her new role, Malhotra will lead the group’s financial strategy, capital architecture and governance framework as Safex scales operations across multiple verticals including branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing.
A chartered accountant and graduate of Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Malhotra brings more than two decades of experience in business finance, strategic planning, corporate banking and client management.
Before joining Safex, she served as executive director, financial markets at Standard Chartered, where she led teams across India and Sri Lanka and worked closely with large corporates, global subsidiaries and commercial banking clients. Her expertise includes capital structuring, treasury operations, risk management and financial markets led financing solutions.
Safex Group promoter director and joint managing director Piyush Jindal, said the appointment comes at a pivotal time for the company. “Safex stands at an inflection point as we build an integrated platform across branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing. Richa’s experience across global financial institutions will strengthen our financial discipline and help unlock value across the group,” he said.
Malhotra said she was looking forward to contributing to the company’s next chapter of growth. “Safex has built a strong reputation over 35 years with its focus on integrity, innovation and agricultural insight. I am excited to be part of the organisation as it expands its footprint in India and global markets,” she said.
The appointment comes as Safex continues to strengthen its financial foundations and scale operations internationally, positioning itself for future growth milestones.
