Brands
Castrol associates with KTM to enhance performance
Mumbai: Castrol has teamed up with KTM, a premium motorcycle brand. Castrol POWER1, the company’s performance lubricant will be powering the upcoming second season of its much-awaited KTM Cup 2024 as the official performance partner. This association is strategically aligned with the brand’s increasing focus on driving and strengthening performance motorsports in India. KTM Cup is India’s largest Racing Championship that attracts participation from all over the country.
On this energetic partnership, Castrol India Ltd VP and head of marketing Rohit Talwar said, “I am excited to unveil our dynamic collaboration with KTM as a performance partner. As a first we will be powering the electrifying KTM Cup Season 2. This collaboration epitomizes our dedication to excellence and innovation in performance engine oils. By joining forces, we’re not just sponsoring a race but unleashing the full potential of KTM riders and machines alike. Get ready to witness the fusion of speed, precision, and endurance as Castrol’s cutting-edge technology meets the challenge of the track. This tournament will redefine the limits of performance, showcasing the unrivalled capabilities of Castrol in powering the KTM champions to victory.”
On this collaboration, Bajaj Auto Ltd president and BU head-probiking (KTM) Sumeet Narang said, “The second season of the KTM CUP represents KTM’s ongoing commitment to fostering a vibrant racing culture among enthusiasts. With over 1,000 proud KTM owners participating in the inaugural season, we’re excited to continue this journey with even greater fervor. As racing lies at the core of KTM’s DNA, boasting an impressive 341 plus world championship titles across various formats, our collaboration with Castrol engine oils as our Performance Partner further solidifies our dedication to excellence on the track. Together, we’re set to welcome women and amateur riders, fulfilling our promise of nurturing talent and turning ambitious enthusiasts into seasoned pro-bikers. As anticipation mounts for another adrenaline-fueled racing extravaganza, we invite fans across India to join us in the excitement of KTM CUP Season 2, where the thrill of racing awaits!”
The on-ground selections for India’s largest racing championship will be held in four cities starting from Coimbatore on 22 to 24 March, Delhi on 13 and 14 April, Mumbai from 26 to 28 April, and Kolkata on 11 and 12 May 2024.
Castrol’s long-standing legacy in moto-sports led to the development of Castrol’s POWER1 lubricants, designed specifically to enhance performance of motorcycles. The association with KTM Cup 2024 will substantially exhibit the power and prowess awarded by Castrol POWER1 range of lubricants. After rigorous pan-India selections and final race, the final winners of the KTM Cup 2024 will have a chance to be trained by MotoGP legends and champions at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria.
Brands
Boeing appoints Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering function
Seasoned finance leader to steer budgets and strategy across global centres
BENGALURU: Boeing’s finance cockpit has a new pilot, and he is no stranger to turbulence or transformation. Boeing has appointed Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering, placing him at the centre of financial strategy for its worldwide engineering and technology operations.
Based in Bengaluru, Barun steps into a role that is as expansive as it is critical. He will serve as the primary finance lead for Boeing’s Engineering and Technology Centers globally, working closely with executive leadership to shape financial decisions, manage complex budgets, and design scalable finance processes that support the company’s growing engineering footprint.
In a note announcing his move Barun said, “I’m excited to share that I’ve joined Boeing Global Engineering. This opportunity is incredibly meaningful to me not just from a professional standpoint, but also for what Boeing represents globally.” He added that he looks forward to contributing to an organisation that continues to shape the future of aerospace and innovation.
Barun’s mandate spans strategic financial leadership, operational oversight, and stakeholder engagement. From directing large-scale budgets and schedules to influencing long-term organisational goals, the role blends financial discipline with business foresight. He will also lead cross-functional teams and partner with finance colleagues worldwide to support engineering programmes across geographies, including India.
The appointment caps a long stint at Juniper Networks, where Barun spent over a decade, most recently as finance senior manager. There, he led FP&A for global product business units and G&A functions, driving budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning. He also played a key role in enterprise-wide transformation, including spearheading an Oracle to SAP ERP migration and building advanced analytics capabilities using tools such as Tableau and SAP Analytics Cloud.
His earlier career includes finance leadership roles at Sony India Software Centre, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Mphasis, where he focused on financial planning, governance frameworks, and operational efficiency across global delivery centres.
A chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Barun brings nearly two decades of experience across financial planning, digital transformation, and analytics-led decision making.
His appointment comes at a time when global engineering operations are becoming increasingly complex and distributed, requiring sharper financial oversight and agile planning. With Barun at the helm of FP&A for engineering, Boeing appears to be tightening its financial playbook as it looks to scale innovation with discipline.
