MAM
CC Africa,Taj Hotels rope in Jonty Rhodes as ambassador
MUMBAI: The recent joint venture between Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa) has resulted in a further bonus. South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes has been roped in as CC Africa’s ambassador to India and will be on a whirlwind tour of five Indian cities along with CC Africa CEO Steve Fitzgerald and will travel to Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi and Ahmedabad after Mumbai.
CC Africa is Africa’s leading eco-safari operator with 36 exceptional lodges in the continent’s wilderness high spots. The Rhodes tour is aimed at raising awareness of CC Africa’s world-renowned lodges and camps, guided mobile expeditions, walking and specialist safaris and a comprehensive tour operating division offering exceptional safaris and tours from Nairobi to Cape Town. Rhodes will also tell attendees of the five-city functions about a range of exceptional safari offers tailored exclusively for the Indian market.
CC Africa offers Africa’s finest value safaris. The major packages on offer are the South African big five safaris and the East Africa safaris, which ranges from two-three nights stay at one of the finest lodges in Africa.
Rhodes while sharing his experiences on Africa’s ultimate safaris said, “CC Africa is the most comprehensive safari operators with exceptional lodges and safaris in Africa’s most breathtaking wilderness locations. The African safaris including Walking Safaris and Expeditions – Africa under Canvas mobile safaris is an exhilarating experience for discerning and adventurous travellers.”
Speaking on the development, Fitzgerald said, “CC Africa’s ecotourism model recognises that economic development of the areas in which we operate is crucial to the maintenance of bio-diversity. We also recognise that much of Africa’s wildlife heritage and land is influenced or owned by local communities. Our model – successfully implemented throughout our operations in Africa — links international high net worth, low volume/low impact visitors to these wilderness areas and their resident communities. The resultant revenue tangibly demonstrates the benefits of ecotourism and conservation to the neighbouring residents.”
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
