Brands
Celebrity Cricket League to have 8 teams; ropes in Parle as title sponsor
NEW DELHI: Celebrity Cricket League has roped in Parle Products as the title sponsor for a period of three years for its brand Parle 20-20 Cookies.
The sponsorship is part of Parle’s ongoing commitment to associate its brand of biscuits, sweets and snacks with interesting live events.
“We’re thrilled to be elevating our association with CCL as title sponsor of the league. There is an incredibly strong alignment between our Parle 20-20 Cookies brand and what Celebrity Cricket League is all about. Known for its high entertainment quotient, CCL has great synergy with the 20-20 Cookies brand,” said Parle Products general manager – marketing Pravin Kulkarni.
Last year, CCL helped to bring in new rays of hope to kids suffering with heart diseases with its Hundred Hearts initiative.
Moving further on the path to make a difference, this year CCL takes on the CSR initiative of restoring the lives of women victims of acid attacks with Rotary Club of Deonar.
Present at an event in Mumbai to announce the same were Taapsee Pannu, Riteish Deshmukh, Sonu Sood, Hans Raj Hans and Suniel Shetty along with others.
Where Kriti Sanon has been chosen as the new face for the CCL this year, Sood is the captain for the new team Punjab De Sher owned by Puneet Singh and Navraj Hans. The pioneer of pop culture in India Daler Mehndi has been chosen as the brand ambassador of team Punjab.
Punjab De Sher owner Puneet Singh said, “I am delighted to announce my new team Punjab De Sher with Sonu Sood as the team captain. I have amazing personalities in my team and for sure they’ll amaze everyone with their sixers at the ground.”
Punjab De Sher team comprises Mika Singh, Jimmy Shergill, Ayushmann Khurrana, Yuvraj Hans, Jassi Gill, Babbal Rai and other popular faces.
The sixth edition of CCL will kick start from 23 January with the opening match between Mumbai Heroes and Punjab De Sher. The League will be hosted across various venues like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Kochi and Hyderabad.
Launched in 2011, CCL T20 cricket tournament consists of eight teams, each one representing the Bollywood, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bhojpuri, Bengali and Punjabi film industries featuring celebrities from each respective industry.
Played over four weekends between January and February every year, CCL brings together over 200 film celebrities from all over the country, travelling to various corners to entertain their fans and audiences.
“Cricket and Films are religion in our country, and CCL is a heady mix of both. Given the following CCL has, it was an ideal fit for the Parle 20-20 Brand. Over the years of our association, CCL has built strong viewership base on television, featured the top celebrities of the country, displayed good quality cricket, large scale publicity and brought about a high presence for itself on social media, and we’re thrilled that it is taking large strides in the right direction,” said Parle Products deputy marketing manager Mayank Shah.
CCL founder and managing director Vishnu Induri added, “We are proud to welcome Parle 20-20 Cookies as Title Sponsor of CCL. Parle is one of the most well-known and recognised Indian brands and an ideal partner with its leadership positions in consumer choices. That we’ve retained and enhanced our partnership with a group like Parle over the years is a matter of great honour for our team. We look forward to yet another super exciting season of CCL.”
Brands
Devyani International names Sandeep Anand, Robinder Singh in key roles
Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee businesses see leadership refresh from April
MUMBAI: Devyani International has strengthened its senior leadership bench with a fresh set of appointments across its key brands, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee, signalling a sharper focus on growth and brand momentum.
The company has appointed Sandeep Anand as chief marketing officer and business head for Pizza Hut. His appointment, approved by the board via a circular resolution on April 3, follows a recommendation by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, as reported by CNBC-TV18. Anand will officially step into the role on April 6, 2026.
He takes over from Vijay Gogate, who currently serves as chief executive officer for Pizza Hut within the company’s operations. The move marks a strategic transition as the brand looks to sharpen its marketing and business playbook in a competitive quick service restaurant market.
Anand brings over two decades of experience across the food and FMCG sectors, with a strong track record in brand building and innovation. His career spans roles at major consumer-facing companies including Domino’s, Zydus Wellness, Zomato, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Reckitt and Ranbaxy, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both scale and agility.
Alongside this, Robinder Singh has been appointed business head for Costa Coffee and the company’s airport operations. He too will assume his new role on April 6, bringing more than 18 years of experience in operations, business expansion and customer experience transformation.
The twin appointments come at a time when Devyani International is doubling down on leadership depth to steer its portfolio through evolving consumer preferences and heightened competition. With fresh faces at the helm of two key verticals, the company appears set to brew up its next phase of growth with renewed energy.
