MAM
CII’s brand finale attracts over 150 entries
NEW DELHI: The recently launched Brand Finale by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has attracted over 150 nominations of various brands from more than 90 companies for the annual ‘CII Brand of the Year award’.
Media giants like TV Today, The Times of India group, Ananda Bazaar Patrika group too are in the fray. Participation from FMCG, pharma, healthcare and hospitality sectors come through brands like Britannia, CavinKare, Dabur, Eveready Industries, Heinz, HLL, ITC, Reckitt Benckiser, Berger Paints, Eletrolux, Godrej, ICI, Philips, Whirlpool, Ranbaxy, Novartis, Nicholas Piramal, Dr Reddy’s, Apollo Hospitals, ITC Hotels and Taj Hotels.
The petrochemical sector is represented by big guns like Indian Oil, HPCL and Bharat Petroleum. Leading telecom brands like Bharti Telecom, Hutchison and Reliance have also sent their nominations for this award.
The auto and financial sector are represented by the likes of Hero Honda Motors, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor, Toyota, Ford, Maruti, Tata Motors, ICICI, HDFC, SBI Life Insurance, IDBI, Life Insurance Corporation.
Considering in this era of superior branding strategies where common place products like steel, batteries, plastic and needles are being translated into unique brand experiences, companies like Tata Steel, Hi+Care Plastics, Nilkamal Plastics, Amara Raja, Exide and Needle Industries have submitted their nominations for a place under the sun. Even government organisations have pitched in with entries from the like of Department of Tourism, Tamil Nadu government.
As the selection procedure entails a detailed qualitative analysis across the country; Vertebrand Management Services has been appointed by CII to execute an innovative 360-degree evaluation process. The winner will be announced during the Brand Summit in February 2005 at Chennai.
Brands
Emami names Dhruv Aggarwal as chief growth officer
Former Bain partner steps in as FMCG firm sharpens growth playbook
MUMBAI: Emami Limited has appointed Dhruv Aggarwal as its chief growth officer, effective 25 March 2026, following the resignation of Giriraj Bagri.
Aggarwal joins the FMCG major from Bain & Company, where he most recently served as partner. With over two decades of experience across consulting and strategy, he brings a global perspective shaped by work across India, the US, the UK and Germany.
During his tenure at Bain, Aggarwal advised consumer, retail and media companies on large-scale transformations, business turnarounds and growth strategies. He was also closely involved with India’s startup ecosystem, guiding early-stage ventures on scaling and digital expansion, while supporting private equity and venture capital firms on investment decisions.
His earlier stints include a brief role at Barclays Capital and operational experience at Jindal Power, giving him a mix of financial and industry exposure.
Academically, Aggarwal holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and has also been associated with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a PhD candidate and teaching assistant.
The appointment comes at a time when Emami Limited is looking to sharpen its growth strategy in a competitive consumer market. With a seasoned strategist now at the helm of growth, the company appears set to double down on transformation and expansion in the months ahead.
