MAM
Communications agency Grasshoppers relishes 20 years
Mumbai: The advertising and integrated communications agency, Grasshoppers India (GIPL), has completed 20 years of its services in the advertising and PR space. The agency was founded in 2002 by Arjun Banerjee.
Providing advertising and integrated communications services to brands across verticals, the agency started back in 2002 when marketing and communication were an extremely competitive space full of big sharks handling bigger brands.
In two decades of excellence, GIPL has built an exceptional presence in healthcare, finance, education, technology, automotive, real estate, hospitality, UN bodies and others.
With the inception of GreenThumb (the PR wing), the agency gained a unique edge with both domestic and foreign clients. The onset of the digital age and increasing demand for virtual presence led to the christening of GrownUps (the digital wing). Over the years, the agency also launched Gramin (outreach wing), which collaborates with NGOs on awareness campaigns, including in-depth research, concept development, design, and execution.
Speaking about the milestone, Grasshoppers India founder-director Arjun Banerjee said, “No one can beat a classic. And we have become one in 20 years.”
“Grasshoppers never employ a ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy. We are always striving to be adaptable and tailor our approach to the client’s goals and budget,” he added.
While Grasshoppers India has achieved a firm position, its journey has not been without its share of trials. In reality, the agency has gone through several tides over the last two decades. The pandemic, in all its ferocity, disrupted business dynamics. Being vigilant, they steered the ship with new strategies, keeping their crew safe while avoiding pay cuts and even layoffs. Their clientele stood behind them too, as they needed a reliable ally in these trying times.
“Although our ethos remains the same, we believe change is the only constant in life. We have been adept at reinventing ourselves, staying young, energetic and ahead of the times, always,” added Grasshoppers India founding member & director of brand communication & planning Megha Jain.
“Today, we thank all our clients who had faith in us and those dedicated team members for their unwavering support because achieving a milestone like this would not be possible without them. And that is truly our reward!,” Banerjee quoted.
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.
