MAM
Cosmos-Maya hires COO, CFO, HR Director
Cosmos-Maya, a name synonymous with quality kids’ content has always been a frontrunner in shaping industry trends. After Emerald Media, the Pan-Asian media investment platform backed by US private equity giant KKR, acquired a controlling stake in Cosmos-Maya, the company is now consolidating. It is now a hub to attract the best-in-class talent across all fields.
Cosmos-Maya has appointed a new Chief Operating Officer, Chief Finance Officer and Human Resource Director as the market leader beefs up its C-level staffing in pursuit of further growth. Anish Mehta, Cosmos-Maya’s backed CEO spoke on the development. “With KKR backed Emerald Media acquiring a controlling stake in Cosmos-Maya, it became imperative to have a well-structured organization to ensure scalability. This has also enabled us to develop SOPs aimed at achieving efficiency, uniformity of performance and international quality output. The company is looking at a more holistic approach with robust systems in place.”
Adi Shayan, the new COO, comes to Cosmos-Maya from Bangalore based Xentrix. Studios where he worked as COO. In a career almost 20 years in the VFX and Computer Graphics Industry(CGI), he has held various positions, including a 9-year stint at DreamWorks Animation India as Studio Manager and almost 4 years at Tata Elxsi – Visual Computing Labs (VCL) as a Business Development Manager and Producer. His sparkling dossier also has a 4-year stint in LA/Hollywood. He carries with him the pedigree of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore from where he pursued an executive course.
"I am elated and humbled to help lead and grow the company that has without a doubt changed the animation landscape of the country," Adi said in a statement.
Kalyani Rane, the dynamic CFO, joins the company after a 10-year stint at JSM Corporation Pvt. Ltd., where she was CFO. Kalyani has more than 20 years of experience across diverse industries including Food & Beverage and Retail. Her credentials include professional degrees like Cost & Works Accountants and a Management degree with a specialization in Finance. A result-oriented and decisive leader, she is also a persuasive communicator with a knack for success.
A result oriented HR professional, Ashutosh Tipnis brings along with him a vivid experience of over two decades. Mr. Tipnis, who started his corporate journey with Crompton Greaves, was previously Head – HR (West and South) at Hindustan Times. With a Masters in Human Resources from KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, he carries with him the pedigree of a premier B-school.
Today with 16 shows on air/in production, including 3 European & one Brazilian Co-Production, with over a 60% market share in the domestic Indian animation production business, the company is already a force to reckon with.
The CEO further added,” With the new appointments, Cosmos—Maya is poised to make a leap into the next orbit of growth, both in the domestic sphere as well as a global player. In the coming two quarters, we aim to up production from the current 35 half hours/month to 50 half hours/month. We also plan to reach the 2000 employee mark during this time.”
The three appointees bring along with them a vivid experience of several multi-national companies and will be instrumental in supporting the company in its journey towards the next orbit of growth.
MAM
Nester appoints Kunwarjeet Grover as cofounder & CBO
D2C home appliance startup strengthens leadership with 15 plus years consumer veteran.
MUMBAI: Nester just plugged in a powerhouse because when your air fryers need to fry the competition, you bring in the growth guru who’s already heated up the kitchen. Nester, the direct-to-consumer home appliance startup founded in 2025, has appointed Kunwarjeet Grover as cofounder and chief business officer. Grover brings over 15 years of experience scaling consumer brands across Himalaya Herbal Healthcare, Cavinkare, Philips Lighting, Havells India, and most recently Wellbeing Nutrition (where he was vice president of growth until June 2025). He also briefly headed growth at Pluck in 2023 and served as senior vice president at Honasa for over four years, overseeing its online marketplace.
Nester founder and CEO Abhinav Singh said, “Grover has a wealth of knowledge on how to build digital-first brands and his experience of disruptively scaling consumer brands truly aligns with Nester’s goal and vision.”
The Mumbai-based brand sells air fryers, toasters, juicers and other kitchen appliances, competing with players like Nuuk, Atomberg, Geek Technology and Wonderchef. It currently sells via e-commerce marketplaces and its own website, with plans to expand into quick commerce and offline retail. Manufacturing is handled through contract partners, though the company has indicated it intends to set up its own production facility soon.
The appointment follows Nester’s recent Rs 19 crore Pre-Series A funding round led by Fireside Ventures and OTP Ventures.
Grover joins at a pivotal time for the D2C home appliances and consumer electronics category, projected to cross $30 billion by 2030 (growing at 7.2 per cent CAGR from $23.7 billion in 2025), fuelled by quick commerce and rising demand for premium, convenient kitchen solutions.
In a market where every appliance needs to cook up growth, Nester isn’t just adding a cofounder, it’s turning up the heat on ambition, one strategic hire at a time.
