Brands
Devotees relished ‘Chappan Bowls’ of Sunfeast YiPPee! at Puri Rath Yatra
Mumbai: ITC Sunfeast YiPPee! an instant noodles and pasta brand delighted devotees with 56 recipes of YiPPee! noodles at Puri Rath Yatra, with YiPPee! Chappan Bowls. To set the festive mood and elevate the overall experience, the brand has also set up a fully functional Beach Cafe at the heart of Puri beach.
Every year during the nine-day Puri Rath Yatra festival, the city comes alive with devotees gathering to see the grand procession of Lord Jagannath. A spirit of celebration sweeps the entire state as people prepare for the yatra with devotion and excitement. Yippee! has been an integral part of this iconic event for the past few years, actively supporting and enriching the culinary experience of the countless devotees.
Drawing inspiration from the traditional Chappan Bhog concept, YiPPee! introduced 56 noodle recipes, showcasing the brand’s versatility and creativity. This innovative approach aimed to capture devotees’ attention by demonstrating the many delightful ways YiPPee! noodles can be enjoyed. Adding to the excitement, Odisha’s very own MasterChef, Smrutisree Singh and Abinas Nayak, graced the inaugural event on July 8th. They each prepared a special dish—Smrutisree’s Spicy Sizzler and Abinas’ Noodle Rostti with Masala Topping — using YiPPee! noodles, enticing the crowd. The YiPPee! Bowl-inspired café, amped up the experience, as friends and families could engage in additional fun activities at the café or relax by the beach while savouring their favourite YiPPee!.
Speaking on the occasion, ITC Ltd vice president & head of marketing, snacks, noodles & pasta, ITC foods Suresh Chand said “Puri Rath Yatra is a revered religious tradition in Odisha, attracting devotees from far and wide. Drawing inspiration from the traditional Chappan Bhog, YiPPee! curated 56 varieties, each representing a unique way to enjoy YiPPee! noodles. The YiPPee! Bowl Café at Puri Beach was an exciting way to connect with our audience, offering them an engaging activity that showcases the joy and versatility of our brand.”
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.
