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Donald Trump will cruise ‘Apprentice’ style
MUMBAI: You are sailing! Real estate moghul Donald Trump has come up with a novel way to further promote his show The Apprentice which airs in the US on NBC.
Online travel agency Expedia.com and Trump World magazine have launched The Apprentice Legend Cruise. This is a cruise whose theme is based on show.
The cruise will take passengers on an eight-night voyage through the Caribbean. Departing from New York on 26 September 2005 the cruise will sail through the Eastern Caribbean with stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, the US Virgin Islands and Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
In India the show airs on Star World. Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said, “Expedia’s cruise business is expanding to include themed cruises like The Apprentice Legend Cruise. It’s fresh, it’s fun, and it allows us to really tap into the diverse interests of our 18 million customers. This travel experience that will appeal to Expedia customers, Apprentice fans, Trump World readers and, basically, anyone looking for a travel adventure.”
Cruisers can expect to see several Apprentice cast members aboard the cruise ship. Guests can meet and talk to cast members about the show, but there will also be on-board competitions involving teams and tasks, just like there is on TV. Participation will be open to all passengers. In addition to cash prizes, one person will win the grand prize spending a day as CEO of Expedia.com. The CEO-for-a-day will get a $15,000 paycheck for all that hard work; first-class airfare to New York and ground transportation by limo, plus a stay in a five-star hotel.
The initiative will kick off with a send-off party featuring Donald Trump as The Apprentice Legend sails out of New York’s harbor. Cast members will interact with the guests signing autographs and allowing for photo opportunities. There will also be Behind the Scenes Q&A, and a career development round-table.
There will also be an Apprentice Tribute Gala Evening. The formal night includes a complimentary cocktail reception with open bar and hors d’oeuvres. Guests will receive a special souvenir menu. The cruise will also have guest speakers and presentations who will focus on a variety of business and career topics.
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Manappuram Finance appoints Sreekanth P V as group head – operations
22-year veteran from Bajaj Finance to drive efficiency and customer experience.
MUMBAI: Manappuram Finance just upgraded its operations engine because when customer delight needs turbocharging, even the gold loans get a smoother ride. Manappuram Finance Ltd has appointed industry veteran Sreekanth P V as group head for operations & customer experience at the grade of president. In his new role, Sreekanth will lead efforts to strengthen operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, streamline processes, drive service innovation and scale the company’s digital ecosystems across all business verticals.
Sreekanth brings over 22 years of experience in operations management, digital platforms, product innovation and customer experience within the financial services sector. Most recently he served as deputy executive vice president for digital platforms at Bajaj Finance Ltd, where he led the development of a unified app and web platform strategy and built a cohesive digital ecosystem.
Manappuram Finance, chairman and managing director V. P. Nandakumar said, “We are pleased to welcome Mr Sreekanth P V to the leadership team. He brings extensive experience in operations management, digital platforms and customer experience. As we continue to strengthen our operational capabilities and enhance customer engagement, his expertise will play an important role in driving efficiency, innovation and service excellence across the organisation.”
The appointment reflects Manappuram Finance’s ongoing focus on building a stronger leadership bench and elevating operational standards as the company scales its lending and customer engagement capabilities.
In a sector where every rupee counts twice, Sreekanth isn’t just joining the team, he’s the new conductor making sure the entire orchestra of loans, digital flows and customer smiles stays perfectly in tune.
