Brands
Eureka Forbes strengthens its board of directors & leadership team
Mumbai: Eureka Forbes (EFL), India’s leading health and hygiene brand, has announced the appointment of Shashank Shankar Samant as a non-executive independent director. Also, Shubham Srivastava has been roped in as chief product and technology officer, and Gaurav Khandelwal has been brought in as chief financial officer.
Samant is currently the chairman of GlobalLogic, following his retirement as president and CEO on 30 September. Under his leadership, GlobalLogic has experienced explosive growth in size, reach, and revenue, all while developing a strong reputation and a culture that fosters engaged employees.
Prior to this, Samant was president of Ness Technologies, where he founded and built their product engineering services business and grew it to a successful IPO on the Nasdaq exchange in 2004. He has worked in leadership roles at leading technology organisations like IBM and Hewlett-Packard. Samant also serves as a member of the board of directors at Office Depot.
Srivastava will drive digital transformation at Eureka Forbes. A seasoned tech product entrepreneurial leader with strong business acumen, he will be responsible for building the technology platform and products that will drive digital transformation at EFL.
Prior to this, Srivastava was the chief technology officer for Hindustan Times Digital Streams, where he drove their digital transformation, helping them become one of the top digital media brands in the country. He has also worked with organisations like MakeMyTrip (India’s biggest OTA), iTrust (a fintech start-up acquired by Karvy), and Aricent (a telecom software company), and has founded Tekch, a SAAS platform for operating commercial real estate. Academically, he has a B. Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT, Dhanbad.
Srivastava says, “I look forward to working with the team to produce innovative solutions that will drive digital transformations at Eureka Forbes.”
Khandelwal will be leading the finance, commercial, legal, and secretarial functions of Eureka Forbes. He is a chartered accountant with two decades of experience in India, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Prior to joining the Eureka Forbes leadership team, he has worked in the FMCG, telecommunication, and hospitality sectors with organisations like Hindustan Unilever, Airtel, and Oyo Hotel and Homes. He holds the CA rank and has extensive experience in business transformation and driving profitable growth.
Khandelwal says, “It is an honour to be associated with an iconic brand like Eureka Forbes. I look forward to working with the team to further build on the foundations of the company and to take Eureka Forbes into its next phase of competitive and profitable growth.”
Welcoming Samant, board chairman Arvind Uppal said, “I extend a warm welcome to Samant. His experience in the digital ecosystem will provide strategic guidance in this area. In addition to Samant, it is an honour to share the board with industry stalwarts, including recent additions like Gurveen Singh and Vinod Rao. With Gurveen’s expertise spanning over four decades in talent development and HR solutions and Vinod’s global experience of over three decades across the FMCG/consumer durable industries, I am confident that Eureka Forbes is well poised for transformation.”
Advent International India managing director Sahil Dalal said, “Samant with his strong background in technology and digital, will bring in strategic thinking on the technology and digital roadmap. His joining further strengthens the board as we seek to transform Eureka Forbes. With the amalgamation of experienced industry veterans on the board and pedigreed professionals in management, Eureka Forbes is all set to strengthen and fortify its market leadership position.”
Eureka Forbes managing director and CEO Pratik Pota said, “I am delighted to welcome Srivastava and Khandelwal to the Eureka Forbes family. Their leadership and contribution will be invaluable in driving the transformation at EFL.”
Brands
Hyundai launches updated Ioniq 5 with 84 kWh battery, 690 km range
Priced at Rs 55.7 lakh, adds design, tech and safety upgrades.
MUMBAI: Charge it up, stretch it out, Hyundai’s latest electric upgrade is going the distance, quite literally. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has introduced an updated version of its Ioniq 5, packing in a larger 84.0 kWh battery that delivers a claimed range of up to 690 km (ARAI-certified), marking a significant leap in everyday usability for its flagship electric SUV.
Built on Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the refreshed IONIQ 5 aims to balance performance with practicality, reducing range anxiety while making long-distance electric travel more viable. The upgrade builds on a model that has already secured global recognition, including the World Car of the Year title.
The changes aren’t just under the skin. On the outside, the SUV gets a sharper, more futuristic look with redesigned front and rear bumpers, new skid plates, sporty alloy wheels, a revised rear spoiler and updated V-garnish lighting, all while retaining its signature Parametric Pixel design.
Inside, Hyundai has focused on making the experience more intuitive. The cabin now features a redesigned three-spoke steering wheel with illuminated pixel elements, dual 12.3-inch displays, and a reworked wireless charging pad integrated with physical controls for seat functions small tweaks that aim to improve day-to-day usability.
On the tech front, the IONIQ 5 gets Hyundai’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC), Controller Over-the-Air (C-OTA) updates, and now supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. New additions such as Active Sound Design and in-car payment integration for EV charging reflect a push towards a more seamless, connected ownership experience. Remote immobilisation via Bluelink has also been introduced as an added security layer.
Safety sees incremental upgrades too, with features like Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (Rear) and side parking distance warnings enhancing manoeuvrability in tight urban spaces.
The updated IONIQ 5 is available in four colour options Gravity Gold Matte, Midnight Black Pearl, Titan Grey and Optic White with an Obsidian Black interior theme.
Priced at Rs 55.7 lakh (ex-showroom), the new IONIQ 5 positions itself as a more rounded offering, less about futuristic promise, and more about making electric mobility fit seamlessly into everyday life.
