MAM
Fali Vakeel is Lowe Lintas India vice chairman
MUMBAI: Lowe Lintas India has elevated its chief operating officer, Fali Vakeel, to vice chairman.
Vakeel will continue to be based in Mumbai and his new role comes into effect immediately.
Lowe Lintas CEO Joseph George said, “Fali was an obvious and easy choice. His personality, experience and fierce bias for the agency‘s well being will now play an even more pivotal role in helping us chart the future of this agency.”
Prior to joining Lowe Lintas, Vakeel worked in London at JWT and McCann for over eight years and has now been with the organisation for over two decades. He has worked out of the agency‘s Mumbai as well as Bangalore offices.
Chairman and chief creative officer R Balakrishnan (Balki) adds, “Fali introduced me to Lowe Lintas and he is one of the prime reasons why I am here. At Lowe Lintas, the combination of wisdom, irreverence and commitment means Fali.”
Brands
Devyani International names Sandeep Anand, Robinder Singh in key roles
Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee businesses see leadership refresh from April
MUMBAI: Devyani International has strengthened its senior leadership bench with a fresh set of appointments across its key brands, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee, signalling a sharper focus on growth and brand momentum.
The company has appointed Sandeep Anand as chief marketing officer and business head for Pizza Hut. His appointment, approved by the board via a circular resolution on April 3, follows a recommendation by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, as reported by CNBC-TV18. Anand will officially step into the role on April 6, 2026.
He takes over from Vijay Gogate, who currently serves as chief executive officer for Pizza Hut within the company’s operations. The move marks a strategic transition as the brand looks to sharpen its marketing and business playbook in a competitive quick service restaurant market.
Anand brings over two decades of experience across the food and FMCG sectors, with a strong track record in brand building and innovation. His career spans roles at major consumer-facing companies including Domino’s, Zydus Wellness, Zomato, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Reckitt and Ranbaxy, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both scale and agility.
Alongside this, Robinder Singh has been appointed business head for Costa Coffee and the company’s airport operations. He too will assume his new role on April 6, bringing more than 18 years of experience in operations, business expansion and customer experience transformation.
The twin appointments come at a time when Devyani International is doubling down on leadership depth to steer its portfolio through evolving consumer preferences and heightened competition. With fresh faces at the helm of two key verticals, the company appears set to brew up its next phase of growth with renewed energy.
