MAM
FCA India’s Emergency Response to Safeguard Workforce from Coronavirus Pandemic
Mumbai: With an intent to safeguard its workforce from the adverse effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, FCA India, as an immediate response, has permitted over 50% of its staff, from its Mumbai and Pune offices, to work from home, at least until March 31, 2020, and is taking proactive measures to ensure ‘social distancing’, which is the need of the hour.
FCA, which operates from three locations in India – Corporate Office in Mumbai, an Engineering office in Pune and the main Engineering Centre in Chennai, has prioritized the option of ‘work from home’ (WFH) for its staff in Maharashtra based on precautionary advisories by the Government of India and also the State Governments. The WFH alternative for the mission-critical Engineering workforce in Chennai is under consideration and not in play as yet.
FCA India’s President and Managing Director, Dr. Partha Datta said, “The health and welfare of our employees and various partners is of utmost importance to us as an organization. We have to endure these challenging times together as responsible citizens and care for our families, friends and colleagues, while at the same time, ensuring business continuity. Although no employee of FCA India has reported or tested positive, we are fully aware of the gravity of the situation and are taking quick, proactive steps every day that are necessary for everybody’s well-being.”
FCA India has taken the following steps to help its workforce remain unaffected:
Work from home (WFH) option – FCA employees, who use public transport, are advised to work from home. They can remain connected via the tools provided in their laptop computers and remotely manage and attend critical meetings. Employees with business critical needs and those using company vehicles are permitted to work in the office subject to their manager’s approval. FCA field sales personnel have been advised to coordinate business from home, pan-India. A health advisory has been sent to FCA’s national dealer network instructing them on steps that need to be taken at showrooms for their own hygiene and also while dealing with customer walk-ins and sales events.
International and domestic travel – All FCA employees have been advised to cancel or postpone their domestic or international travel until further notice. For any emergency international travel, a governance process for business-essential travel has been established with concurrence from the MD and FCA Top Management.
Social distancing – Employees have been requested to postpone meeting visitors in person, in the office premises with an intent to enable ‘social distancing’; critical / unavoidable meetings can be held only with prior permission from FCA India’s senior management. Meetings among office staff have been curtailed and, if at all, employees are advised to restrict meeting attendees to less than 10 individuals.
Office management – Most meetings are now conducted via available audio / video conferencing technology in office or remote locations. A mandatory temperature-check of all employees and visitors, during entry, is conducted through state of the art apparatus. Cleaning regime of the entire office has been stepped up and the staff is encouraged to use freely available hand sanitizers and other hygiene upkeep methods. Employees are advised to take staggered breaks with longer lunch breaks in the cafeteria to maintain distance between each other. Cafeteria and janitorial staff has been provided with masks and gloves as a precautionary safeguard to minimize their exposure to possible infection.
FCA in India has a total employee base of 1500 across its offices in Mumbai, Chennai and Pune. Daily health advisories are being emailed to the FCA India employee base so that they take precautionary steps to remain safe along with their families.
MAM
PropertyPistol appoints Hemant Bajaj as chief marketing officer
Proptech firm taps global marketing leader to sharpen brand and growth strategy.
MUMBAI: In the fast moving world of proptech, building homes may be the business, but building the brand is just as crucial. Propertypistol, the proptech driven real estate advisory platform, has appointed Hemant Bajaj as its chief marketing officer (CMO) as the company looks to strengthen its brand narrative and accelerate growth across markets. Bajaj will lead the company’s marketing operations across multiple geographies, overseeing brand strategy, integrated marketing initiatives and revenue aligned growth programmes as Propertypistol prepares for its next phase of expansion.
The appointment comes at a time when the proptech sector is seeing rapid digital adoption, with companies increasingly focusing on leadership talent capable of combining technology, data driven marketing and customer experience.
Bajaj brings experience spanning India, South East Asia and the Middle East, where he has worked on scaling brands and leading digital transformation initiatives across multiple industries. His work in the marketing and media ecosystem recently earned him recognition as a ‘Powerhouse Leader’ at the Mastermind Awards in Dubai, highlighting his track record in managing high impact marketing mandates.
Propertypistol founder and managing director Ashish Narain Agarwal said the appointment comes at a pivotal stage in the company’s journey as it looks to strengthen its market presence.
“Hemant’s appointment comes at a defining moment for us. As we scale our market position, it is vital to have leadership that blends strategic vision with executional depth. Hemant’s deep understanding of brand and business alignment will be instrumental as we redefine the proptech landscape,” Agarwal said.
Bajaj said Propertypistol’s technology first approach to real estate advisory was one of the key reasons behind his decision to join the company.
“Propertypistol has established itself as a technology first platform that is redefining how investors navigate the property market. Having led marketing transformations across international borders and fast paced industries, I recognise the exceptional strength of the foundation built here,” he said.
He added that his focus would be on accelerating the company’s digital marketing capabilities while building strategies that deliver sustained value for customers and partners worldwide.
The leadership move reflects Propertypistol’s broader effort to strengthen its executive team as the proptech industry evolves rapidly. With property search, advisory and transactions increasingly shifting online, companies in the sector are investing heavily in marketing intelligence and digital platforms to stay competitive.
By bringing Bajaj on board, Propertypistol is betting that sharper brand positioning and technology led marketing will help it stand out in an increasingly crowded digital real estate marketplace.
