MAM
Fintech’s new sheriff: Shishir Kataria to spin Mobikwik’s marketing magic as AVP
MUMBAI: Ever tried convincing your grandad to ditch cash for a flashy QR code? Imagine doing that for millions. Enter Shishir Kataria—the man who turned fashionistas into Tata Cliq loyalists and made cricket fans binge-watch IPL as if their lives depended on it. Kataria has swapped runway trends for digital wallets, joining Mobikwik as AVP of marketing, because, hey, why not make finance fun?
“Excited to start my journey as AVP, Marketing at Mobikwik,” said Kataria. “Fintech in India has evolved rapidly, transforming the way we transact, save, and invest. As digital payments and financial inclusion accelerate, I look forward to be a part of this journey.”
At Mobikwik, Kataria now oversees brand, social, content, design, and creative operations. Before diving headfirst into fintech, he dazzled at Tata CLiQ, masterminding the rebranding to ‘Tata Cliq Fashion’, making Gen Z’s heart skip a beat. His strategies boosted customer acquisition and squeezed costs tighter than a budget traveller in Mumbai.
Previously at Disney+ Hotstar, he combined cricket and entertainment, launching hits like Hotstar Dosts during IPL 2021, resulting in a whopping 30 per cent subscription spike. At Disney Star, he made IPL even bigger, drawing a record-smashing 462 million TV viewers in 2019. How’s that for knocking it out of the park?
Kataria’s marketing prowess doesn’t stop there. He once convinced parents across India that Complan Nutrigro could turn kids into geniuses and led sales teams in Tamil Nadu with more gusto than Rajinikanth fans on premiere day.
Can Kataria now convince a billion people to swipe more, tap less, and never see their physical wallets again? Knowing his record, it seems he’ll be laughing all the way to the digital bank.
Brands
Ather Energy doubles service network to 500 centres nationwide
EV maker scales support alongside growth to keep riders on the road
MUMBAI: Ather Energy is quietly building more than just scooters. It is building the backbone to keep them running.
The electric two-wheeler maker has expanded its service network to 500 authorised centres across India, nearly doubling its footprint in a year from 277. The move mirrors its growing retail presence and signals a clear focus on one often overlooked part of EV ownership, what happens after the purchase.
From the outset, Ather has prioritised service support in every city it enters, aiming to make ownership as smooth as the ride itself. Its Gold Service Centres bring in upgraded customer lounges, modern equipment and processes designed to make servicing more transparent and reliable.
Speed, too, is part of the pitch. Through its ExpressCare initiative, riders can get periodic maintenance done in about an hour, now available across 82 centres, turning what used to be a chore into a quick pit stop.
Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we scale across the country. Reliable after-sales support is central to the ownership experience, and our focus remains on consistent service quality and accessibility.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for models like the Ather 450 and the Rizta, which have helped the company reach a broader set of riders across metros and emerging cities alike.
Alongside servicing, Ather continues to power up infrastructure through the Ather Grid, now one of the largest fast-charging networks for two-wheelers, with over 4,300 charging points.
With plans to scale further and deepen its presence, Ather’s approach is clear. Selling the scooter may start the journey, but keeping it running smoothly is what sustains it.
