MAM
HDFC securities appoints Puneeth Bekal as CMO
Mumbai: Leading investment services provider HDFC securities has announced the appointment of Puneeth Bekal for the position of chief marketing officer (CMO) and executive vice president. Bekal will be heading the marketing department, and HDFC Sky – their flat pricing equity broking app launched in September 2023.
Puneeth has over 19 years of experience in brands and marketing, with key expertise in brand strategy, marketing strategy, and digital marketing across industries and verticals. He was recently awarded as the 100 Most Influential Marketers by Business World and authored the prestigious Business World Marketing White Book. Before joining HSL, Puneeth worked for organizations including Mastercard, Godrej Group, Lodha Group, and Ceat Tyres. He holds a marketing degree from IIM-Calcutta. In his career spanning nearly two decades, he has worked in over 42 cities across India and 7 countries, giving him a deep understanding of India’s diverse culture and sense of global interconnectedness.
Speaking on his appointment, HDFC securities chief marketing officer and executive vice president Puneeth Bekal said, “I am thrilled to embark on this journey with HDFC Securities, driving towards our shared vision of becoming the preeminent ally for financial investors. In a rapidly evolving landscape, we recognise the transformative power of cutting-edge technologies, and my commitment is to leverage these tools to unlock their full potential. The surge in over 10 crore new demat account openings in India since the pandemic, predominantly fueled by a wave of young and tech-savvy investors, underscores the dynamic shift in the financial landscape.
As the newly appointed CMO at HDFC Securities and HDFC Sky, my immediate focus is to propel our digital capabilities to new heights, with a specific emphasis on HDFC Sky. This strategic initiative aims to position HDFC Sky as the undisputed investment platform of choice for the vibrant community of young and millennial investors across the nation. Through innovation, personalised experiences, and a commitment to trust, we aspire to redefine the landscape of financial services and solidify our standing as the go-to destination for the next generation of investors.”
HDFC Securities MD & CEO Dhiraj Relli said, “Puneeth will be instrumental in crafting a new age, digital-first marketing ecosystem to lead HDFC Securities to stand out in the fragmented and evolving broking and distribution space in India. Puneeth’s enthusiasm and expertise will play a key role in the entire spectrum of HSL’s offerings ranging from our flat pricing offering – HDFC Sky to Investment advisory services.”
MAM
WPP appoints Estée Lauder’s Anne-Isabelle Choueiri as chief transformation officer
Former Estée Lauder executive to lead operations, technology and culture overhaul under WPP’s three-year growth plan
LONDON: WPP has appointed Anne-Isabelle Choueiri as chief transformation officer in a newly created role tasked with delivering the group’s Elevate28 strategy.
Choueiri joins from The Estée Lauder Companies, where she led enterprise-wide strategic initiatives, including the “One ELC” operating model and major upgrades to enterprise marketing, data and analytics capabilities. She also led the redesign of enterprise technology teams and served on the company’s AI taskforce, driving AI strategy, adoption and value realisation across the business.
At WPP, she will be responsible for designing, implementing and embedding the operating model behind Elevate28, the company’s three-year growth plan unveiled in February 2026. She will lead efforts to improve innovation, efficiency and integration across WPP’s client offerings, with a focus on delivering agile, outcome-driven solutions and measurable growth.
Choueiri will oversee organisational transformation across the group, working closely with product and enterprise technology teams to deploy AI, data and technology to build new capabilities and improve operational performance. She will also work with the people function to embed cultural change, strengthen an agile performance mindset and support talent development across the organisation.
Before joining Estée Lauder, she held senior roles across consulting and digital agencies, including at Accenture, Masaï (a Bain & Company spin-off), and Kearney, with experience spanning strategy, data and digital marketing transformation.
Cindy Rose, chief executive officer of WPP, said Choueiri brings a strong track record of leading large-scale transformation across operations, technology and culture, adding that her appointment will help accelerate the group’s next phase of growth under Elevate28.
Choueiri said WPP’s strategy represents an ambitious opportunity to reshape how the company operates and delivers for clients, adding that she looks forward to building integrated solutions and fostering a culture of innovation and change.
She will be based in New York and will join WPP’s executive committee.
