MAM
Health insurance platform Plum appoints Mukul Kanchan as its head of finance
Mumbai: Plum, an employee health insurance platform, has appointed Mukul Kanchan as its head of finance. Mukul has assumed charge from June 2022 and will be working closely with the founders to solve complexities as the business scales up at a faster clip. Mukul will support scaling the business with sustainability, building financial prudence and robustness, acquisition initiatives, and fundraising. He will also strengthen risk management practices and compliances at Plum.
Mukul is an investment banker and a private equity investment professional. He comes with over 16 years of experience in leading finance, M&A and business development functions in prominent start-ups and global corporations such as Clix Capital, D. E. Shaw & Co, E&Y and Aten Capital among others. In his earlier role as CFO at Clix, Mukul drove the acquisition of GE Capital India entities in 2016 which was later renamed as Clix, simplified the legal entity structure of the group, drove M&As and partnerships, and led the overall finance function.
On his new role as head of finance at Plum, Mukul Kanchan said, “In a world of high-growth tech start-ups, a finance leader must become a strategic partner to their CEOs. From staying conservative to displaying aggression, from valuing cost-cutting to chasing opportunity cost, from controller to being an enabler, and from playing by the book to writing a new playbook, the new age finance leaders must act as a catalyst for growth and aspire to change the game.”
Plum co-founder and CEO Abhishek Poddar said, “Mukul is a highly adept finance leader and will be an invaluable asset to Plum’s leadership team. Having worked at some of the most robust financial services organisations, not only does he bring the expertise needed to run our finance function, he also has a critical understanding of what it takes to drive growth and operational excellence. Having worked with Mukul for some time now, I have experienced his superior intellect and leadership abilities and am excited to work closely with him as we execute the next phase of Plum’s journey.”
MAM
Ameya Velankar steps down as Uber’s head of marketing for India & South Asia
Veteran marketer exits after more than seven years with the ride-hailing giant.
MUMBAI: After more than seven years of steering Uber through the bumpy roads of India’s mobility market, Ameya Velankar has decided to change lanes. Ameya Velankar has stepped down as Head of Marketing for India and South Asia, marking the end of a significant chapter at the ride-hailing company. He had been with Uber since 2019, taking on multiple roles in product and category marketing before rising to lead the marketing function for the region in 2021.
During his tenure, Velankar played a key role in strengthening Uber’s positioning in one of its most competitive and dynamic markets. He helped drive localised marketing strategies and scale adoption across key offerings such as Auto, Moto, Rentals and Intercity, tailoring global platforms to Indian consumer needs.
Prior to joining Uber, Velankar built his marketing expertise at leading consumer companies including SC Johnson and Marico, where he handled category and product leadership roles. His career began at RPG Enterprises.
Details of his next professional move have not been disclosed.
In a fast-evolving mobility landscape where brands constantly battle for attention, Ameya Velankar helped Uber stay relevant and resonant with millions of Indian users. As he moves on from the driver’s seat of marketing, the company will now look for fresh ideas to keep its wheels turning smoothly.
