Brands
Heat Check as TechnoSport Outsmarts Hyderabad Sun with UPF50+ Push
MUMBAI: Hyderabad may swear by sunscreen, but TechnoSport just gave the sun a run for its money. To mark the opening of its biggest exclusive brand outlet at Sarath City Capital Mall, the athleisure brand rolled out a cheeky, heat-beating activation titled Stronger than Your Sunscreen, built squarely on the reality that in the city’s scorching 40–45°C weather, performance wear often needs superhero powers.
What followed was part marketing, part social experiment, and fully sun-proofed theatre.
As the centrepiece of the launch, TechnoSport installed a vending machine that dispensed free UPF50+ T-shirts, a playful yet pointed showcase of its sun-protection tech. What could have been a simple giveaway turned into a bona fide spectacle, with the installation drawing curious shoppers, gym-goers, and passers-by who wanted to test whether a T-shirt could really go toe-to-toe with Hyderabad’s brutal UV blaze.
The stunt sparked instant buzz, drove sizeable opening-day footfall and gave the new store the kind of opening-day headlines brands dream about.
TechnoSport head of marketing Patralika Agrawal said the city was the ideal setting for such a sun-savvy idea. “Hyderabad’s climate and lifestyle made this the perfect market for an activation centred on sun protection and performance wear,” she said. “The response reinforced the value of purpose-led marketing delivered with the right blend of creativity and cultural relevance.”
Her point was more than proven. The UPF50+ T-shirts which block 98 per cent of harmful UV rays didn’t just protect customers; they reframed TechnoSport’s technical innovation as something delightfully tangible.
True to its digital-first ethos, TechnoSport fused physical activation with online momentum. The vending machine became highly shareable social content, helping the brand extend conversations beyond the mall floor and straight into Hyderabad’s fitness and youth communities. The chatter fed into steady post-launch walk-ins, deepening awareness of the brand’s sun-ready gear.
By blending cultural insight, climate relevance and a wink at everyday consumer struggles, TechnoSport turned a store launch into a climate-conscious moment. The brand not only introduced Hyderabad to its largest outlet yet, but also cemented itself as a player that understands what performance really means in a city where the sun often steals the spotlight.
With creativity this sharp and T-shirts this sun-proof TechnoSport may have set a new standard for store launches that leave both shoppers and sceptics a little more protected.
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
