MAM
Hector the factor as Wondrlab’s mar-tech muscle flexes worldwide
MUMBAI: From backroom code to front-line growth engine, Hector has moved out of beta and into the big leagues. Wondrlab’s proprietary commerce-media platform now powers growth for over 350 brands across ecommerce, quick commerce and digital retail, underlining its rise as one of India’s most widely adopted deep-tech marketing platforms.
In just three years, Hector has scaled from an internal innovation project to a full-fledged platform managing more than Rs 3500 crore in advertising investments for digital-first disruptors and large enterprise brands alike. Along the way, it has also clocked a global milestone, earning a place among Amazon Ads’ Top 20 Innovation Partners worldwide the only Indian company to feature on the list.
Built with global-grade engineering standards, Hector is now ISO-certified and SOC-compliant, a move that positions it squarely for enterprise adoption. The certifications allow brands to deploy AI-led commerce-media strategies with stronger assurances around data security, governance and compliance increasingly critical as ad spends migrate deeper into retail and performance ecosystems.
The platform’s ambitions are no longer limited to India. Riding the surge in demand for AI-driven commerce media, Wondrlab has expanded Hector into the United States and Japan, with the US already emerging as its second-largest growth market. Faster SaaS adoption nearly twice the pace of India is accelerating uptake among American advertisers looking for scalable retail media solutions.
Commenting on Hector’s trajectory Wondrlab Network co-founder Rakesh Hinduja said the platform validates the group’s belief that India can build globally competitive technology IP. He noted that Hector was designed not as a marketing add-on, but as a core business transformation engine, with its adoption across 200 plus clients and overseas expansion signalling the next phase of Wondrlab’s global ambitions.
Echoing this, Neon and Hector AI founder, Meher Patel said the platform was built to deliver measurable outcomes at scale, a promise that has resonated strongly with ecommerce and quick-commerce partners spanning Amazon, Flipkart, Instamart, Blinkit and Zepto. International expansion, he added, is just the first step in building a globally relevant commerce-media ecosystem from India.
Today, Hector sits at the heart of Wondrlab’s full-funnel mar-tech stack, as the network records double-digit growth, widens its global footprint and sees rising demand from sectors such as retail, FMCG, fintech and mobility. As brands increasingly shift towards proprietary, scalable mar-tech platforms, Hector appears well placed to keep punching above its weight and well beyond India’s borders.
MAM
Raymond Lifestyle appoints Kalpana Singh as CMO
20-year HUL veteran to lead marketing and brand growth from 5 March 2026.
MUMBAI: Raymond Lifestyle just stitched a marketing masterstroke because when your profits are feeling the pinch, you bring in someone who knows how to make brands irresistible. Raymond Lifestyle Limited has appointed Kalpana Singh as chief marketing officer (CMO), effective 5 March 2026. She will report to the CEO and join the senior management team, leading marketing strategy, brand development and customer engagement across the company’s fashion and lifestyle portfolio.
Singh brings 20 years of experience in brand building, consumer insights and category strategy, largely from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL). Most recently she served as marketing director at HUL, driving integrated campaigns to strengthen brand positioning and customer engagement. Her earlier roles at HUL included Personal Care Business Group Director for the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa region, and Brand Development Director for the Middle East, North Africa, Russia and Turkey. She holds a Master of Arts in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
The appointment arrives as Raymond Lifestyle navigates a challenging quarter. Consolidated net profit fell 33 per cent year-on-year to Rs 42.86 crore in Q3 FY26 (from Rs 64 crore in Q3 FY25) and dropped 44 per cent sequentially from Rs 75 crore in Q2 FY26. The company cited headwinds in its international business, particularly garmenting and B2B exports, due to higher US tariffs causing deferred orders and margin pressure.
The company is focusing on brand repositioning, innovation in marketing and deeper consumer connections to support growth in India’s fashion and lifestyle market.
In an industry where every thread counts, Raymond Lifestyle isn’t just adding a CMO, it’s weaving fresh vision into the fabric, hoping the right marketing stitch turns the tide one campaign at a time.
