MAM
Indigo Consulting appoints Harshad Hardikar as COO
MUMBAI: Indigo Consulting which is a part of the Publicis Groupe, announced the appointment of Harshad Hardikar as its new chief operating officer. Hardikar is the former senior VP, e-commerce & CRM at OgilvyOne India.
Hardikar will be working closely with the agency’s managing director Vikas Tandon to help strengthen and grow its business nationally and internationally. Hardikar comes with over 17 years of experience in the industry. He is credited with launching India’s first coalition loyalty programme, iMint (now Payback).
In his previous role as senior VP, e-commerce & CRM at OgilvyOne India, he led the agency’s ecommerce and CRM practice nationally, managing clients’ needs end to end. Prior to this, he worked for Rediff.com, heading the company’s online sales division, Rediffshopping.
Commenting on the latest appointment Tandon said, “FY 2014 has been a great year for us, we are once again ready to shift to a higher gear. Not only are we seeing great organic growth, our international business as a regional COE for Leo Burnett Asia Pacific is seeing phenomenal traction. From a service bouquet point of view, after establishing our Mobile and Social practices, we are now investing in e-commerce and CRM capabilities. This is the ideal time for Indigo Consulting to expand its top management and leadership team. Harshad’s blend of expertise in our focus areas, and experience in driving revenues and P&L is exactly what we need to fuel and drive our journey in the next gear. I am very excited to have him on board and look forward to working with him in scaling up the company.”
Hardikar added, “I am very happy to become a part of this large family. Indigo already is a company with a great reputation and highly respected for their creative and technology capabilities. What really attracted me in this opportunity is the vision Vikas has, to grow this company further. I am sure with my experience of managing 360-degree digital work; I will be able to contribute to a greater success for this company.”
In addition to Hardikar’s appointment, the agency has also roped in Rimjhim Ray as AVP strategy and client services and Hanisha Vaswani as business head for the agency’s Delhi office.
At her previous stint at Edelman, Vaswani was responsible for devising brand building, content, and engagement strategies for clients such as HP, GM, GE, Shell, Juniper Networks, and the 1st Indian Grand Prix. At Indigo Consulting, she will be responsible for bringing in new business as well as managing the existing accounts of the agency’s Delhi office.
Brands
Malaika Arora launches Maejoy accessories brand with Myntra partnership
New label debuts with 250 plus handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery.
MUMBAI: When style meets sparkle, a new brand is ready to take centre stage. Actor and entrepreneur Malaika Arora has launched a lifestyle accessories label called Maejoy, developed in collaboration with Exceed Entertainment and Myntra Jabong India Private Limited (MJIPL), the B2B wholesale arm of Myntra. The brand enters the market with a debut collection of more than 250 styles spanning handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery, two categories that continue to define everyday personal style for modern consumers.
The handbag lineup includes crossbody bags, structured shoulder bags, bucket bags, totes, backpacks, clutches and workwear inspired designs. The pieces are crafted using materials such as synthetic leather, raffia, braids, satin, rhinestones and metallic finishes.
Alongside the bags, Maejoy has introduced a jewellery range featuring lab grown diamond rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and tennis bracelets. The pieces are set in 925 sterling silver bases with gold, silver and rose gold tones, and include diamonds certified by IGI and GCI.
Positioned as a premium yet accessible accessories label, Maejoy is built around the philosophy “The Joy of Being Me”, aiming to blend aspirational fashion with everyday usability. The brand’s positioning centres on three pillars: authenticity, empowerment and accessibility.
Arora described the venture as a natural extension of her long association with fashion and personal style.
“Maejoy is a labour of love. Throughout my career, whether on screen, in business or through personal style, I have always believed fashion should feel empowering yet effortless. The Joy of Being Me celebrates individuality while making global fashion trends more accessible,” she said.
MJIPL, CXO and head of house of brands Suman Saha said the brand brings together Arora’s style perspective with a strong opportunity in the accessible premium accessories segment.
“Maejoy combines Malaika Arora’s distinctive style sensibility with fashion forward designs that we believe will resonate strongly with consumers looking for elevated yet wearable accessories,” he said.
Exceed Entertainment CEO Afsar Zaidi added that building celebrity led brands requires balancing authenticity with market viability.
“Malaika commands respect both as a fashion icon and a businesswoman. Bringing her creative vision together with Myntra’s brand building expertise creates a strong foundation for Maejoy,” he said.
The collection is available exclusively on Myntra through its website and mobile app, making the brand accessible to millions of shoppers across India as it steps into the competitive lifestyle accessories space.
