MAM
ISA concludes the global CEO conference 2022 on ‘VUCA 2.0: transforming organisations and brands’
Mumbai: The Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA) hosted the third annual Global CEO Conference on 22 August in Mumbai.
Around 200 industry leaders gathered to discuss strategies that will enable them to triumph in today’s complex business environment.
The conference’s theme this year was “VUCA 2.0: Transforming Organisations and Brands.”
The event followed an engaging format that included keynote addresses, interesting presentations, and panel discussions by distinguished thought leaders from the industry, in line with the theme.
The keynote speakers included Hindustan Unilever chairman and chief people and transformation officer Nitin Paranjpe, who highlighted the role of technology and questioned whether organisations are ready for web 3.0.
Nitin said, “Industries and devices must be responsibly governed with technology which is designed to allow rapid innovation. Some of the technologies developing the next iteration of the internet have larger challenges than just disruptions. Other than helping us understand what is happening in the world around us better, it will also help us prepare for and create a better future.”
World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) president and Mastercard president-healthcare division, chief marketing and communications officer Raja Rajamannar said, “The whole field of content has become completely filtered and layered. The fact is that traditional marketers are assuming that people are aware. However, they need to develop a far better understanding of the subconscious processes that happen in the minds of their consumers and thereby develop new insights.”
Procter & Gamble Company chief operating officer Shailesh Jejurikar said, “Innovation is being spurred on by digital technology, and we combine innovation with human insight, so that our consumers are better off. Rapid change creates unique opportunities to drive market growth. All of these point to a positive future that can sustain people and the environment better, not only now but also for the generations to come.”
The panel discussion on VUCA 2.0 and its implications for Indian businesses saw leaders such as Diageo India managing director & CEO Hina Nagarajan, Multiples Alternate Asset Management MD & CEO Renuka Ramnath, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals managing director Shantanu Khosla, and Nestle India chairman & managing director Suresh Narayanan. The panel discussed various aspects, including strategies taken by companies during the pandemic, future-proofing brands, and creating a work environment that leads to optimising productivity.
Speaking about the successful third edition of ISA Global CEO conference, ISA chairman and Raymond Lifestyle CEO – India & SAARC, Sunil Kataria said, “Organisations and brands must adopt a radical and creative approach to navigate through this VUCA 2.0 world. As we have learnt during the course of this conference, the ultimate objective of transformation is to develop the capacity to swiftly change circumstances and opportunities in the market and reinvent business models to stay ahead of time.”
ISA chairman (events) Dr. R. Ramakrishnan said, “Each of the keynote speakers and panellists brought a wealth of insights, practical experience, and their case studies to add great value to the conference. The 200 industry leaders at the event have taken back a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to transform their organisations, brands and processes.”
The third edition of ISA’s Global CEO conference was powered by presenting partner Google Cloud, and co-powered by partner Hindustan Unilever Limited.
Sony Pictures Network is the exclusive gold partner, followed by Neutrogena as gold partner and P&G as co-gold partner. As associate partners, Prestige, ABP Network, Aditya Birla Group, Godrej Goodknight, and Centrum Wealth joined the list of sponsors; Adani Wilmar, Crompton, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Raymond, V Guard, Bajaj Electricals, and SugarFree Green were co-partners. Also, Storyboard 18 is the TV partner, Hindustan Times is the print partner, Adfactors PR is the PR partner, and Schbang is the social media partner.
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.
