Brands
ITC Fabelle introduces ‘One Earth’ collection
Mumbai: Fabelle Exquisite Chocolates, the home-grown luxury chocolate brand from ITC Ltd., is recognised for creating unparalleled chocolate experiences for its discerning consumers. In the last few years Fabelle has introduced several industry firsts such as the Fabelle Trinity – Truffles Extraordinaire -World’s most expensive chocolate, Fabelle Finesse – World’s finest chocolate*, setting a benchmark for the global chocolate industry.
Continuing the legacy, Fabelle this year is set to entice chocolate lovers with a novel creation. Inspired by the sentiment of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – The World Is One Family, Fabelle introduces its latest innovation – Fabelle One Earth Collection. At an event held at the ITC Sheraton, New Delhi, Fabelle, in a strategic collaboration with Chef Andy Allen, an acclaimed Australian food critic and TV presenter, unveiled this delectable fusion of global flavours and cultures.
This signature luxury chocolate offering has been meticulously handcrafted with finest ingredients and cocoa. It comprises 10 unique truffles, each of which truly represents the essence of the rich and diverse flavours of nations from across the world – Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zeland, Netherlands, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
ITC Fabelle Master Chocolatiers, known for their unwavering commitment to excellence conducted multiple iterations and co-creation sessions with chef Andy Allen to perfect each truffle. A selection of hand-picked ingredients, including Afghan Figs, Australian Macadamia, Bangladesh-inspired Posto, England’s Morello Cherry, India’s Walnut, Condensed Whole Milk from the Netherlands, New Zealand’s Apple, Aqua Rose from Pakistan, Sri Lankan Coconut and South African Orange, were artfully harmonised with the unparalleled excellence of Fabelle’s chocolates. Each truffle therefore tells a unique story of the country that inspired this specific creation. This limited-edition offering will contain 10 truffles (130g) priced at INR 999/- inclusive of taxes, and will be available at Fabelle boutiques across Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
The chocolate truffles serve as a testament to the artistry of ITC Fabelle Master Chocolatiers. They carefully combined these international ingredients with Fabelle’s premium chocolate to deliver a sensory journey that transcends borders and celebrates the universal love for chocolate much like sports.
To celebrate the launch of ‘Fabelle One Earth’, the event was graced by eminent personalities associated with the world of sports and cricket. Dinesh Karthik – Indian professional cricketer and commentator, Waqar Younis – Pakistani cricket coach, commentator and former cricketer, and Lisa Sthalekar – Australian cricket commentator, former cricketer and captain of the Australia women’s national cricket team exchanged ‘One Earth’ as a gesture to honour the essence of unity and community.
Emphasising on the launch of Fabelle One Earth, ITC Ltd COO – Chocolates, Coffee, Confectionary & New Category Development Foods Division Rohit Dogra said, “Fabelle is dedicated to giving chocolate lovers true world-class experiences. With Fabelle One Earth, we aim to bring people together through the magic of chocolate. This special collection has 10 distinct truffles, each with a singularly delectable taste. The assemblage of speciality ingredients inspired from different countries brought together in one box of chocolate truffles, the ‘Fabelle One Earth’ showcases the brand’s commitment to creating unique tastes and textures.”
Commenting on his first collaboration with the brand, Australian food critic and TV presenter Andy Allen said, “Fabelle has one of the finest collections of chocolates in the world in my view. It has been an absolute pleasure to work alongside the Fabelle team to bring alive this masterpiece. Fabelle One Earth is a culinary journey that encapsulates the essence of diverse cultures and flavours from ten different countries. It was the result of countless hours of craftsmanship, relentless commitment and tireless exploration of global flavours that have gone into the curation of each of the truffles. We are extremely happy with the outcome and hoping that everyone enjoys this beautiful amalgamation of chocolate and culture.”
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.
