Brands
Jockey races ahead with 1500 stores as comfort meets retail milestone
MUMBAI: Looks like Jockey’s running a winning streak and this time, the finish line reads 1,500. The iconic innerwear and lifestyle brand has hit a major retail milestone with the launch of its 1500th Exclusive Brand Store (EBS) in India, marking a new chapter in its three-decade-long evolution from comfort staple to fashion statement.
The milestone outlet, featuring a sleek, youthful design, mirrors Jockey’s shift towards a more style-conscious audience. Stocked with a full range of apparel and innerwear for men, women, and children, the store embodies the brand’s mantra of fusing everyday ease with contemporary flair.
It’s been quite the journey since Jockey opened its first Indian store back in 1995. What began as a trusted name for innerwear has now grown into a full-fledged lifestyle brand, one that understands that comfort isn’t just worn, it’s lived. From metros to tier II and III towns, the brand’s 1,500 exclusive stores stand as proof of its deep market connect and inclusive retail strategy.
“We are thrilled to reach this incredible milestone of 1500 stores in India,” said Page Industries chief retail officer Ankur Sharma. “This achievement is a testament to our consumers’ love and our franchisees’ trust. It marks another step forward in our mission to redefine comfort and style in everyday essentials.”
The new store format reflects how Jockey has evolved to stay in step with India’s changing retail rhythm. With clean lines, digital integration, and an inviting layout, each outlet doubles up as an experience hub, a space where shoppers can explore, try, and indulge in the brand’s growing lifestyle collection.
Behind this steady sprint is a clear strategy: blend a robust offline network with a strong online presence. By aligning its distribution with the pulse of modern consumers, Jockey continues to hold its own in an increasingly competitive apparel landscape.
From its humble beginnings to a 1,500-store-strong empire, Jockey’s story proves that comfort never goes out of style, it just finds new ways to fit. And as the brand slips comfortably into this next phase, it’s safe to say that Jockey isn’t just keeping pace with India’s fashion-forward consumers, it’s setting the rhythm.
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.
