Brands
Kartik Aaryan is Doritos’ first brand ambassador in India
NEW DELHI: Nacho chip brand Doritos has signed on actor Kartik Aaryan as its first-ever brand ambassador in India. This partnership will further help increase the brand’s reach in India and amplify the uniquely bold messaging of Doritos.
“Kartik perfectly embodies what the brand stands for and will help amplify the distinct crunch of Doritos in an authentic, relatable, and enjoyable manner,” the company said in an official statement.
“Doritos has been my favourite snack especially when I am relaxing, watching a movie, or playing games with my friends. I am so excited to partner with the brand that represents a crunchy style and bold attitude. I look forward to collaborating with one of the world’s favourite nacho chip brand and entertain audiences in an original, unconventional and engaging way,” shared Aaryan.
“The Doritos brand is all about boldness. Kartik Aaryan’s daring and charged personality helps him step out of his comfort zone and this fits perfectly with the brand,” Doritos brand head Dola Halder said. “He brings a strong connect and influence over the Doritos consumer as he embodies the spirit of the young and fearless. With him on board, we are confident of strengthening the engagement with our consumers and building greater visibility for Doritos across India. We are very excited about our dynamic collaboration with Kartik and believe it will elevate the brand proposition in an original and crunchy style.”
As part of the association, Aaryan recently posted a picture of himself on social media holding a placard with jumbled letters “TOROIDS”, which got likes from lakhs of fans and followers and led to a comment storm. The brand will launch a campaign featuring the actor across media platforms.
Aiming to tap smaller town markets, PepsiCo India has launched Rs 10 entry-level price point Doritos packets to drive consumption in tier-2 and tier-3 markets. The brand is available across neighbourhood stores, modern retail and e-commerce channels in the country.
Brands
IndiGo names William Walsh CEO
Former IATA chief to take charge in August after Elbers exit, Bhatia steers interim
India’s biggest airline has moved fast and gone global. InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, has tapped aviation heavyweight William Walsh as chief executive officer, subject to regulatory approvals, marking a sharp pivot as the carrier eyes its next burst of expansion.
Walsh, currently director general at the International Air Transport Association, will step down on July 31, 2026, and is expected to take charge by August 3. The appointment comes barely three weeks after Pieter Elbers exited the corner office, with Rahul Bhatia holding the fort in the interim.
The choice signals intent. Walsh brings decades of cockpit-to-boardroom experience, having led British Airways and later International Airlines Group, the parent of Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling. His tenure across carriers has been defined by hard resets, restructurings and cross-border consolidation—skills IndiGo may need as competition intensifies and scale becomes decisive.
Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman and non-executive independent director of IndiGo, said Walsh’s experience in managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics makes him well-suited to lead IndiGo in an increasingly competitive global aviation environment, adding that the appointment marks a new chapter as the airline scales in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
Rahul Bhatia said Walsh’s global perspective, operational expertise and customer-focused approach would be critical as IndiGo enters its next phase of expansion.
Walsh, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential figures, will oversee overall management and strategic direction, with a mandate spanning operational performance, network expansion, commercial strategy and customer experience. He is expected to work closely with the board and leadership team to sharpen IndiGo’s growth trajectory.
Walsh said IndiGo has a strong foundation and is well-positioned to capitalise on the evolving aviation landscape, adding that he looks forward to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation and sustainable value creation across the organisation.
A new captain, a bigger runway—and a market that rewards scale. IndiGo is lining up for its next take-off.
