MAM
Khadim’s completes its #LetsTakeAStep campaign with great success
MUMBAI: The advent of the festive season means shopping for new clothes, jewellery, accessories and shoes. It is a joyous and celebratory time for most of the citizens. But what about those who are a little less privileged than others? To address this issue and bring smile to a few this festive season, India’s leading homegrown footwear brand Khadim’s had undertaken a unique campaign, #LetsTakeAStep in association with Hope Kolkata Foundation and Rotary Club of Calcutta Innercity, through which they provided shoes to the street dwellers and lesser privileged of the city. The campaign culminated with Khadim’s distributing the shoes to recipients in the presence of Mr Amit Gope (Head Marketing, Khadim India Ltd), Ms. Geeta Venkadakrishnan (Director, Hope Kolkata Foundation) and glamorous actress Srabanti Chatterjee.
Conveying his thoughts on this social activity, Mr Rittick Roy Burman, Director, Khadim India Ltd, said, “It gives me great joy to announce that we have successfully completed the #LetsTakeAStep initiative. The main aim of this initiative was to bring smile on the faces of those who cannot afford even a basic necessity like a pair of shoes. We are extremely glad that our initiative was met with such great response in its very first year. I would like to thank each and every person who participated and donated their shoes for a noble cause. I would also like to applaud the efforts of the Khadim’s family for coming up with this idea and completing it successfully. This was a one-of-a-kind initiative from Khadim’s, and I hope it grows every year.”
There are thousands of people across the city who walk barefoot in rain, heat, cold and are subjected to blisters, cuts and broils every day. Moreover, they contract various diseases and infections by walking bare feet. The campaign urged the citizens to donate their old shoes in wearable condition at select Khadim’s outlets. Over 2259 shoes were collected from the month-long campaign and for every 2 pairs of shoes, Khadim’s donated a new pair.
Actress Srabanti Chatterjee added, “I think this is a really nice initiative by Khadim’s. I would like to congratulate them. It is overwhelming to see the smile on the faces of the recipients.”
Ms. Geeta Venkadakrishnan, Director, Hope Kolkata Foundation, added, “This was a very good initiative undertaken by Khadim’s and we are extremely proud to be a part of it. There are those unable to afford basic needs like food, clothes and shoes. We want to thank Khadim’s for taking note of this issue and coming forward with donations. We will ensure that the collected shoes reach the ones in need.”
Mr Amit Gope, Head Marketing, Khadim India Ltd, further added, “#LetsTakeAStep was derived from our company mission ‘to be in every Indian step’. I was extremely moved by the stories I heard from Hope Foundation about the thousands of people who go bare feet in Kolkata itself, not to mention children who even travel to school without shoes. Our objective for this campaign was not only to help people don a pair of shoes but also to promote foot hygiene. We look forward to organizing this activity pan-India and make it bigger and better in the coming years.”
Attached is a press release photos for your perusal. Please let us know in case you need more details.
Brands
VinFast names Anurag Saxena deputy CEO to steer India growth
Former Honda executive to drive dealer expansion and EV market push
GURUGRAM: Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast has appointed Anurag Saxena as deputy CEO for its India operations, bringing in a seasoned automotive executive as the company prepares to deepen its footprint in one of the world’s fastest-growing electric mobility markets.
In his new role at VinFast India, Saxena will work closely with the leadership team to accelerate the company’s growth strategy, with a focus on dealer network expansion, market penetration and strengthening the brand’s presence across the country’s evolving EV ecosystem.
Saxena joins the Vietnamese EV manufacturer after a long stint with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd., where he spent more than two decades in a variety of leadership roles. Most recently, he served as operating officer, overseeing core business functions and shaping strategic planning across the company’s two-wheeler portfolio.
During his tenure, Saxena led more than 135 teams across six divisions, including business development, product strategy, marketing, electrification, network expansion and sales digitisation. He also played a key role in steering Honda’s early EV roadmap in India, including the launch of its first EV concept store in Bengaluru and the rollout of a scalable electric retail network.
Earlier, as regional business head for North India, he drove strong growth across key markets including Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab. Under his leadership, the region achieved a 30 per cent rise in volumes over four years, while market share climbed from 21 per cent to 28 per cent.
His career at Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. also included leadership positions in central and western India, where he worked on dealer expansion, product planning and sales strategy. Notably, he helped design the ‘Hi-Rise’ dealer management system and introduced a pre-owned vehicle platform that expanded the company’s retail ecosystem.
Saxena began his career in export sales with Cosmo Ferrites Limited, where he handled international markets across the United States and Europe before moving into the automotive sector.
His appointment comes as VinFast accelerates its India plans, betting on the country’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle market and growing consumer appetite for sustainable mobility. With Saxena at the wheel, the company appears keen to combine global EV ambition with local market expertise.
