Brands
Kotak Mahindra Bank appoints Anup Kumar Saha as WTD
MUMBAI: Kotak Mahindra Bank has added fresh heft to its leadership bench with the appointment of Anup Kumar Saha as whole-time director, signalling a sharper focus on consumers, data and digital momentum.
As per an exchange filing, Saha will join the bank as designate whole-time director from January 12, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. He will also become part of the senior management team. At Kotak, he will oversee consumer banking, marketing and data analytics, three engines critical to winning customers in an increasingly competitive banking landscape.
Saha brings with him a track record built at the crossroads of scale and strategy. Most recently, he served as managing director at Bajaj Finserv, where he spent eight years helping shape one of India’s most profitable consumer finance businesses. During his tenure, the group’s customer base surged past the 100 million mark, backed by product expansion and operational rigour.
Before that, Saha clocked 14 years at ICICI Bank, holding senior roles across retail and structured finance. His experience spans consumer lending, analytics-led decision-making and digital transformation, skills that fit neatly with Kotak’s long-term ambitions.
The appointment underlines Kotak Mahindra Bank’s intent to double down on customer-centric growth, sharper marketing and smarter use of data. In a sector where numbers matter as much as trust, Saha’s arrival adds both.
Brands
Rohini Laya Venkateswaran named executive director at Gillette India
P&G veteran with two decades of experience steps into leadership role
NEW DELHI: Rohini Laya Venkateswaran has been appointed executive director at Gillette India Pvt. Ltd., bringing with her more than two decades of experience across sales, strategy and brand leadership within the consumer goods sector. In her new role, she will help steer the company’s strategic direction and growth while strengthening its footprint in the grooming and personal care category.
Venkateswaran joins the board after a long career at Procter & Gamble, where she spent nearly 21 years shaping sales strategy, building brands and driving market expansion across India and international markets.
Most recently, she served as chief sales officer for India at P&G. Prior to that, she was vice president and country manager for east gulf markets, overseeing operations in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar while also guiding sales strategy across the Gulf region, including the UAE.
Earlier in her career, she led sales strategy and planning for India while serving as marketing leader for brands such as Olay and Old Spice. During this stint, she focused on reshaping go-to-market channels and building awareness through digital, social and influencer-led campaigns to drive growth.
Her journey at P&G also included roles such as director sales strategy and planning leader India, associate director modern retail and ecommerce, regional manager for Delhi and Rajasthan, and several key account and trade marketing roles across the country. She also spent time in the United States working on the P&G Walmart international team, collaborating on global retail initiatives.
Venkateswaran holds an MBA in marketing from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from RV College of Engineering.
With her mix of sales acumen, brand-building experience and global exposure, Venkateswaran’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on growth and market leadership for Gillette India.
