Brands
Leander Paes’ Flying Man Ventures snares Apurva Sircar as CEO
MUMBAI: Very few sportsmen can cross the rubicon and move into running successful businesses. Tennis veteran and legend Leander Paes is attempting the same with his outfit Flying Man Ventures (FMV). He has hired marketing veteran Apurva Sircar as the company’s CEO. The goal: grow its business in various verticals like sports, sports education, health & wellness, corporate collaborations and entertainment.
Sircar announced his joining at the beginning of this week. Despite his experience, he expressed his nervousness.
Said Sircar on Linked in: “On Monday, I joined a legend in the world of sports to help him execute his vision of making the world a better place through sports and fitness. As I begin my days at at FMV, I feel excitement and nervousness in equal measure. The latter gets taken care of whenever Leander says (and says often), “I got you, champ!” It is my privilege to be Leander’s full-time professional partner off the court. He’s a global icon, having played professional tennis for nearly four decades. He is a man with amazing human values, Lee is an inspiration to so many across the globe.”
Sircar has had a career of 20 years having headed marketing at Bandhan Bank, brand, insights, corporate communications and digital markting at Aegas Federal Life Insurance, channel marketing at Birla Sun Life Insurance, worked as a brand manager with Kotak Mahindra Bank, apart from stints with Heinz India and Blowplast.
As he begins his journey at FMV, the gut feeling is that both he and Leander are going to hit it out of the park. Even if they are entering the sports business game a little late. That’s because the sports ecosystem is going to explode in the next decade as India works on building a sports culture.
Brands
Hyundai and TVS Motor partner to develop electric three wheelers
Joint development pact targets last mile mobility with localisation push
MUMBAI: Three wheels, one big ambition and a charge towards the future. Hyundai Motor Company and TVS Motor Company have signed a joint development agreement to co-create electric three-wheelers (E3Ws), aiming to crack India’s complex last-mile mobility puzzle. The collaboration moves beyond concept talk into execution mode, building on the E3W prototype first showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. The goal now is clear, design, develop and commercialise a purpose-built vehicle tailored to Indian roads, riders and realities.
Under the agreement, Hyundai will lead design and co-development, bringing its global R&D muscle and human-centric engineering approach to the table. TVS Motor, meanwhile, will anchor the product on its electric platform, leveraging deep three-wheeler expertise and local market insight. It will also handle manufacturing and sales in India, with an eye on exports down the line.
The timing is strategic. India remains the world’s largest three-wheeler market, where affordability, durability and adaptability often outweigh sheer innovation. The upcoming E3W aims to strike that balance combining advanced technology with practical features such as adaptive ground clearance for monsoon-hit roads, improved thermal management for tropical climates, and flexible interiors suited for passengers, cargo or emergency use.
A key pillar of the partnership is localisation. Major components will be sourced and manufactured within India, a move expected to strengthen the domestic supply chain, create jobs, lower costs and improve after-sales support.
The shift from prototype to production will involve rigorous testing, certification and refinement to meet regulatory standards and consumer expectations. Dedicated cross-functional teams from both companies are already in place to accelerate timelines.
At a broader level, the tie-up reflects a growing trend in mobility, global players partnering with local specialists to navigate emerging markets. For Hyundai and TVS, the bet is that combining scale with street-level insight could unlock a new chapter in sustainable urban transport, one that runs not just on electricity, but on relevance.
