MAM
Lyra roped in Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu as brand ambassador
Kolkata: Lyra, the pioneers of organized branded women legging brand in the mid to premium segment from the house of Lux, has roped in leading Bollywood actress, Taapsee Pannu as its brand ambassador.
Announcing the association, Mr. Udit Todi, Senior Vice President, Lux Industries Ltd., said, “We are excited to on-board Taapsee Pannu as the face of Lyra, who resonates the brand’s philosophy. Lyra is ever growing and it has become the market leader for the urban and semi-urban areas of the country. We aim to position it as the ultimate go-to wear brand for the modern women and Taapsee is an inspiration to them. We are positive that this association will help the brand reach and gain greater success.”
Retailed in almost 45,000 outlets in India, the brand has gained a great amount of appreciation and respect from its consumers. Lyra, being the largest bottom wear brand in India, enjoys a high level of consumer awareness and consumer loyalty. The brand urges to bridge the gap between the evolving consumer requirement of both comfort and style.
In an aim to position itself as a lifestyle brand, the brand foresees to expand into further categories beyond leggings, lingerie and lounge wear. At present, it is exploring possibilities to provide differentiated offerings in an endeavour to command the highest share in this market.
Speaking in the occasion, Ms. Taapsee Pannu said, “I am glad to be associated with India’s most loved brand for bottom wear, which is synonymous with both fashionable and quality products. Being an actress, both comfortable clothing and style are very important aspects of my daily life and Lyra as a brand fits perfectly here. The consistent quality and range of their products are so wide that I am elated to be a part of the Lyra family as their brand ambassador.”
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.
