Brands
Maddock Films snares Sonia Huria in brand, consumer & social communications role
MUMBAI: For long she’s been on the other side and she’s endeared herself to all who she has been associated with. Now the very familiar and affable face in the entertainment industry, Sonia Huria, has hopped onto Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films as head brand, consumer and social communications.
Maddock Films had a fabulous 2024 with three films raking it in at the box office: Teri Baaton mein Uljha Jiya (Rs 133 crore), Munjya (Rs 132 crore) and the biggest of them all – Stree 2 (Rs 900 crore). It has lined up a slate of films which will figure in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe , two of which are to be released in 2025: Thama (Diwali) and Shakti Shalini (31 December).
So it definitely needs all the professional help it can to build up the brands. And Sonia has oodles of it (22 years) with her last position being that of head of communications , Asia Pacific for four years at Prime Video and Amazon MGM studios(October 2020-January 2025), where she handled the launch campaigns of over 100 shows and films in India, Japan and Singapore.
Prior to that, she was senior vice-president at Viacom18 Media where over nearly 13 years (April 2008-Octo 2020) she spearheaded the launch of its Hindi general entertainment channel Colors which quickly claimed the No 1 spot, beating back long-standing number one’s in the space. Additionally, she also worked on social impact initiatives with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Finally, two of the initiatives – the #OpenNewWorlds brand promise and the #OneTogether campaign – she championed helped build stability in the organisation.
Before the two corporate assignments, she was employed with agencies like Weber Shandwick in Mumbai then Genesis Burson Marstellar first in Singapore and then in India for around six years.
“After an enriching journey in television and streaming, I’m thrilled to embark on this new chapter with a studio that consistently sets benchmarks and redefines success in both theatrical and streaming entertainment,” posted Sonia on Instagram. “Maddock Films has always been known for its ability to craft stories that resonate deeply with audiences. In my new role, I’m eager to bring together the storytelling touch points across social, PR, and consumer communication to create immersive and engaging experiences for viewers. By connecting these threads seamlessly, we can build a dynamic and interconnected audience journey, amplifying the magic of our narratives and ensuring they captivate and delight at every interaction. With an incredible lineup of projects ahead, I look forward to collaborating with Maddock’s visionary creators and talented team to take our stories beyond screens and into the hearts of audiences everywhere.
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.
