MAM
Manisha Tripathi to head SMG’s LiquidThread in India
MUMBAI: LiquidThread, Starcom MediaVest Group‘s all screen content practice, has appointed Manisha Tripathi as national director.
Tripathi will report to LiquidThread Asia-Pacific managing director CVL Srinivas and SMG India CEO Malli CR.
Tripathi will be based out of the Gurgaon office.
In line with the network’s digital, open source approach, LiquidThread has increased the scale and innovation of SMG‘s content creation, moving beyond branded entertainment to create communities, conversations and advocates for brand properties.
Srinivas said, “Manisha has been at the cutting edge of content creation and brings the right blend of creativity and business focus. Her coming on board will help us accelerate the growth of our branded content business”.
Added LiquidThread Manisha, “I‘m delighted to join LiquidThread and excited about creating brand inspired content that reaches out, connects, engages and interacts with consumers across different screens, generating valuable experiences.”
Tripathi has over 15 years experience in roles spanning content creation, strategy and business development. She began her career with TV18 where she produced, directed and scripted stories for shows such as India Business Report and Amul India Show. She was part of the core programming team at Star Plus between 2000-2004 and worked on several successful shows including Khullja Sim Sim, Kya Masti Kya Dhoom, Kisme Kitna Hai Dum, Sonpari. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi etc.
Tripathi was also closely associated with the strategy, planning and content development at TataSKy during its launch phase. In her stint with BigFM, Tripathi was station director, Goa where she developed, launched and ran the first privately owned FM station of Goa. She later became station director Delhi. Most recently, Tripathi was associated with Alva Brothers Entertainment, first as president at Miditech producing shows for a range of channels and later with Real Lifestyle Broadcasting.
Tripathi is a post graduate in Social Communications in Media from Sophia, Shree B. K. Somani Memorial Polytechnic College, Mumbai.
Brands
UltraTech Cement appoints Jayant Dua as managing director
Dua will succeed K. C. Jhanwar after his term ends in December 2026
MUMBAI: UltraTech Cement, the flagship cement arm of the Aditya Birla Group, has elevated Jayant Dua as managing director, effective 1 April, 2026.
The company’s board also approved his appointment as additional director, managing director and key managerial personnel, effective 1 January, 2027, following the completion of the current managing director K C Jhanwar’s term on 31 December, 2026, according to a regulatory filing.
Dua will serve as managing director for a four-year term from 1 January, 2027 to 31 December, 2030.
A veteran executive with more than 37 years of professional experience, Dua joined the Aditya Birla Group’s cement business in 1996 and spent nearly a decade in various functional and leadership roles.
Over the past two decades, he has held several profit-and-loss and chief executive responsibilities across multiple group businesses, including insulators, insurance, Century Cement and the chlor-alkali segment. In 2023, he was elevated to lead the group’s renewables and textiles businesses.
Within the group, Dua has received several internal honours, including the chairman’s individual award for exceptional contribution in 2002, the outstanding leader award in 2009 and the leader of leaders recognition in 2022.
He holds an engineering degree from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, an MBA from International Management Institute and has completed the advanced management programme at Harvard Business School.
