Brands
Marico bets on aloe vera to revive a legacy hair oil brand
MUMBAI: Marico is gambling that a dash of aloe vera can breathe new life into an ageing hair oil franchise. The Indian consumer-goods giant launched Nihar Naturals Shanti Aloe Vera Amla Hair Oil on 25 November, blending traditional amla—known for strengthening hair—with aloe vera for softness and shine.
The move signals ambition. Nihar Shanti Amla has long been a staple in northern and western Indian households, from Madhya Pradesh to Punjab. But today’s women want more than their grandmothers’ remedies. They want products that fit fast-paced lives and modern beauty ideals.
Marico’s India core business chief executive Ashish Goupal, core business, calls it “innovation grounded in consumer insight.” The company is the volume market leader in hair oils, making it both a privilege and a burden. “It is our responsibility to continuously expand the range of choices we offer,” says Goupal. This launch, he argues, modernises heritage whilst staying true to purpose: accessible, trusted haircare.
The new variant comes in sizes ranging from Rs 20 to Rs 120, available both in shops and online. In the fiscal year 2024-25, Marico posted turnover of $1.3bn, with international sales accounting for a quarter of revenue. Its brands—from Parachute coconut oil to Saffola cooking oil—reach one in three Indians.
Whether aloe vera can persuade a new generation to embrace amla remains to be seen. But Marico is betting that tradition, cleverly repackaged, still sells.
Brands
FSS names Anand Krishnamurthi head of global digital delivery
Tech veteran to drive AI-first, cloud-led transformation in payments globally
CHENNAI: Financial Software and Systems (FSS), an AI-first payment infrastructure company, has appointed Anand Krishnamurthi as head of global digital delivery.
In his new role, Anand Krishnamurthi will lead FSS’s global digital delivery capabilities, focusing on AI-first and cloud-led transformation while ensuring predictable, high-quality outcomes for customers worldwide. He will be based in Chennai and report to V. Balasubramanian, CEO of FSS.
Bringing 28 years of experience in technology and digital transformation across banking, capital markets, financial services, and insurance, Anand has held senior leadership positions at Cognizant and NuSummit. He is recognised for scaling multi-geography delivery teams, leading mission-critical platforms, and embedding AI-driven automation in complex, regulated environments.
“What drew me to FSS is its deep payments expertise, strong product DNA, and the scale at which its platforms power real-world financial ecosystems,” said Anand Krishnamurthi. “I aim to strengthen delivery predictability, execution rigor, and engineering quality, building empowered teams that deliver measurable customer outcomes. FSS has a unique opportunity to create real-time, AI-infused payments infrastructure that is resilient, secure, and globally scalable.”
V. Balasubramanian added, “Anand’s track record in leading multi-geography delivery programs and AI-first operating models makes him the ideal leader for FSS as we accelerate our AI-driven digital payments business. His leadership will help us raise the bar for outcomes globally.”
This appointment is part of FSS’s broader push to build an AI-powered, cloud-native delivery organisation capable of meeting the evolving needs of banks, fintechs, and financial institutions worldwide.
