MAM
Mars wrigley confectionery goes local with india inspired doublemint® paanmint
MUMBAI: Mars Wrigley Confectionery today announced the launch of DOUBLEMINT® PAANMINT, a new, India inspired entrant to the freshness category.
Inspired by the local favorite ‘Paan’ flavor, DOUBLEMINT® Paanmint is the first product from Mars Wrigley Confectionery which has been developed exclusively for the Indian market. The new product brand, under the DOUBLEMINT® master brand aims to widen its presence in the freshness category, a segment it leads globally. It is being launched on the back of extensive consumer research and shall offer the freshness of mint with the much loved desi flavour.
Talking about the launch, Mr. Yogesh Tewari, Marketing Director, Mars Wrigley Confectionery, said, “The launch of DOUBLEMINT® Paanmint is a significant milestone in our journey in India. It is the first time we have developed a product specifically for the Indian market in the freshness category. The new product builds on DOUBLEMINT®’s proposition of long-lasting freshness and gives it a unique, local twist with a flavor that Indians are familiar with and immensely fond of. DOUBLEMINT® Paanmint is a unique, differentiated product and we are confident that the product will be well received by our consumers here.”
DOUBLEMINT® PAANMINT offers a contemporary burst of freshness and flavor and will be available across traditional trade outlets for INR 10.
The new product is being launched in India with the proposition Pehle Paan, Phir Naya Connecshaan. This will be brought to life through an exciting television and digital campaign, conceptualized by creative agency BBDO India. A series of three comical TVCs depict people in situations where they unexpectedly choose to eat DOUBLEMINT® Paanmint before momentous occasions in their lives.
The first TVC depicts Pehle Paan, Phir Kanyadaan wherein a father dramatically stops the bride at her wedding altar, only to reach for a pack of DOUBLEMINT® Paanmint, which he offers to the groom. The second film sees a twist to the proposition by way of Pehle Paan, Phir Jaan Pehchaan. Set in an office space, it follows a new employee as she is introduced to her new colleagues. Just as she extends her arm for a handshake with one of the employees, the guy, instead of reciprocating, takes out takes out a pack of DOUBLEMINT® Paanmint and offers it to her, reiterating the adage Pehle Paan, Phir Naya Connecshaan. The third film opens at a college where an awkward and nervous fresher is performing for his seniors who, in turn, are laughing at him. Post this performance, when it is time for the next fresher to sing, instead of being flustered, he reaches for a pack of DOUBLEMINT® Paanmint. His simple gesture of offering it to his seniors impresses them, reiterating the message of Pehle Paan, Phir Gaan.
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.
