MAM
Maxus India brings on board Anand Chakravarthy as West Head
MUMBAI: Maxus today announced the appointment of Anand Chakravarthy as West Head. Anand will report into Kartik Sharma, Managing Director, Maxus South Asia, will be leading the region from the Mumbai office. Some of the clients under his supervision are Vodafone, L’Oreal, Tata Sky, Colors and Fiat Motors.
Commenting on Anand’s appointment, Kartik Sharma, MD, Maxus South Asia said, “We are excited to have a senior leader from the industry in the Maxus team. Anand comes with a rich and varied experience across categories and brands, not to mention his immense knowledge of working with one of the country’s largest media and entertainment brands. We are confident he will push the PACE agenda for Maxus and help our team deliver the 10/10 vision for our clients.”
Speaking on his appointment, Anand Chakravarthy, West Head, Maxus said, “As a marketing and broadcast media professional, I have watched Maxus emerge as a thought leader in a dramatically changing media environment. The opportunity to be part of this winning team and help create value for an enviable portfolio of clients is an exceptionally exciting opportunity I look forward to.”
Prior to joining Maxus he was the Executive Vice President Marketing at Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd & Business Head for the Big CBS TV Network. He has been part of the Executive Committee at Reliance Broadcast Network since its inception in 2006. Anand was instrumental in building the organization, from a start up to a multi-media entity today with play across Radio, Live Entertainment and Television.
Prior to joining RBNL, Anand was Associate Vice President, Strategic Planning at LOWE, where he crafted communication & brand strategies for several Unilever brands like Surf Excel, Wheel, Vim, Domex, as well as financial brands like HSBC, ICICI Bank, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, IL&FS and Tata Mutual Fund. Anand started his career with Research International, a part of WPP’s KANTAR Group, specializing in quantitative & qualitative research. At Research International he worked on multiple categories like foods, household & personal care products, consumer durables & automobiles.
Brands
Nykaa eyes majority stake in Deepika Padukone’s 82°E brand
Deal could help scale premium label as Nykaa sharpens its beauty play
MUMBAI: Nykaa is in advanced discussions to acquire a majority stake in 82°E, the premium skincare label founded by Deepika Padukone, according to media reports.
The proposed deal signals Nykaa’s intent to deepen its House of Nykaa portfolio while giving 82°E the scale it has struggled to achieve independently. Padukone is expected to retain a minority stake if the transaction goes through.
For Nykaa, the play is both strategic and timely. With a customer base of over 42 million, the company is betting on its strong distribution, logistics, and repeat purchase ecosystem to revive the brand’s momentum. The two sides already share a working relationship, with Padukone serving as Nykaa’s global brand ambassador since September 2025.
Launched in late 2022, 82°E entered the market with a premium positioning but has faced headwinds. The brand reported revenue of Rs 14.7 crore in FY25, down 30 per cent year on year, alongside losses of Rs 12.26 crore. Industry observers have pointed to steep pricing, a somewhat diffused brand identity, and intense competition from digital-first labels as key challenges.
The potential acquisition also reflects a broader shift in India’s beauty and lifestyle space, where celebrity-led brands are increasingly partnering with larger corporates to unlock scale. Alia Bhatt’s Ed-a-Mamma, for instance, sold a majority stake to Reliance Retail, while Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty has emerged as a standout success within Nykaa’s portfolio, clocking Rs 132.4 crore in FY25 revenue.
Nykaa itself has been on a strong growth trajectory. Its parent, FSN E-Commerce Ventures, reported a 156 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 68 crore in the December 2025 quarter, with revenue reaching Rs 2,873 crore.
Nykaa has been steadily building its portfolio through acquisitions such as Dot & Key, Earth Rhythm and Nudge Wellness, signalling a clear push to own and scale homegrown brands.
If the 82°E deal materialises, it could mark a fresh chapter for the label, blending celebrity appeal with corporate muscle. For Nykaa, it is another calculated step in staying ahead in an increasingly crowded beauty aisle.
