Brands
Mercedes-Benz India registers 25 per cent half-yearly sales growth
MUMBAI: Mercedes-Benz announced a strong growth in its sales for the Jan-June 2014 period. The automobile manufacturer registered a significant high of 25 per cent year-on-year growth by selling 4,717 units in this period.
Significant contributor to this growth trajectory has been the flagship S-Class sedan and the ML-Class SUV and the NGC portfolio comprising the A-Class and B-Class. While the C-Class and the E-Class luxury sedans remain the preferred vehicle of choice for the customers, the AMGs continue to grow in the performance segment it created. The recently launched CLA 45 AMG is expected to appeal to a new group of young Indians, hence widening the AMG customer base in India.
Mercedes-Benz India MD and CEO Eberhard Kern commented, “2014 is our year of excellence and it’s our endeavor to create new benchmark in modern luxury. Our ‘Year of Excellence’ growth strategy is paying-off as we have been able to maintain our key focus of growth and sustainability in the Indian market amidst challenging market conditions. The first six months of sales growth reaffirms Mercedes-Benz India’s strong brand premium and competitive edge in terms of offering continuous product innovations, boasting of a benchmark production facility, extending an enriching after-sales experience and strengthening its qualitative network presence. With some of the most fascinating products lined up in the remaining two quarters, including the much awaited GLA-Class, Mercedes-Benz is all set for another year of strong growth.”
The luxury car maker has the densest network presence in the country with 64 outlets in 36 cities. New outlets were opened in Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Bhopal, Chandigarh and Mohali as well as three new AMG performance centres in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai were inaugurated. The following months will see the launch of eight more outlets.
And it remains the fastest growing luxury brand in India in FY 2013-14 with 47 per cent year-on-year growth.
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.
