MAM
Mrinal Bakshi joins JioStar as sr director after long run across TV networks
MUMBAI: Tech and broadcast veteran Mrinal Bakshi has joined JioStar as senior director, marking his latest move in a career spanning some of India’s biggest media houses. Based in Mumbai, he took charge in November after a year-long stint at Star India as director for sports, content, broadcast and streaming.
Before Star, Bakshi held the same leadership remit at Viacom18 from early 2024 to late 2025, steering sports and streaming operations during a period of rapid expansion. He earlier served as senior general manager at TV18 Broadcast for two months in 2023, capping an 11-year spell at the network where he rose through the ranks from manager to general manager.
Bakshi’s track record across A/V compression, video streaming, sports production and project execution makes him one of the sector’s seasoned operators. His appointment signals JioStar’s intent to deepen its streaming and sports engineering capabilities as competition heats up in India’s digital media market.
Brands
Chipotle appoints Fernando Machado as chief brand officer
Marketing veteran to lead brand, digital push and global expansion plans
CALIFORNIA: Chipotle Mexican Grill has appointed Fernando Machado as its chief brand officer, effective 1 June, as the company sharpens its focus on brand building and digital-led growth.
The move comes shortly after Chipotle Mexican Grill chief executive officer Scott Boatwright took charge, signalling a renewed push to strengthen the brand’s global positioning and accelerate international expansion.
Most recently, Machado served as operating partner at Garnett Station Partners, where he supported portfolio brands on marketing and growth strategies. Prior to that, he was chief marketing officer at Activision Blizzard, leading campaigns for major gaming franchises.
He has also held senior roles at Restaurant Brands International, working across brands such as Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons, and spent over a decade at Unilever in global brand development roles.
In addition to his corporate experience, Machado is associated with the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity as dean of the Brand Marketers Academy, mentoring emerging marketing leaders.
At Chipotle, he will oversee brand strategy, creative direction and digital engagement, aligning marketing efforts with the company’s evolving consumer base and technology-led ambitions.
The appointment highlights Chipotle’s intent to blend strong brand storytelling with digital innovation as it looks to scale its presence in an increasingly competitive global market.
