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Mudra adds McDowell’s whiskey to its kitty
MUMBAI: Mudra, has just added McDowell’s No.1 whiskey to its portfolio of brands. The creative business for McDowell’s will be handled from Bangalore.
Commenting on the win, Mudra South head and EVP
S Radhakrishnan says, ” We have been working with McDowell for the past nine years on the various brands. That has allowed us to showcase our creative abilities and strategic intent. McDowell has been happy with the kind of work we have done for them and suggestions on No.1 have resonated. The shift is, to our mind, a reward for the good work.”
Mudra Bangalore head Saurabh Saksena says, ” We will be handling No. ! on an All India Level. Given he fact that it is the largest whiskey brand in the country, quite obviously, it will be supported adequately across markets of interest. We firmly believe that as one of the strongest creative forces in the South, we will be able to do a lot on the brand. With this win, we will handle No. 1, Derby Special Whisky and developmental brands.”
McDowell No ! whiskey is a flagship brand of the UB Spirits division launched in the early 70’s, the brand is today the market leader, selling not just in India, but also in Canada, Dubai, Japan, etc. It is also the world’s fastest growing whisky brand and features among the ‘millionaire brands’ brands that sell over 1 million cases).
The Mudra South portfolio also includes brands such as Prestige, Henkel, Peter England, Paragon, TI Cycles, Epson Printer, Cycle Agarbatti, RmKV and Deccan Herald, Satyam, Malyalam Manorama among others.
MAM
Kate Rouch steps down as OpenAI Chief Marketing Officer
Marketing leader prioritises health after late-stage breast cancer diagnosis.
MUMBAI: When the toughest battle moves from the boardroom to the personal front, even the sharpest minds know it’s time to step back and focus on winning the most important fight of all. Kate Rouch, chief marketing officer at OpenAI, has announced she is stepping down from her role to focus on recovery following a diagnosis of late-stage breast cancer.
In a heartfelt LinkedIn post, Rouch revealed she was diagnosed around a year and a half ago, shortly after taking on the CMO position. Despite undergoing intensive treatment, she continued to lead the company’s marketing function through what she described as one of the most challenging periods of her career.
She explained that while she remained deeply committed to her role and team, she had reached a point where prioritising her health and recovery had become essential. Rouch called the decision difficult, noting it required acknowledging personal limits and shifting priorities. She reflected that the experience had reshaped her understanding of courage not always about pushing harder, but sometimes about stepping back to focus on long-term wellbeing, family and sustainability.
Rouch expressed gratitude to her team and colleagues for their support. She mentioned that Gary will step in to help lead the function and recruit a successor. She plans to support the transition and remains open to returning in a different capacity in the future, depending on her health.
Prior to joining OpenAI, Rouch served as the first chief marketing officer at Coinbase and spent over a decade at Meta, where she was vice president and global head of brand and product marketing.
She also thanked well-wishers for their messages and shared that stories from fellow survivors had a meaningful impact during her treatment journey.
In the high-stakes world of tech marketing, Kate Rouch has always been known for her strategic brilliance. Now, she is showing a different kind of strength, one that reminds us that even the most driven leaders sometimes need to pause, heal, and come back stronger when the time is right. Wishing her a full and steady recovery.
