MAM
Names of media agencies pitching for Cadbury account revealed
MUMBAI: Carat, MindShare/Maximize, Madison, Mediaedge, MediaCom, Starcom and Zenith Media! These are the seven agencies that will be saying “Kuch khaas hai hum sabhi mein” (“There is something special about all of us) as they pitch for the planning and buying business of Cadbury’s which is currently under review.
As regards what the account is worth, indiantelevision.com did some number crucnhing. For the year ended 29 December 2002, the net sales of Cadbury India Limited were Rs 6846.58 million (source: www.myiris.com). Cadbury by its own admission spends anything between 10 per cent and 10.3 per cent on advertising and promotions. Therefore, it would be fair to say that the spend on advertising and promotion should be around Rs 705 million.
The media agencies have been asked to present credentials, after which two will be shortlisted (along with Carat). Following this initial exercise, a proper media brief will be given for the final pitch.
Yes, the move has been preceded by some global reconfiguration. Earlier this year, Cadbury Schweppes, London, had moved its chocolate advertising business, which analysts in the media estimate at $50 million, to Publicis Groupe’s Publicis Worldwide, New York and London. It is worth nothing that in India, both Zenith Media and Starcom, which are part of the Publicis group, are in the fray for Cadbury’s media business.
In India, Cadbury’s Dairy Milk account is handled by O&M, a WPP group company. Currently, WPP Media’s Maximize is in the reckoning for the Indian media business.
Sources say that the sudden departure of Carat Media Services’ former India CEO Meenakshi Madhvani has triggered off a panic reaction amongst clients such as Asian Paints and Cadbury’s. Asian Paints has already initiated the process and is in talks with two top media independents. It might be remembered that indiantelevision.com had broken the story about Madhvani’s departure on 8 April 2003.
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.
