Brands
Narayan Ranjan takes charge as head of strategy and operations at Adani Group
MUMBAI: Narayan Ranjan has been appointed head of strategy and operations at the Adani Group, stepping into a pivotal group-level role overseeing corporate and consumer branding as well as corporate communications.
Based in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, Ranjan is part of the Adani Group’s corporate brand custodian unit, working closely with business heads across the conglomerate to shape, coordinate and execute branding and communication strategies for both internal and external stakeholders. His mandate includes building robust operating processes, improving efficiencies and strengthening strategic reporting across the function.
The appointment caps more than three decades of professional experience spanning conglomerates, media, entertainment, consulting and law. Ranjan most recently served as senior advisor at Quintillion Business Media, an Adani Group company, where he worked with senior leadership on strategic planning, project execution, mergers and acquisitions, and managed the NDTV CEO’s office across brands including NDTV, NDTV India, NDTV Profit, BQ Prime and IANS.
Alongside his corporate role, Ranjan continues as visiting faculty at Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai, where he teaches securities law and corporate criminal liability to postgraduate and undergraduate students.
Earlier in his career, he spent over 14 years at Viacom18 Media, including stints as group chief financial officer and senior executive vice president and chief of staff, driving aggressive growth, complex joint-venture management, large-scale M&A and governance reforms. His résumé also includes senior leadership roles at Star TV Network, advisory work with EY’s forensic practice, and start-up scaling experience as chief operating officer at Happydemic.
Known as a non-conformist and outspoken leader, Ranjan blends strategy with execution, governance with growth, and corporate rigour with a strong people-first ethos.
For the Adani Group, the message is clear: brand, strategy and operations are no longer parallel tracks — they are now firmly fused at the centre.
Brands
Malaika Arora launches accessories brand Maejoy
The Bollywood star’s lifestyle brand, built with Myntra and Exceed Entertainment, promises aspirational fashion without the high price tag
MUMBAI: Malaika Arora is not the first Bollywood star to put her name on a brand, and she will not be the last. But Maejoy, the accessories label she has launched in partnership with Myntra Jabong India Private Limited (MJIPL) and talent outfit Exceed Entertainment, at least has a sharper pitch than most. The brand drops with 250-plus styles spanning handbags and lab-grown diamond jewellery, two categories that sit squarely in the sweet spot between aspiration and affordability, and lands on Myntra’s platform from day one, putting it in front of millions of shoppers without breaking a sweat.
The handbag range covers the full gamut: crossbody bags, structured shoulder bags, bucket bags, totes, workwear classics, backpacks and clutches, rendered in synthetic leather, raffia, braids, satin, rhinestone and metallic finishes. The jewellery line runs to rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and tennis bracelets in silver, gold and rose-gold tones, set in 925 sterling silver with IGI and GCI certified lab-grown diamonds. The brand’s guiding philosophy, “The Joy of Being Me,” stakes its claim on individuality and self-expression; its three brand pillars, Authentic, Empowering, Accessible, are the usual suspects, though the lab-grown diamond bet is savvier than it sounds. Lab-grown stones now sell at a fraction of the price of mined ones, and the category is growing fast in India as younger buyers wise up to the arbitrage.
“Maejoy is a labour of love. Throughout my career, whether on screen, in business, or through my personal style, I’ve championed the idea that fashion should be empowering yet effortless. The brand aims to democratise global fashion trends while offering women something that extends the feeling of luxury every day, be it a lab-grown diamond or a perfectly crafted handbag,” said Malaika Arora, founder of Maejoy
MJIPL, the B2B wholesale arm of Myntra, is putting its design and brand-building muscle behind the venture. Suman Saha, chief experience officer and head of house of brands at MJIPL, was bullish on the tie-up.
“Maejoy brings together Malaika Arora’s distinctive style perspective with a strong proposition in the accessible yet elevated accessories space. We believe the brand’s fashion-forward designs and thoughtful positioning will connect strongly with discerning consumers.”
Suman Saha, chief experience officer, head of house of brands, MJIPL
Afsar Zaidi, chief executive of Exceed Entertainment, the talent management firm that helped broker the deal, has worked with MJIPL before and was characteristically direct about what makes Arora an unusually bankable partner.
“Building celebrity-led brands requires a delicate balance of authenticity and market viability. Malaika is a rare talent who commands equal respect as a fashion icon and a savvy businesswoman. We are proud to facilitate this partnership that brings together her creative clout and Myntra’s brand-building excellence,” said Zaidi
Celebrity fashion brands live or die on one question: does the star actually wear it, or is the cheque the only thing they signed? Arora, who has spent three decades as one of Bollywood’s most-watched style references, has at least built a plausible case. Maejoy is live now on www.myntra.com and the Myntra app. The real test, whether shoppers buy the handbag or just the hype, starts today.
