MAM
OLX Autos onboards Siddharth Agrawal as country head – marketing
Mumbai: OLX Autos has brought Siddharth Agrawal on board as its new country head – marketing. He will be reporting to the company’s CEO, Amit Kumar.
In his new role, Agrawal will lead OLX Autos’ marketing initiatives as the brand enters the next phase of growth across India’s rapidly expanding pre-owned automobile space, said the statement.
An alumnus of NMIMS, Agrawal comes with experience spread across marketing, sales and operations in multiple leadership roles in FMCG and mobility sector, with organisations such as Unilever and Ola.
Formerly, Agrawal served as senior director at Ola – spearheading its ‘First-Mile Last-Mile’ categories (Ola Autos and Ola Bikes). He was instrumental behind the successful launch and scale-up of Ola autos and bike categories in India, and led Ola’s global category development efforts.
Prior to Ola, he served as global marketing director at Hindustan Unilever Ltd for over a decade across various sales and marketing roles. He was actively leading the marketing efforts for the launch of Pureit range of water purifiers in India, and its global expansion into SouthEast Asia and Africa. He was a key member behind the Pureit ‘Rs one crore safety challenge’ campaign which was based on the insight that consumers think that all purifiers are the same.
On joining OLX Autos, Siddharth Agrawal said, “Having spent more than two decades in various leadership roles across industries from India to South-East Asia and Africa, I have witnessed how marketing initiatives are crucial in building new categories, and developing a differentiated brand identity to unlock growth. I am excited to embark on this journey along with an enthusiastic team that will support OLX Autos’s strategic vision.”
OLX Autos India CEO Amit Kumar commented, “More Indian consumers are shifting their preferences to pre-owned vehicles and the trend has accelerated over the last few years especially in the wake of the pandemic. An evolving & competitive market brings new opportunities for us to communicate our brand proposition in a new avatar in line with changing consumer preferences. Siddharth’s extensive experience of scaling businesses across diverse portfolios in the auto sector is of immense value to us.”
MAM
Ameya Velankar steps down as Uber’s head of marketing for India & South Asia
Veteran marketer exits after more than seven years with the ride-hailing giant.
MUMBAI: After more than seven years of steering Uber through the bumpy roads of India’s mobility market, Ameya Velankar has decided to change lanes. Ameya Velankar has stepped down as Head of Marketing for India and South Asia, marking the end of a significant chapter at the ride-hailing company. He had been with Uber since 2019, taking on multiple roles in product and category marketing before rising to lead the marketing function for the region in 2021.
During his tenure, Velankar played a key role in strengthening Uber’s positioning in one of its most competitive and dynamic markets. He helped drive localised marketing strategies and scale adoption across key offerings such as Auto, Moto, Rentals and Intercity, tailoring global platforms to Indian consumer needs.
Prior to joining Uber, Velankar built his marketing expertise at leading consumer companies including SC Johnson and Marico, where he handled category and product leadership roles. His career began at RPG Enterprises.
Details of his next professional move have not been disclosed.
In a fast-evolving mobility landscape where brands constantly battle for attention, Ameya Velankar helped Uber stay relevant and resonant with millions of Indian users. As he moves on from the driver’s seat of marketing, the company will now look for fresh ideas to keep its wheels turning smoothly.
