MAM
OVERDRIVE celebrates 26 years of legacy with a special anniversary edition
Mumbai: Celebrating 26 years of legacy as India’s largest auto media platform, OVERDRIVE’s special anniversary edition highlights its unparalleled impact on the auto industry.
Over the years, OVERDRIVE has established itself as India’s largest auto media for the bike & car community, providing in-depth reviews, helpful tips, step-by-step guides and expert advice. It has covered the evolution of the Indian automotive industry, from the rise of homegrown brands to the advent of cutting-edge technology and sustainable mobility solutions. The platform enjoys a robust presence across print, web and television.
Reflecting on OVERDRIVE’s journey, OVERDRIVE editor Kranti Sambhav said, “A pioneer in automotive journalism, OVERDRIVE has been informing and inspiring generations of enthusiasts for the last 26 years. Despite the fast-changing media landscape, our commitment to honest unbiased coverage remains unwavering. We’re more than just a magazine – we’re a community. The team is hopeful that this community will grow even faster with our upcoming initiatives.”
To commemorate the milestone, the September 2024 issue of OVERDRIVE features exclusive content showcasing the best in automotive journalism. Along with in-depth reviews of the Mahindra Thar Roxx, Citroën Basalt and Tata Curvv, the edition also features an exclusive drive review of the Lamborghini Revuelto and an in-depth comparative review of the Swift and its rivals, dissecting the dynamics of the ever-competitive hatchback segment. For those with a taste for luxury, the anniversary edition has a feature on the opulence of the Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS and the locally assembled Range Rover. A comparative review of three of the most anticipated motorcycles in India – the Guerrilla 450, Speed 400, and Mavrick 440, provides readers with a head-to-head analysis of the new models.
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.
