MAM
Panasonic merges industry and energy divisions to power growth in India
MUMBAI: When energy meets industry, sparks are bound to fly and Panasonic just flipped the switch. Panasonic Life Solutions India (PLSIND) has strategically merged its Industrial Devices (INDD) and Energy Solutions (ESD) divisions into a single powerhouse: Panasonic Industry & Energy India (PIDEIN). The move promises sleeker operations, sharper customer focus, and a jolt of innovation for the Indian market.
Helming the new entity is Narayan Kumar, who steps in as chief business officer. Previously the divisional director of INDD, Kumar brings a mix of strategic vision and hands-on B2B experience, reporting directly to PLSIND MD and CEO Tadashi Chiba.
Commenting on the integration, Chiba said, “By bringing together our Energy and Industry divisions under PIDEIN, we are unlocking new opportunities to innovate and deliver solutions that truly matter. With Narayan’s leadership, we are confident PIDEIN will strengthen our market presence and drive sustainable growth in India.”
Kumar added, “India is at a critical inflection point as a global manufacturing hub. PIDEIN combines electronic and electromechanical components with energy solutions across Automotive (ICE & EV), Infra ICT, HVAC, and Automation segments. Together, we can help customers build products for a self-sustaining and greener future.”
Panasonic’s Industrial Devices portfolio in India covers advanced electronic and electromechanical components including passives, sensors, relays, microswitches, BLDC motors, as well as automation products like servo systems, PLCs, HMIs, and sensing solutions. On the energy side, the ESD division supports India’s green push with lithium-ion batteries for EVs, renewable energy storage systems, and energy management solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial clients.
The consolidation into PIDEIN signals more than just a rebranding, it reflects Panasonic’s drive to streamline operations, foster collaboration, and accelerate innovation. By uniting diverse technologies under one umbrella, the company aims to deliver tailor-made solutions while advancing its global mission of sustainable and customer-centric growth.
With Narayan Kumar at the helm and a clear roadmap for integrated growth, PIDEIN is set to energise India’s industrial and energy landscape, proving that when the right sparks meet, the future truly lights up.
MUMBAI: In India’s fast-moving payments race, Visa has just swiped in a new leader. The company has named Suresh Sethi as its India country head, marking a key leadership shift as it sharpens its focus on digital payments growth in the market. Sethi steps into the role following his recent exit from Protean eGov Technologies, where he served as chief executive officer. He succeeds Sandeep Ghosh, who has moved on after more than four years at Visa to pursue an external opportunity.
The appointment comes at a time when Visa is doubling down on its expansion strategy across India and the wider region, deepening partnerships and accelerating adoption in an increasingly competitive digital payments ecosystem.
Sethi brings with him a broad, cross-market perspective shaped by decades of experience across corporate banking, retail financial services, mobile money and large-scale government technology initiatives. He began his career at Citigroup, where he spent 14 years working across India, Africa, South America and the United States, focusing on transaction banking services within the corporate bank.
His appointment signals a blend of institutional experience and market familiarity qualities that could prove critical as Visa navigates a landscape where fintech innovation, regulatory evolution and consumer adoption are all accelerating at once.
As digital payments in India continue to scale rapidly, the leadership change underscores a simple reality, in a market where every tap, scan and swipe counts, who leads the charge can matter just as much as the technology itself.
