MAM
Parag Milk Foods appoints Sumit Jain as president of finance
Mumbai: Parag Milk Foods Ltd, a manufacturer and marketer of dairy-FMCG products, is delighted to announce the appointment of Sumit Jain as president of finance. With an established presence as a key player in the dairy industry, this strategic move underscores Parag Milk Foods’ dedication to nurturing top-tier talent and fostering the next generation of leaders who will guide the company’s future success.
With an extensive background in financial management and a track record of success, Jain brings a wealth of expertise to the organization. A chartered accountant, Jain achieved All India Rank 18 in 2012 and All India Rank 22 in Cost Accountancy in 2013. He was twice recognized as one of India’s top 40 CA’s under the age of 40 by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Jain’s previous role as head of finance at Reliance Luxury Lifestyles (Reliance Brands) provided invaluable experience in leading financial strategies for over 30 luxury brands, including Armani, Jimmy Choo, Coach, Balenciaga, Michael Kors, and Bottega Veneta. He has also worked with Parle Agro, Britannia, and Bauli India Bakes.
In his new role, Jain will play a key role in driving the company towards new heights of financial success. His strategic vision and proven leadership capabilities will be pivotal in shaping the company’s financial strategies and ensuring sustainable growth.
Commenting on the appointment, Devendra Shah said, “We are pleased to welcome Sumit Jain to our team as President of Finance. His exceptional track record and expertise in financial management will be instrumental in guiding our company towards achieving our strategic goals. We look forward to working together with Jain to accomplish new milestones and drive continued success for Parag Milk Foods.”
Jain expressed his enthusiasm for joining Parag Milk Foods, stating, “I am honoured to be part of the journey with Parag Milk Foods and excited to contribute to its financial success. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at Parag Milk Foods and leveraging our collective strengths to achieve our objectives.
MAM
VML India lands two finalist spots at Cairns Hatchlings 2026
The Mumbai agency is back in Australia with two teams, a UN brief and 24 hours to impress
MUMBAI: VML India is heading to Australia again. The Mumbai-based creative agency has secured two finalist spots at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 competition, one in the Audio category and one in Design, making it the only Indian agency to have reached the finals in both editions of the contest since its launch in 2025.
Four people will make the trip. Senior copywriter Shilpi Dey and senior art director Raj Thakkar will compete in Audio. Art directors Shabbir and Shruti Negi will go head-to-head with the world’s best in Design. The finals take place at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13th May, culminating in an awards ceremony on 15th May.
The work that got them there is worth examining. For the Audio category, Dey and Thakkar tackled a brief for LIVE LIKE MMAD with a campaign called Inner Voice, Interrupted. Using spatial audio techniques, the campaign recreates the overwhelming self-doubt that descends after a long workday, physically panning negative thoughts left and right before cutting the noise entirely to reveal a confident inner voice. Strategically targeted at commuters via Spotify during evening rush hours, the campaign reframes the hours after work as an opportunity for personal growth and charitable action.
For the Design category, Shabbir and Negi worked on a brief for Canteen’s Bandanna Day, a campaign highlighting how cancer pushes teenagers out of their own defining moments. Using a pixelated design language to create stark contrast between a blurred world of isolation and a focused world of connection, the campaign, titled The Flipside of Cancer, shows teenagers fading into the background of birthdays, skateparks and school proms. As a Canteen bandanna appears, the blur flips and the teenager snaps back into sharp focus.
Kalpesh Patankar, group chief creative officer of VML India, made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. “We are immensely proud to see our teams consistently excel on the Cairns Hatchlings platform since its inception,” he said. “They have masterfully tackled challenging briefs across diverse categories, demonstrating both layered storytelling and a unique creative approach. This exceptional teamwork is truly inspiring.”
Dey and Thakkar, returning to the finals after last year’s run, were candid about the demands of the audio medium. “It’s one of the most demanding mediums, where we only have a few seconds to capture a listener’s world with sound alone, so absolute clarity is essential,” they said. “The true measure of creative work is its ability to create positive change, and our audio submission was made to help those who need it most while encouraging people to silence the inner voices that hold them back.”
Shabbir and Negi, competing in Design for the first time, described the experience as “a completely different beast.” “We see it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise the bar, and challenge ourselves in new ways, while also learning from creative minds from across the globe,” they said.
In Australia, the four finalists will face a live 24-hour brief from the United Nations before presenting in a live pitch session. Twenty-four hours, one brief, one shot. VML India has been here before. It knows exactly what is at stake.
