MAM
Pocket Aces’ Loco, Red Bull tie-up to fuel esports’ growth in India
MUMBAI: Loco and Red Bull announced an industry-defining esports partnership with a mission of transforming esports into popular culture. The partnership will see Red Bull and Loco working together to create and broadcast esports content across various game categories.
The partnership will kickstart with the live broadcast of the finale of the ongoing “Red Bull Flick” tournament on Loco. This popular CS GO (CounterStrike) tournament is designed to discover the most talented gamers in India and is set to take place on Saturday, 13 June. The Loco-Red Bull partnership will also cover events such as Red Bull M.E.O. (focuses on mobile arcade games like PUBG mobile) and Red Bull R1v1r Runes (focuses on Dota 2). The companies will work together to create additional events which will be announced soon.
Indian Counter-Strike Pro and Red Bull India’s first gaming athlete Ankit 'V3nom' Panth said, “I am really happy to see such great participation in Red Bull Flick. I think we made all the six cups full within four days. This shows the passion of our community. I know we are going to see some great matches in the national finals on 13 June. Red Bull Flick is a great platform to showcase your aiming skills. India is known to have players with good aim but they find it difficult to make a team and compete. Red Bull Flick is a great initiative to help such gamers and put them out there. Additionally, I am equally excited to see Red Bull partner with an esports platform like Loco to broadcast the finals which definitely gives us access to one of the largest gaming communities in India.”
Pocket Aces founder Anirudh Pandita said, “India’s gaming ecosystem continues to grow rapidly and gaming has now permeated the Indian consumer’s entertainment experience in a meaningful manner. Our mission as a company is to help consumers fight boredom and we are pleased to partner with Red Bull in our journey. Red Bull has actively appreciated and promoted esports globally over the last few years and we hope to work with them to provide wings to the flight of the esports community.”
The Red Bull-Loco association will not only offer a platform to aspiring gamers in India to showcase their talent but also fuel the growth of this industry; placing India on top of the global esports map. Recently, Loco partnered with Fnatic, a leading professional esports organization headquartered in London, United Kingdom for a PUBG Mobile charity tournament called #GamingForGood.
MAM
Shoppers Stop elevates Biju Kassim as GSS Beauty CEO
Move comes as GSS Beauty scales global brand partnerships in India.
MUMBAI: From store shelves to global shelves, the beauty game is getting a sharper makeover. Shoppers Stop has elevated Biju Kassim as managing director and chief executive officer of Global SS Beauty Brands Limited (GSSBB), signalling a stronger push into the premium beauty segment. The move builds on Kassim’s role in setting up GSSBB, a wholly owned subsidiary that has quickly positioned itself as a fast-growing distribution platform for global beauty brands in India. The unit has been central to Shoppers Stop’s ambition of expanding its footprint in the high-margin beauty and luxury categories.
Chairman Nirvik Singh noted that Kassim’s experience across the beauty ecosystem and his understanding of premium and luxury consumers would help steer the next phase of growth. The focus, he indicated, will be on sharpening the company’s beauty portfolio and scaling partnerships with international brands.
Kassim, for his part, steps into the role at a time when India’s premium beauty market is undergoing rapid evolution, driven by rising consumer aspirations and increased access to global labels. He highlighted that GSSBB will remain a key strategic pillar, with an emphasis on expanding brand partnerships, enhancing consumer experiences and driving growth across markets.
As global beauty brands continue to eye India as a high-growth destination, Shoppers Stop’s bet is clear: owning not just the shelf, but the entire beauty ecosystem behind it.
