Brands
Priyanka Chopra Pantene’s new global ambassador
MUMBAI: Pantene, a leading hair care brand, has welcomed the superstar and Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra as their newest global brand ambassador. Joining an esteemed roster of strong women around the globe such as Selena Gomez, Ellie Goulding, Gisele Bundchen, Priyanka adds another feather to her cap by becoming the first Indian actress to represent the brand globally.
Pantene stands for ‘Strong is Beautiful’ and Priyanka Chopra embodies this by inspiring women across the globe with her inner strength and beauty. She will be the face of Pantene’s new campaign celebrating the Brand’s biggest breakthrough in 30 years.
Commenting on her association with the brand, Priyanka said, “A favorite around the world, I love that Pantene celebrates and advocates that being strong is beautiful”. She adds, “Inner Strength is as important for hair as it is for life. Strong hair can handle anything! Pantene with its new and improved formula has given me thicker, stronger hair allowing me to endure any hair damage and experiment with different styles!”
Priyanka’s lustrous hair has received its fair share of worldwide fame, with many proclaiming that her hair deserves ‘an Emmy’ of its own! “Yes, I do get that a lot wherever I go. As we all know, your hair needs regular, proper care. With the new Pantene, one can get just that! It’s more than just a shampoo; it strengthens and nourishes hair right from the root to the tip. All that strength and nourishment wrapped up in your daily wash? What more can your hair ask for!”
Brands
Kotak Mahindra Prime names Suraj Rajappan as managing director and chief executive
The car-finance arm of Kotak Mahindra Bank lines up a new chief and raises its borrowing limit
MUMBAI: Suraj Rajappan is getting the keys. Kotak Mahindra Prime Limited (KMPL), India’s veteran car-finance outfit, has named him managing director and chief executive, effective June 1st, 2026—the same day his predecessor drives off into retirement.
The board approved the appointment at its meeting on March 18th. Rajappan, currently a whole-time director at the company, has spent his entire 24-year career at KMPL, working across functions before rising to the top job. The three-year term remains subject to shareholder approval, and the company confirmed he faces no bar from SEBI or any other authority from holding the post.
He takes over from Shahrukh Todiwala, who superannuates on May 31st after more than three decades with the Kotak Group. Ashok Vaswani, managing director and chief executive of parent Kotak Mahindra Bank, was generous in his send-off. Todiwala, he said, “leaves behind a legacy marked by prudent growth, strong risk discipline, and a focus on customer-centricity.” Of his successor, Vaswani was equally bullish: Rajappan’s “deep industry experience and execution capabilities position KMPL well for its next phase of growth.”
The board also loosened the purse strings, raising the company’s overall outstanding debt limit from Rs 43,000 crore to Rs 48,000 crore. The expanded ceiling covers bank loans, debentures, commercial paper, treasury operations, credit facilities and external commercial borrowings.
KMPL has operated as a car-finance company since 1996, branching into two-wheeler loans in 2018 and loans against property in 2021. With fresh leadership, a bigger borrowing arsenal and an ambitious lender for a parent, Rajappan’s first task is clear: step on the accelerator.
