Brands
Product of the Year relaunches in India to police innovation claims
New logo, global muscle and consumer research power India reboot
MUMBAI: Product of the Year (POY), the global consumer-voted platform for product innovation, has relaunched in India with a refreshed identity and a sharper ambition: to become the country’s benchmark for consumer-validated innovation.
The relaunch introduces a new logo, renewed positioning and an expanded role that goes beyond an annual award. Operating in more than 40 countries, POY positions itself as an independent validation platform backed by large-scale consumer research, rather than jury-led opinion.
The POY mark has previously been carried by major global and Indian companies including Hindustan Unilever, P&G, Nestlé, ITC, Marico, Godrej, L’Oréal, Samsung, Philips, Havells, Haier, ICICI Prudential Life, Axis Max Life and Tata AIA Life Insurance.
Product of the Year global CEO Mike Nolan, said the programme was built on a simple idea: innovation must be validated by consumers, not claimed by brands. He described India as one of the world’s most dynamic innovation markets, where trust and credibility increasingly shape purchase decisions.
In India, POY will be backed by NielsenIQ as its exclusive research partner, with winners determined through independent consumer evaluation of real products and services. The platform aims to help brands move from marketing claims to evidence, particularly as categories become crowded with “new” and “improved” messaging.
Product of the Year India CEO Raj Arora, said brands are investing heavily in R&D and consumer-centric innovation, but credibility remains the missing link. The relaunched platform, he said, is designed to serve as proof: helping brands strengthen launches, support premiumisation and signal innovation maturity to leadership and trade partners.
POY is positioning itself as a brand-building and validation platform, enabling winners to leverage the recognition across retail, media, digital campaigns and consumer touchpoints.
Entries for the upcoming edition of Product of the Year India are now open, with winners earning the right to carry the globally recognised POY mark following NielsenIQ-led consumer research.
Brands
Tech Mahindra names Jeetu Anandani VP & country head – enterprise & strategic accounts
Veteran tech leader to drive enterprise growth across Australia and New Zealand
MELBOURNE: Jeetu Anandani has stepped into a larger leadership role at Tech Mahindra, taking charge as vice president and country head for enterprise and strategic growth across Australia and New Zealand.
Based in Melbourne, Anandani will steer the company’s enterprise portfolio in the ANZ region, focusing on expanding business across high-growth sectors such as retail, energy and utilities, health insurance and logistics. The move signals Tech Mahindra’s intent to deepen its presence in one of the world’s most competitive enterprise technology markets.
In his new role, Anandani will lead growth initiatives, build strategic partnerships and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders across industries. His mandate also includes accelerating business development efforts in sectors such as manufacturing, travel and logistics while helping clients navigate digital transformation and AI-led change.
The promotion caps a steady rise within Tech Mahindra. Anandani most recently served as communications, media and entertainment head for BPS across the Asia Pacific and Japan region, where he worked on expanding enterprise deals and strategic partnerships. Before that, he held the role of account director, managing key client relationships and delivery programmes.
Prior to joining Tech Mahindra in 2020, Anandani spent nearly eight years at Telstra as country manager in Mumbai, overseeing operational growth and partnerships. His earlier career includes leadership stints at Tata Consultancy Services, Vodafone and JPMorgan Chase.
With more than two decades of experience across telecom, banking and IT services, Anandani now takes the helm of Tech Mahindra’s enterprise push in ANZ, a region where demand for AI, digital transformation and large-scale technology partnerships continues to gather pace.
