Brands
Prowatch confirms expanding the smartwatch portfolio
Mumbai: Riding on the wave of the phenomenal response on its ZN and VN Series, Prowatch, the smart wearable brand launched in April 2024 by Lava International Ltd, has confirmed plans to expand its smartwatch portfolio following market sentiments and rising consumer demand.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of one-month celebrations of Prowatch’s launch sustained through brand campaign, ‘Tough Hain Pro’. Having garnered applauds from the notable tech influencers and media fraternity, the ongoing 360-degree campaign has achieved tremendous traction for the product, creating mass popularity amongst the young generation. Across 1000 retail outlets, Prowatch experiential zones are created for an elevated in-shop experience. With the response being overwhelming from across markets the success of Prowatch indicates at the rising appetite for smart wearables across markets.
Speaking about Prowatch, Lava International Ltd head of marketing Puravansh Maitreya said, “Prowatch is envisioned to redefine affordable technology in the growing smart wearable industry, with quality, accuracy and relatability. From its launch till now, our focus has been on experiential marketing to enable users experience the product in real life scenarios. The early reception has been encouraging as we continue to expand the portfolio with best-in-class affordable technological innovations.”
Under the campaign, as a part of its marketing strategies, Prowatch on-boarded influencers from different walks of life showcasing the utility and value of the product in different facets of life, alongside creating superlative experience for distributors, retail partners and customers across various touchpoints, fostering robust dialogue and collecting real-time reviews. The launch of the Prowatch witnessed the participation of various channel partners, including retailers, distributors, and consumers, and featured key social media influencers, generating over 10,000 pre-registrations, effectively engaging the target group and building substantial buzz.
Designed, developed and tested in India, Prowatch is a made-in-India and made-for-India product, as it caters to unique needs of Indians, starting at Rs 1999 only. Available on Amazon, Lava e-Stores and at Lava outlets nationwide, Prowatch offers over-the-counter replacement (OTCR) service to ensure a hassle-free product replacement experience under warranty at Lava retail outlets.
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
