MAM
Puneet Gupta joins INOX Group as head of communications
Mumbai: INOX Group has appointed Puneet Gupta as head of communications for INOX Air Products (INOXAP) and INOX India Ltd (INOXCVA). His appointment reflects INOX Group’s commitment to excellence and innovation as it continues to make strides in the industrial gases, cryogenic solutions, green energy space and future innovations.
With over 21 years of intrapreneurial experience in corporate communications, public relations, branding, CSR, and internal communications, Puneet brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role. His innovative approach, coupled with a keen eye for detail and unwavering passion for excellence, makes him an invaluable addition to the INOX team.
Puneet is well known for his versatility, exceptional creativity, and ability to communicate complex subjects through integrated communications strategies. His solid foundation in PR fundamentals, combined with impeccable execution skills, allows him to deliver strategic consultancy that yields tangible business outcomes.
As head of communications, for INOX Group, Puneet will oversee brand communication, media engagement, reputation management, senior stakeholder management, strategic messaging, employee communications, and CSR initiatives for INOXAP and INOXCVA.
In his previous role, Puneet served at Inox Leisure Ltd and PVR Ltd, where he made significant contributions over the past five years. His departure from PVRINOX is marked by gratitude towards his colleagues and leaders for their support and mentorship.
Expressing his excitement about his new role, Puneet stated, “I am thrilled to join INOX Group and lead the communications efforts for INOX Air Products and INOX India Ltd. I look forward to leveraging my expertise to drive purpose-driven brand growth and share compelling stories about our fascinating products and solutions.”
INOXAP is India’s largest industrial gases manufacturing company, while INOXCVA is among the world’s leading cryogenic solutions companies. Puneet aims to contribute to India’s #GreenEconomy transition by highlighting the companies’ pivotal role in the manufacturing and clean energy sectors.
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.
