Brands
PVR upgrades to Thinspace’s application delivery technology
MUMBAI: PVR Cinemas has chosen Thinspace TSE for cost-efficient application delivery technology. Thinspace Technology Inc is a global provider of reliable, scalable and affordable application delivery, virtualization, and cloud client technology.
PVR’s cinema circuit comprises 462 screens at 104 locations across 44 Indian cities. Prior to upgrading to Thinspace TSE, PVR had been using a version of Citrix that was outdated and too costly for its growing user base. Moreover, some applications required different server OS for different type of apps and not all platforms were supported with that version.
The IT team found Thinspace TSE to be a cost effective alternative to Citrix to deliver Microsoft Navision ERP application delivery to its distributed user base. TSE displayed similar functionality as Citrix with the support of latest Windows server OS at a fraction of the cost. Thinspace also provides PVR with a dedicated customer support and easy-to-use web-based management console, which is simpler to manage than Citrix.
Thinspace CEO Chris Bautista said, “PVR is one of our fastest deployments. We had more than 100+ users switched from Citrix to Thinspace within a day. The simplicity of the solution enabled PVR to see a direct value in our product. PVR also appreciated our dedicated customer support and web-based management console which is easier to manage than our competition.”
Thinspace Technology operates in high growth B2B markets of desk top virtualization and cloud computing solutions – which make it easier, more flexible and more affordable for companies and IT managers to conduct and streamline computing operations securely from any server – anywhere in the world.
Thinspace achieved third quarter 2014 revenue of $2.322 million, and nine months ended 30 September, 2014 revenue of $5.701 million, representing year-over-year improvements of 464 per cent and 479 per cent, respectively.
Gartner research predicts the global desk top virtualization market to surpass $65 billion in 2015.
Brands
Aviva India appoints Harshit Agrawal as head of marketing
Former Clix Capital marketing head to steer brand strategy and growth
MUMBAI: Aviva India has appointed Harshit Agrawal as head of marketing, bringing on board a seasoned marketer with more than 15 years of experience across financial services, digital agencies and brand strategy.
Agrawal joins the life insurance company after a nearly five-year stint at Clix Capital, where he served as head of marketing. In that role, he led the company’s brand repositioning as an MSME-focused NBFC and oversaw a wide marketing mandate spanning brand strategy, PR, omni-channel platforms, social media, SEO and high-performance media.
During his tenure, Clix Capital saw a strong digital push, including a 200 per cent rise in annual website traffic and a significant reduction in customer acquisition costs. He also played a key role in the firm’s digital transformation initiatives, helping design digital journeys for its personal loan business.
Before Clix Capital, Agrawal was head of marketing at Muthoot Fincorp, where he managed integrated marketing campaigns across the Muthoot Pappachan Group’s financial and non-financial businesses. His work ranged from rolling out a nationwide CRM platform to managing ATL and BTL campaigns, brand ambassador-led advertising and large-scale sponsorships, including those linked to the IPL.
Earlier in his career, Agrawal worked with digital agencies including BC Web Wise and Dentsu Webchutney, where he handled digital strategy and online marketing campaigns for brands such as Hero MotoCorp, SanDisk and Bharti Airtel.
Alongside his corporate career, he also co-founded SRB Automotive, where he has been involved in running one of Central India’s long-standing fuel stations, focusing on customer data analytics and service excellence.
Commenting on the appointment, Aviva India MD and CEO Asit Rath said, “At Aviva, we are on a journey of transformation, building a progressive, customer-first brand that moves beyond conventional marketing. Harshit’s contribution will be instrumental in elevating our marketing capabilities and strengthening our position as a future-ready organisation.”
Sharing his thoughts on the new role, Harshit Agrawal said, “Aviva has always stood out as a progressive organisation, constantly evolving with new innovations and a forward-looking strategy. It inspires me to build on this momentum, moving beyond traditional approaches to create campaigns that resonate with customers, elevate the brand, and reflect Aviva’s shift from protection to prevention. I look forward to shaping an impactful marketing narrative that drives trust, engagement and sustainable growth.”
Agrawal holds an executive management programme certification in sales and marketing leadership from the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow and is also a certified CFA. At Aviva India, he will lead the company’s marketing strategy and brand initiatives as it looks to deepen customer engagement in an increasingly competitive insurance market.
