MAM
Rishi Kishnani joins Numb3r Impact Agency as co-founder & partner
Mumbai – In a strategic move that marks a significant milestone for both Rishi Kishnani and Numb3r Impact Agency, Rishi has officially taken on the role of co-founder and partner at the cutting-edge agency. A stalwart in the media industry, he brings a wealth of experience and innovation to his new position.
During his tenure as the national content director at Red FM, Rishi played a pivotal role in steering the station towards numerous accolades for its creative campaigns. Notably, he spearheaded the unconventional and bold “Malishka ko matt sunn” campaign, which garnered widespread acclaim. Additionally, his podcast, “The Last Journey from Pakistan,” earned him a prestigious award for its unique and compelling content.
Numb3r Impact Agency founder-partner Tanmay Bahulekar expressed his enthusiasm about Rishi’s addition to the team, stating, “Rishi Kishnani has officially joined the Numb3r story! His extensive leadership and foresight are exactly what tether us to a shared vision, ready to push boundaries and push forth new age content-led advertising solutions.”
Reflecting on his move to the agency, Rishi said, “It’s extremely exciting to be a partner at ‘Numb3r.’ So many ideas, so many possibilities, and a lot of great content is yet to come. It’s a great time to be in the digital space at a time like this. We are at the cusp of a digital revolution in the media space. Building creative teams and coming up with impactful ideas has been my forte, and that is exactly what I plan to do. We have a ‘Numb3r’ of plans which will be announced in the days to come.”
Known for his previous roles as creative director at Radio One, and contributions to Hit FM and Radio City, Rishi’s move to Numb3r is anticipated to bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the forefront of the digital media landscape.
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.
