MAM
Sharmila Malekar returns to Mudra as senior VP
MUMBAI: Mudra India has appointed Sharmila Malekar as senior vice president for Mudra West. This is Malekar‘s second innings at Mudra, having earlier worked as VP in 2004.
Malekar moves in from Mind Mirror, a research & strategic consultancy, where she was designated as managing partner.
In her new role, she will report in to Mudra West president Arijit Ray and will help strengthen brands on businesses like ITC, Jyothy Laboratories, Electrolux, Kalpataru,
Emami, HPCL and Godrej.
Malekar comes with over 18 years of experience in brand building and consumer research. She started her career with Lintas where she worked on brands like Liril and J&J feminine hygiene for their Stayfree, Carefree range, among others.
She has also worked with Ogilvy and Mather and Publicis Ambience Advertising.
“Malekar comes on board with a rich experience of overseeing a wide spread of brands in the FMCG, automotive entertainment and beverages space, across few of the best agencies of the country like Ogilvy, Lowe and Publicis. We are looking forward to her experience in consolidating and building on some of our most important client relationships at Mudra West,” Ray said.
MAM
Times of India launches SFI Expo for sports, fitness and infrastructure
New exhibition to bring together stakeholders across India’s growing sports ecosystem in July 2026.
MUMBAI: The Times of India is stepping onto the field with a brand-new playbook this time, not with ink and paper, but with a full-scale exhibition that promises to score big for India’s sports industry. The Times of India has announced its entry into the exhibitions business with the launch of The Times of India Sports, Fitness and Infrastructure (SFI) Expo. Set to be held in July 2026 in New Delhi, the expo aims to create an integrated platform that connects the entire value chain of sports, fitness, technology and infrastructure.
Powered by 187 years of credibility across print, digital and experiential media, TOI is positioning the SFI Expo as a major collaborative hub for sports enterprises, infrastructure companies, government bodies, fitness and wellness firms, athletes, innovators and communities.
The exhibition will cover everything from planning and building world-class sports facilities to enabling advanced training environments and performance solutions, with a strong focus on innovation in training, recovery and technology.
Speaking on the initiative, Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. (The Times of India) president for eesponse & brand capital Surinder Chawla said, “India is entering a dynamic new era. Both traditional and new sports are growing exponentially. Government initiatives such as Khelo India and Fit India are nurturing young athletes and steadily strengthening India’s imprint on the world sporting arena. This exhibition aims to unite stakeholders across the sports value chain and help accelerate India’s journey towards a robust, world-class sporting ecosystem.”
Designed as an annual platform, the TOI SFI Expo will facilitate dialogue, partnerships, knowledge exchange and investment opportunities, supporting the development of a more inclusive and future-ready sporting landscape in India.
From match reports to match-making for the entire sports ecosystem, The Times of India is now extending its legacy of influence from the newsroom straight into the arena. With the SFI Expo, TOI isn’t just covering the game, it’s helping build the stadium, the training tech, and the future of Indian sports.
