MAM
Stellantis awards India communications mandate to Concept PR
Mumbai: Global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis has announced the appointment of Concept Public Relations (Concept PR) as its PR agency in India for 2022. The agency will consult and execute Stellantis group communication in India along with Jeep and Citroën communication mandates.
The mandate includes strategic consultation, planning, media relations, issues and crisis management, and integrated campaign development for the group and both brands, said the statement.
“2022 is a big year for both brands with key products lined up for launch and so our communication strategy will be crucial,” stated Jeep India brand head Nipun Mahajan. “We believe Concept Public Relations (Concept PR) will be the right partner to ensure the brands remain engaging and exciting.”
“We were impressed with their ideation capabilities, passion and energy, and felt this is the right time to bring in some new thinking for both brands. We are excited for the next phase of Stellantis and look forward to a great year ahead with Concept,” added Citroën India brand head Saurabh Vatsa.
The mandate will be managed by Concept PR’s nationwide network offices. The account will be serviced by the corporate team in Mumbai complemented with the required topline industry experience in the auto sector from across the Concept network, said the statement.
“Working with iconic brands like Jeep and Citroën is an honour for everyone in Concept,” said Concept PP managing director Ashish Jalan. “Both brands are at the pinnacle of their craft. This is an exciting opportunity for the Concept family and we are committed to driving significant impact for the brands through effective communication strategies.”
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.
