Brands
Superdry signs up Idris Elba as brand ambassador
MUMBAI: SuperGroup is making Idris Elba, The Wire actor, the face of a new premium range of clothing, following a difficult few months in the US.
Unveiling a new strategy, the company behind the fashion brand Superdry said that Elba would be designing the new line alongside the brand’s founder and design director, James Holder.
The premium range will be available online and in shops from autumn/winter 2015. SuperGroup CEO Euan Sutherland said that he hoped Elba’s profile would help re-launch the Superdry brand in the US, where it had a difficult start.
Sutherland said Superdry still appealed to the 18- to 24-year-old market but many shoppers had “grown up with the brand” and Elba, 42, would appeal to that older generation as well.
“He epitomises what we are: British, grounded and cool. Idris Elba is a big man in the US and he will automatically reposition Superdry in people’s minds,” said Sutherland.
The brand, known for its heavily logoed T-shirts, expects to open a handful more stores in the UK and will focus on expanding in mainland Europe in the year ahead. Eleven more stores will open in Germany, taking the total to 30, and the company is also looking to expand in Austria, Poland, Spain and Italy in the next five years.
Elba has starred as Detective John Luther in the BBC One series Luther, and Nelson Mandela in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Elba has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film, winning one, as well as earning four Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Elba has appeared in films such as American Gangster,Takers, Thor, Prometheus, Pacific Rim and Thor: The Dark World.
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
