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Surya joins hands with GLS University
MUMBAI: When it comes to fresh innings, GLS University has knocked it out of the park. The Ahmedabad-based institution has roped in Indian cricket superstar Suryakumar Yadav as its brand ambassador, bringing together the worlds of fearless sport and forward-thinking education.
Fondly known as Mr 360 for his audacious stroke play, Surya embodies resilience, adaptability and ambition, qualities GLS says mirror its own vision of preparing students to thrive in real-world challenges. His journey from street cricket to captaining India in T20I echoes the university’s rise in under a decade as one of Gujarat’s most dynamic centres of learning.
“I am thrilled to be associated with GLS University,” said Yadav. “What excites me most is how their legacy combines with new thinking, encouraging students to take risks, stay disciplined and think beyond the ordinary.”
Welcoming him to the fold, GLS president Sudhir Nanavati remarked, “SKY is more than a cricketer, he is a symbol of belief and perseverance turning dreams into milestones. That is exactly the aspiration we want every GLS student to embrace.”
GLS executive director Chandni Kapadia added, “Surya doesn’t just play cricket, he paints the sky with possibilities. His fearless 360 degree play reflects our multidisciplinary approach, inspiring students to go beyond limits.”
Founded in 2015, GLS University is backed by the legacy of the Gujarat Law Society, established in 1927. With industry-linked programmes, dual degree pathways and global collaborations, the institution is betting big on innovation and skill-based learning.
The partnership with Surya aims to spread a message of excellence and leadership, blending education and sport to inspire the leaders of tomorrow. And as this collaboration takes flight, one thing is clear, for GLS and SKY, the boundaries don’t exist.
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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.
