MAM
Sushant Singh Rajput to be the new face for Bata men’s collection
MUMBAI: European footwear brand Bata has roped in Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput as the brand ambassador to promote its new stylish and casual range of footwear.
This is in line with Bata’s objective to make the brand relevant and aspirational amongst the young and trendy consumers.
The actor from Patna has acted in super-hit films like M. S. Dhoni and Kai Po Che and is considered a youth icon and trendsetter amongst his huge fan base comprising mostly GenNext. Rajput will initially be seen promoting Bata’s New Men’s Casual collection.
Bata India chief executive officer Sandeep Kataria says, “Sushant is a multi-faceted actor who is a favorite amongst today’s youth with his performances and style. He is a perfect fit for the brand due to his charming persona and panache. He brings a freshness to the brand and we are happy to kick off this exciting partnership with him to make Bata more relatable to the youth.”
Bata’s latest new casual collection with mesh, flyknit and lycra materials and light weight soles not only ups your cool quotient but also offers comfort, design and value for men who love the trendy and casual look. These sneakers (low cut and high ankle) are available in navy, beige, brown and olive colours.
“Bata has always been one of my favourite brands and I am super excited to be a catalyst of the brand transformation that Bata is undergoing. I have recently shot for their new ‘Be Surprised’ campaign showcasing the latest men’s casual collections. And believe me it will leave you surprised too,” mentions Sushant Singh Rajput, on his association with Bata.
Bata already has Kriti Sanon as a brand ambassador for its women’s range and Smriti Mandhana as the face of their sports brand – Power. As Bata’s new brand ambassador for men’s footwear, Sushant Singh Rajput will be seen promoting Bata’s popular brands including the newly launched Bata New Men’s Casual collection, already available across all Bata stores.
Bata has held a unique place in the hearts of Indians for more than 85 years. Probably the only footwear brand that offers footwear and accessories for the entire family, Bata has redefined the modern footwear industry in India. It has established a leadership position in the industry and is the most trusted name in branded footwear. It sells about 50 million pairs of footwear every year and serves over 120,000 customers almost every day.
Bata India is the largest footwear retailer in India, offering footwear, accessories and bags across brands like Bata, Hush Puppies, Naturalizer, Power, Marie Claire, Weinbrenner, North Star, Scholl, Bata Comfit and Bubblegummers. It retails in over 1,365 Bata stores, on bata.in and in thousands of multi-brand footwear dealer stores pan-India.
MAM
Beacon Group appoints Dr Rajesh Patel as Group CEO
36-year healthcare veteran to lead Beacon Diagnostics, Vector Biotek, Biogeny.
MUMBAI: A new chief, a fresh diagnosis and a sharper prescription for growth. Beacon Group has appointed Dr Rajesh Patel as its Group Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026, signalling a decisive push to scale its presence in the diagnostics and IVD space. Patel steps into the role with 36 years of experience across the healthcare and diagnostics industry, bringing a career shaped by leadership roles spanning sales, marketing, business development and operational strategy. His mandate is both expansive and precise: to steer the group’s overall strategic direction while tightening coordination across its three core entities Beacon Diagnostics, Vector Biotek and Biogeny Diagnostics.
In practical terms, that means driving cross-company synergies, accelerating market expansion and strengthening organisational capability areas increasingly critical as diagnostic players compete for scale in a fragmented yet rapidly evolving healthcare ecosystem. The group is positioning itself to capture unmet demand across chain laboratories, key accounts and standalone labs, segments that remain underserved despite growing diagnostic needs.
The appointment comes at a time when the In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) sector in India is entering a more competitive and innovation-led phase, with companies focusing not just on product pipelines but also on service delivery, integration and customer-centric models. Beacon’s leadership appears to be betting that Patel’s execution-focused approach can help translate ambition into operational momentum.
Welcoming the appointment, Chairman Dr D K Joshi described Patel’s induction as a strategic move aligned with the group’s long-term vision, emphasising the role of leadership depth in navigating the next phase of growth.
For Beacon Group, the message is clear, in a sector where precision matters, leadership is the new differentiator—and this appointment is intended to set the tone for what comes next.
