MAM
TBU appoints Ashutosh Karkhanis as creative director
MUMBAI: Brand consultancy, The Brand Union (TBU), has appointed Ashutosh Karkhanis as creative director.
Karkhanis moves in from Rediffusion-Y&R’s digital and design arm Rediffusion WHO!, from where he resigned last month as national creative director, design and digital.
In 2006, WPP acquired a majority stake in Ray+Keshavan (R+K), India‘s first graphic design consultancy. Consequently, the Bangalore-based firm became a part of WPP’s design conglomerate and brand consulting firm, TBU.
In his new role at TBU, Karkhanis will report to MD and executive creative director Sujata Keshavan.
Karkhanis’ 18-year career began with Lintas Bangalore as trainee visualiser. After four years, he moved to Enterprise Mumbai and a year later joined Euro RCSG as senior art director. Two years later, Karkhanis joined JWT‘s Kenya outfit, Thompson Kenya.
After spending less than a year in Nairobi, Karkhanis moved back to Mumbai and started working with Ambience as associate creative director, before moving to Grey a year later and working there for two-and-a-half-years.
Karkhanis also worked at Quadrant Communications and Contract Advertising before joining Rediffusion as creative head in 2007.
Brands
Safex Group appoints Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer
Former Standard Chartered executive to steer finance
NEW DELHI: Safex Chemicals has appointed Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for the next phase of expansion in specialty chemicals and global agrochemicals.
In her new role, Malhotra will lead the group’s financial strategy, capital architecture and governance framework as Safex scales operations across multiple verticals including branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing.
A chartered accountant and graduate of Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Malhotra brings more than two decades of experience in business finance, strategic planning, corporate banking and client management.
Before joining Safex, she served as executive director, financial markets at Standard Chartered, where she led teams across India and Sri Lanka and worked closely with large corporates, global subsidiaries and commercial banking clients. Her expertise includes capital structuring, treasury operations, risk management and financial markets led financing solutions.
Safex Group promoter director and joint managing director Piyush Jindal, said the appointment comes at a pivotal time for the company. “Safex stands at an inflection point as we build an integrated platform across branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing. Richa’s experience across global financial institutions will strengthen our financial discipline and help unlock value across the group,” he said.
Malhotra said she was looking forward to contributing to the company’s next chapter of growth. “Safex has built a strong reputation over 35 years with its focus on integrity, innovation and agricultural insight. I am excited to be part of the organisation as it expands its footprint in India and global markets,” she said.
The appointment comes as Safex continues to strengthen its financial foundations and scale operations internationally, positioning itself for future growth milestones.
