MAM
Tempest Advertising expands in Mumbai, appoints Aparna Nawathe VP & branch head
Agency strengthens national play with senior hire to lead key market push
MUMBAI: Tempest Advertising is stepping up its national ambitions with a strategic expansion into Mumbai, appointing Aparna Nawathe as vice president and branch head for the city.
The move signals the agency’s intent to deepen its presence in India’s most competitive business hub, where scale meets sophistication and brand-building demands sharper, insight-led communication. The Mumbai office is positioned as a key growth engine, extending Tempest’s multi-city footprint while bringing its integrated communications expertise to a wider client base.
In her new role, Nawathe will lead the agency’s Mumbai operations, focusing on building strategic partnerships and helping brands tackle complex business challenges through communication. Her mandate includes driving growth, strengthening client relationships and delivering cohesive, high-impact campaigns across platforms.
With close to two decades of experience, Nawathe brings a cross-disciplinary approach spanning brand strategy, corporate storytelling and transformation initiatives. Her career includes work with leading names such as Unilever, Godrej and Dabur. She has also led brand marketing at Shoppers Stop, Femina and Lavasa, and worked closely with institutions including the Ministry of Textiles, Cotton Association of India, Tata Trusts and Saint-Gobain.
Commenting on the expansion, Tempest Advertising managing director Turab Lakdawala said Mumbai is a natural next step in the agency’s growth journey. “We are increasingly partnering with brands at a strategic level, helping them navigate complexity through communication. Aparna brings the right mix of strategic thinking, leadership and business understanding to build and scale this vision in Mumbai.”
Sharing her perspective, Nawathe said the agency’s approach sets it apart. “Tempest looks at communication as a strategic lever for business growth. Being media-agnostic allows us to blend digital and mainstream channels to create solutions that are relevant, cohesive and impactful.”
With Mumbai now firmly in its sights, Tempest Advertising is positioning itself to compete more aggressively in the country’s top market, betting on leadership, insight and integrated thinking to drive its next phase of growth.
MAM
Bob Iger joins Thrive Capital as adviser after Disney exit
Former Disney CEO returns to VC firm, stays on as Disney adviser till 2026.
MUMBAI: From castles to capital, Bob Iger isn’t done building just changing the blueprint. Bob Iger has taken on an advisory role at Thrive Capital, marking a return to the New York-based venture firm he briefly joined in 2022. Founded in 2009 by Josh Kushner, Thrive Capital has been positioning itself at the intersection of technology and long-term value creation, an area where Iger’s experience in scaling global entertainment businesses is expected to add weight. Kushner, 40, welcomed Iger back, highlighting his ability to blend technology with human-centric storytelling, particularly in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
Iger is no stranger to Thrive. He had earlier joined the firm as a venture partner in September 2022, after stepping down as CEO of The Walt Disney Company and concluding his tenure as executive chairman in 2021. That stint, however, was short-lived. In November 2022, Disney’s board brought him back to steady the ship, replacing Bob Chapek following a turbulent period for the company.
Now, with his latest exit from Disney’s top job last month, Iger appears to be revisiting the venture world, this time with a clearer runway. Still, the Disney chapter isn’t entirely closed. Under his agreement with the company, he will remain until the end of 2026 as a senior adviser to new CEO Josh D’Amaro and will continue to serve on the board for his current term.
The move comes as venture firms increasingly seek operators with deep industry experience to navigate what Kushner described as “the most consequential technology shift” of the era, driven by AI. For Iger, whose career has hinged on blending creativity with scale, the transition from Hollywood to high-growth investing seems less like a pivot and more like a plot twist.
