MAM
Thakur JWT Malaysia’s new planning head
MUMBAI: Bhaskar Thakur, who left J. Walter Thomson (JWT) to join OYO Rooms as head of brand strategy, has returned to JWT Malaysia as the head of strategic planning. He will lead the strategic planning for brands such as Nestle and Shell.
JWT Malaysia recently appointed Saurabh Saksena as the managing director.
Thakur has over 13 years of experience in creating categories, building brands and growing business across FMCG, financial services and technology brands along with leading brand marketing.
Thakur had joined OYO Rooms in October 2015. Earlier, he was the AVP and strategic planning director for JWT in Gurgaon. He had handled strategy for PepsiCo – Slice, Tropicana, Mountain Dew & Gatorage, Nestle, Kitkat, Munch, Milkybar, Alpino, and GSK. He has also worked in the strategic departments of Euro RSCG, Ogilvy & Mather and Publicis.
Brands
UP govt, HGS unit to skill one lakh youth in digital push
MoU targets jobs, training and future ready talent across state
MUMBAI: Government of Uttar Pradesh has joined hands with OneOTT Intertainment Limited, the broadband arm of Hinduja Global Solutions, to train one lakh youth, signalling a fresh push towards jobs in the digital economy.
The memorandum of understanding, signed with the Employment Department Uttar Pradesh, aims to bridge the gap between skills and industry needs while opening up employment pathways for young people across the state.
The agreement was formalised by principal secretary, labour and employment, M. K. Shanmugha Sundaram and whole-time director, Hinduja Global Solutions and MD and CEO, OneOTT Intertainment Limited, Vynsley Fernandes, in the presence of labour minister Anil Rajbhar.
Under the partnership, OneOTT Intertainment Limited will roll out training programmes, workshops and knowledge-sharing platforms designed to equip youth with skills aligned to a rapidly digitising economy. The initiative will also include research inputs, technical guidance and policy-level support to ensure effective execution.
Principal secretary, labour and employment, M. K. Shanmugha Sundaram, said, “This collaboration will help align skill development programmes with actual industry needs and prepare the youth of Uttar Pradesh for emerging opportunities in the digital services sector.”
Hinduja Global Solutions whole-time director, and OneOTT Intertainment Limited MD and CEO Vynsley Fernandes said, “India’s progress is closely linked to strengthening the capabilities of its young workforce. At HGS, we see skills evolving alongside technology, and partnerships like this help build a stronger digital ecosystem.”
The state government will facilitate coordination across departments and institutions, ensuring the programmes reach the right audiences and deliver measurable outcomes.
As digital infrastructure expands and technology reshapes job markets, initiatives like this are positioning skill development not just as training, but as a gateway to opportunity for the next generation.
