MAM
TikTok selects Oracle in the US after rejecting Microsoft offer
KOLKATA: TikTok has chosen Oracle for a business partnership after abandoning talks with Microsoft. The Bytedance owned short-video app has chosen Oracle as a technology partner.
According to reports, the terms of the deal are still evolving. It is not clear yet if Oracle would take an ownership stake in TikTok’s US operations. The decision comes at a time when the social media app is running out of time to close a deal in the US within the tight schedule given by the Trump administration. It has to block a deal within 20 September.
Earlier on Sunday, tech giant Microsoft, another bidder for TikTok’s US operation announced that the latter has rejected its offer. “ByteDance let us know today they would not be selling TikTok’s U.S. operations to Microsoft,” Microsoft said. “We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users, while protecting national security interests,” it added.
However, the future of the deal is subject to approval from Washington and Beijing. TikTok’s US stake sell has turned to be more difficult since Beijing issued new restrictions or bans in late August on tech exports, requiring companies to seek government approval.
TikTok has more than 175 million downloads in the US. While the administration alleged TikTok could misuse user information, the company has continuously refuted any claim of providing any US user data to the Chinese government.
MAM
Raymond Lifestyle appoints Kalpana Singh as CMO
20-year HUL veteran to lead marketing and brand growth from 5 March 2026.
MUMBAI: Raymond Lifestyle just stitched a marketing masterstroke because when your profits are feeling the pinch, you bring in someone who knows how to make brands irresistible. Raymond Lifestyle Limited has appointed Kalpana Singh as chief marketing officer (CMO), effective 5 March 2026. She will report to the CEO and join the senior management team, leading marketing strategy, brand development and customer engagement across the company’s fashion and lifestyle portfolio.
Singh brings 20 years of experience in brand building, consumer insights and category strategy, largely from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL). Most recently she served as marketing director at HUL, driving integrated campaigns to strengthen brand positioning and customer engagement. Her earlier roles at HUL included Personal Care Business Group Director for the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa region, and Brand Development Director for the Middle East, North Africa, Russia and Turkey. She holds a Master of Arts in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
The appointment arrives as Raymond Lifestyle navigates a challenging quarter. Consolidated net profit fell 33 per cent year-on-year to Rs 42.86 crore in Q3 FY26 (from Rs 64 crore in Q3 FY25) and dropped 44 per cent sequentially from Rs 75 crore in Q2 FY26. The company cited headwinds in its international business, particularly garmenting and B2B exports, due to higher US tariffs causing deferred orders and margin pressure.
The company is focusing on brand repositioning, innovation in marketing and deeper consumer connections to support growth in India’s fashion and lifestyle market.
In an industry where every thread counts, Raymond Lifestyle isn’t just adding a CMO, it’s weaving fresh vision into the fabric, hoping the right marketing stitch turns the tide one campaign at a time.
