Brands
Ulka Chauhan joins Rediffusion YR as VP of new business development and strategic Planning
MUMBAI: Rediffusion YR has appointed Ulka Chauhan as New Business Development & Strategic planning VP. She will be working closely with Dhunji S. Wadia.
Wadia added on the appointment, “With over 15 years of experience Ulka brings the right mix of talent, experience and enthusiasm we seek to inject into our talent pool. She will bring further positive changes to our think tank.”
Upon her appointment, Ulka said, “I am thrilled to join Rediffusion-Y&R Mumbai. What I liked most about working at Y&R New York was the dynamic work environment. The Mumbai office is equally abuzz and I look forward to the exciting times ahead with Dhunji and the team.”
Ulka comes with experience from Y&R New York and has worked on various brands such as Burger King, AT&T, Colgate Palmolive and Sony. She also set up Dekraal Country Lodge, a boutique hotel in the Winelands of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Recently she developed and managed Vanilla Kids in Zurich, an online shop retailing clothing and accessories for kids.
Ulka is a qualified associate in Applied Science, Advertising and Marketing Communication from the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York.
Brands
Devyani International names Sandeep Anand, Robinder Singh in key roles
Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee businesses see leadership refresh from April
MUMBAI: Devyani International has strengthened its senior leadership bench with a fresh set of appointments across its key brands, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee, signalling a sharper focus on growth and brand momentum.
The company has appointed Sandeep Anand as chief marketing officer and business head for Pizza Hut. His appointment, approved by the board via a circular resolution on April 3, follows a recommendation by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, as reported by CNBC-TV18. Anand will officially step into the role on April 6, 2026.
He takes over from Vijay Gogate, who currently serves as chief executive officer for Pizza Hut within the company’s operations. The move marks a strategic transition as the brand looks to sharpen its marketing and business playbook in a competitive quick service restaurant market.
Anand brings over two decades of experience across the food and FMCG sectors, with a strong track record in brand building and innovation. His career spans roles at major consumer-facing companies including Domino’s, Zydus Wellness, Zomato, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Reckitt and Ranbaxy, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both scale and agility.
Alongside this, Robinder Singh has been appointed business head for Costa Coffee and the company’s airport operations. He too will assume his new role on April 6, bringing more than 18 years of experience in operations, business expansion and customer experience transformation.
The twin appointments come at a time when Devyani International is doubling down on leadership depth to steer its portfolio through evolving consumer preferences and heightened competition. With fresh faces at the helm of two key verticals, the company appears set to brew up its next phase of growth with renewed energy.
