MAM
Vandana Katoch launches creative agency ‘Clayground’
MUMBAI: Former DDB Mudra Delhi creative director Vandana Katoch has formally announced the launch of her creative agency – Clayground.
She had quit DDB Mudra in April to start her own venture, and had started the Delhi based agency a couple of months ago. The name, Clayground, Katoch said, is a toss-up between the words ‘clay‘ and ‘playground‘ – in other words, substance mixed with fun.
“After over 15 years in the industry I was still enjoying every bit of it. The idea of starting something of my own was brewing in my head for a while, but in i‘ll-do-it-one-day kind of way. Then an opportunity presented itself and I decided to take the plunge. The idea is to bring together like-minded people and create communication that is insightful and engaging,” Katoch told Indiantelevision.com.
She said that Clayground is a place where the process of creation is playful, while at the heart of it there is something solid. “For me, creativity begins with a truth or an insight and then one plays with it and enjoys the process. If either is missing, the work doesn‘t tick,” she added.
Katoch, who started alone, has a team of four people now.
Clayground is handling Jaypee Group as first client. Katoch has been working on the Jaypee account for six years now, over two agencies. “One fine day, I got a call from the client asking if I had thought ofturning entrepreneur. I felt honoured when Jaypee gave me the opportunity to start up by offering to be my first client. Clayground is on the roster of Jaypee Group‘s ad agencies. We look forward to doing projects across its different verticals,” Katoch said.
MAM
Manappuram Finance appoints Sreekanth P V as group head – operations
22-year veteran from Bajaj Finance to drive efficiency and customer experience.
MUMBAI: Manappuram Finance just upgraded its operations engine because when customer delight needs turbocharging, even the gold loans get a smoother ride. Manappuram Finance Ltd has appointed industry veteran Sreekanth P V as group head for operations & customer experience at the grade of president. In his new role, Sreekanth will lead efforts to strengthen operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, streamline processes, drive service innovation and scale the company’s digital ecosystems across all business verticals.
Sreekanth brings over 22 years of experience in operations management, digital platforms, product innovation and customer experience within the financial services sector. Most recently he served as deputy executive vice president for digital platforms at Bajaj Finance Ltd, where he led the development of a unified app and web platform strategy and built a cohesive digital ecosystem.
Manappuram Finance, chairman and managing director V. P. Nandakumar said, “We are pleased to welcome Mr Sreekanth P V to the leadership team. He brings extensive experience in operations management, digital platforms and customer experience. As we continue to strengthen our operational capabilities and enhance customer engagement, his expertise will play an important role in driving efficiency, innovation and service excellence across the organisation.”
The appointment reflects Manappuram Finance’s ongoing focus on building a stronger leadership bench and elevating operational standards as the company scales its lending and customer engagement capabilities.
In a sector where every rupee counts twice, Sreekanth isn’t just joining the team, he’s the new conductor making sure the entire orchestra of loans, digital flows and customer smiles stays perfectly in tune.
