MAM
Vinayak Upadhyay jumps from mainline to Digital Law & Kenneth
MUMBAI: After a five-year stint with mainline Law and Kenneth as senior creative director, Vinayak Upadhyay has moved to Digital Law & Kenneth and will take on the mantle of chief creative officer there. He will report to Digital Law & Kenneth CEO and managing partner Anil K Nair.
Prior to joining Law & Kenneth, Upadhyay has worked with agencies like Nexus Equity, Lowe, Quadrant, Metaphor (Triton Group) DDB Mudra in India and the Apac region and handled brands like TOI, NDTV 24X7, Pidilite, Amul, Bajaj Auto, TVS Tyres, New Zealand Dairies, Levers, HSBC, The Oberoi Hotel, Jet Airways, Amul, Mercedes Benz, Subaru, Renault, Walls, Fedex, ITC Essenza di Wills, Godrej Hair Dye, Bombay Dyeing, Parle, Anchor, Pidilite, GVK, Kent, Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, J&J, Philips, Nokia, WTF!, The Big Nasty and Idea.
His mandate at Digital Law & Kenneth will be to create ideas that people want to spend time with, those that will draw people in to a relationship with the brand, help transform lives, ideas that excite people enough to log on to the website, follow the coverage on TV or Radio, track the brand on Facebook and follow it on Twitter.
Upadhyay said, “I believe we are entering a new, exciting era where communication is swiftly becoming osmotic. Leaving behind the limiting shackles of time and space, of the 30 seconder and the100cc. To me brand engagement today, in the online and offline space, is much like a two player sport, like Tennis for example. There is a constant rally of ‘live’ communication and reaction being exchanged in real time. You’ll see this approach adopted by the most successful brands which are working hard at distinguishing themselves in the hearts and minds of their customers. All this is to create a memorable experience which is one reason why Brands are moving away from saying to doing across touch points. For which, we believe, the world is our canvas.”
MAM
Continental Tires appoints Nevin Aslan-Özkan as Managing Director for India
Finance leader to drive growth in passenger vehicle segment from 6 April 2026.
MUMBAI: Continental Tires has put a fresh pair of tyres on its Indian leadership and this time, they’re rolling with strong financial horsepower. The premium tyre manufacturer has announced the appointment of Nevin Aslan-Özkan as managing director of Continental Tires India, effective 6 April 2026. She succeeds Samir Gupta, who stepped down on 5 April 2026 for personal reasons.
Nevin joined Continental in 2017 and has held key leadership roles in Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategy & Business Development across EMEA and APAC. Since May 2025, she has served as Chief Financial Officer for Continental Tires India, shaping the company’s financial strategy and performance.
In her new role, she will lead the company’s growth agenda in India, with a sharp focus on accelerating its presence in the passenger vehicle segment. This appointment comes at a pivotal time, following the recent launch of the CrossContact A/T² tyre, the first market globally to receive this product and a €10.5 million (approximately Rs 100 crore) investment to strengthen Continental’s position, particularly in the ultra-high-performance (UUHP) segment.
Nevin Aslan-Özkan said, “India continues to be a strong focus market for Continental Tires. Guided by our ‘In the Market, For the Market’ approach, we will continue to deliver products and technologies designed for Indian roads.”
Samir Gupta, who joined Continental in 2012 and served as managing director since January 2022, was recognised for his significant contribution to expanding the brand’s footprint in India.
Continental is a leading global tyre manufacturer founded in 1871. The company generated sales of €19.7 billion in 2025 and employs around 78,000 people across 54 countries. Its Tires group sector, which includes premium car, truck, bus, two-wheel and specialty tyres, recorded sales of €13.8 billion in fiscal 2025 and employs more than 56,000 people worldwide.
With Nevin Aslan-Özkan at the wheel, Continental Tires India is clearly gearing up for a smoother and more aggressive drive in one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive markets. The road ahead looks promising.
