Brands
VRB enters cup noodles market with ‘WokTok by Veeba’
Mumbai: VRB Consumer Products has launched WokTok by Veeba, entering the cup noodles category with a fusion of pan-Asian and Indian flavors. This better-for-you range features no added MSG, no palm oil, and no maida, making it a guilt-free option for noodle lovers.
The launch is supported by a TV campaign showcasing how Indians adapt to global cuisines. The film depicts humorous scenarios where Chinese characters embrace Indian quirks, capturing the campaign’s tagline: ‘Chinese, Par Apne Style Se!’
WokTok’s cup noodles come in five flavors: Chowmein, Masala, Manchurian, Kung Pao, and Spicy Korean. Additionally, the brand will launch dipping and culinary sauces made without added MSG, ideal for any meal. WokTok aims to become a household favorite across India.
VRB Consumer Products VP marketing Niyati Kochhar said, “Creating WokTok has been a labour of love—one that celebrates how we, as Indians, embrace and adapt anything by adding our signature twist. Our campaign, ‘Chinese, Apne Style Se,’ captures this beautifully. From food to culture, we have always made things our own, and WokTok is no different. With this launch, we’re speaking to a new generation—the WokTok generation—who values authenticity but also seeks personalization. They crave bold flavors that resonate with their unique palate, and WokTok offers just that, combining the best of both worlds in a way that’s distinctly theirs.”
Enormous Brands managing partner & CCO Ashish Khazanchi said, “WokTok, the latest brand in the instant noodles segment, is set to revolutionize the market with its new line of products: “Chinese but apne style se.” Rooted in the essence of India’s love for bold, diverse flavours, WokTok combines the richness of traditional Chinese cuisine with bold Indian takes. The campaign captures the evolving Indian psyche that craves global experiences but with a familiar, comforting Indianness. WokTok’s bold, exciting flavours and packaging are designed to resonate with India’s youth, offering a quick, delicious, and distinctly Indian spin on the beloved Chinese noodles. It’s not just noodles, it’s Chinese – but our own way.”
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
