MAM
Wasim Akram is Roche Diagnostics’ brand ambassador
MUMBAI: Former Pakistani speedster Wasim Akram has been chosen as the brand ambassador of Roche Diagnostics India’s flagship brand Accu-Chek.
The company states that Accu-Chek is a fast, accurate and reliable Blood Glucose Monitoring System specifically designed to help people with diabetes to monitor their blood glucose levels themselves.
The new campaign by Roche Diagnostics exhorts the consumers on Accu-Chek’s philosophy of ‘Live Life- The Way You Want,’ – a conviction, that one can lead a normal life in-spite of being a diabetic.
Roche Diagnostics India MD Sanjeev Johar said, “Consumers today live life in the fast lane and are increasingly adopting ‘Do-It-Yourself’ products, which provide both convenience as well as confidence. People have also started to realize that incurable diseases can be managed with regular monitoring and control.
” Through this campaign, we want to emphasise the importance of timely self-monitoring and hence lead a healthy lifestyle. Wasim Akram personifies the spirit of the Accu-Chek brand and we are hopeful of a long and fruitful innings with this association.”
The current campaign is an extension of the Accu-Chek Inspiration Seriesstarted in October 2004 with Wasim Akram. ‘Accu-Chek Inspiration Series’ aims at creating awareness, through road shows across the country, on diabetes and its management through Self monitoring. The series primarily focuses on spreading the message through school children.
At each event, school going children, who despite a physical, mental or economical handicap have excelled in their life, are felicitated by Akram. The whole process is in sync with Accu- Chek’s philosophy of ‘Live life. The way you want,’ – a conviction that one can lead a normal life in spite of being afflicted with diabetes.
The ad campaign has been conceptualised and scripted by Michael D’Souza of Basic Instinct, a creative boutique specialising in Brand Strategy. The 30 second commercial hit Indian television screens a few days ago.
Brands
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail reshuffles top deck; Nikhil Modha to take over as CFO
Phased transition sees Marco Agnolin head OWND!, Nikhil Modha lined up as CFO as company readies next growth leg
MUMBAI: Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail is redrawing its leadership map, lining up a new generation of executives across key roles as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
The company has named Suraj Bahirwani as chief executive (designate) of Pantaloons, effective April 1, 2026, with a full transition to the top role slated for October 1, 2026. He will also be designated as senior managerial personnel.
A two-decade veteran of the Aditya Birla Group, Bahirwani joined as a group management trainee in 2002 and has since held a string of leadership roles across retail and manufacturing. His resume spans stints at Aditya Birla Retail, a tenure as chief operating officer of Pantaloons, and most recently, head of global sales at the group’s cellulosic fibres business, where he drove international expansion and strengthened value-added portfolios.
Academically, he holds a PhD from the University of Mumbai, a postgraduate management diploma from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, and is a chartered accountant. Over the years, he has picked up multiple chairman’s awards, including distinguished achiever, exceptional contributor and accomplished leader.
The transition at Pantaloons will be staged. Incumbent chief executive Sangeeta Tanwani will continue until September 30, 2026, steering the handover before moving into an advisory role to the managing director from October 1, 2026. She is set to retire on January 31, 2027, at which point she will step down as whole-time director and key managerial personnel.
Alongside, the company has brought in Marco Agnolin as chief executive of OWND! and senior managerial personnel, effective April 6, 2026. Agnolin arrives with over three decades of global experience, having held senior roles at Inditex, where he helped expand Zara in Italy, and later served as chief executive of Bershka and Diesel. His track record spans fast fashion, brand turnarounds and youth-focused retail.
On the finance side, Nikhil Modha has been appointed chief financial officer (designate) and senior managerial personnel from April 1, 2026. He will assume full charge as chief financial officer and key managerial personnel from January 1, 2027.
Current chief financial officer Jagdish Bajaj will oversee a phased transition until December 31, 2026, before retiring and stepping down from his roles.
The reshuffle signals a calibrated succession plan rather than a sudden overhaul, with the company staggering exits and appointments to ensure continuity even as it refreshes leadership across verticals.
As Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail juggles legacy brands and new-age formats, the message is clear: steady hands for the present, sharper ones for the future—and no pause in the push for scale.
