MAM
Wing Commander RD Deshpande (retired) joins PR Professionals as president
Mumbai: PR Professionals, the flagship company of the PRP Group, announced the appointment of Wing Commander RD Deshpande (retired) as president of defence business and HR services. This strategic appointment marks a significant step in strengthening its leadership team and expanding the company’s expertise in the defence sector and HR services.
Wing Commander RD Deshpande joins PR Professionals following his tenure with Byju’s where he led the learning and development function and spearheaded critical initiatives aimed at organizational development. With a distinguished military career spanning 22 years, he brings a wealth of leadership experience and specialized knowledge to the existing, diversified, and experience-rich team at PRP Group.
A decorated military veteran, WinCo RD is a recipient of the prestigious “Chief of Air Staff Commendation” for exemplary leadership during his career in the Indian Air Force. He has also held leadership roles in esteemed organizations, such as; Reliance Retail Ltd., Byju’s, ISHRAE, and Critical Care Unified Pvt. Ltd. An alumnus of some of India’s most esteemed institutions, such as; IIM Ahmedabad, Air Force Academy, Air Force Administrative College, Air Force Intelligence School, and the National Defence Academy, WinCo RD has honed his expertise and developed niche through rigorous academic and professional training. Apart from these, he has also successfully completed courses from the globally renowned institutions, like; XLRI, Jamshedpur and Jack Welch Management Institute, Strayer University, U.S.
At PR Professionals, WinCo RD will lead its Defence business along with HR Services. It is aligned with the Vision of the Founder and Managing Director, PRP Group, Dr. Sarvesh Tiwari and this expansion marks the very thought-through and robust strengthening plans of the company.
Dr Sarvesh shared “We are delighted to welcome Wing Commander RD Deshpande to the PRP family. His extensive experience in defence and corporate leadership, coupled with his expertise in HR, PR and learning & development, will prove to be invaluable for the company as we expand our offerings and reinforce our commitment to excellence. His unique experiences and perspectives from the armed forces, sound knowledge and stellar educational background adds a professional flavor to the team. We are confident that his visionary approach and strategic insights will drive significant growth and innovation for our clients and the organization.”
With over 28 years of rich and diversified experience in “people functions”, WinCo RD is a visionary, strategist and an expert in defining policies, processes, and implementing reforms. He is a certified behavioral trainer, excelling in ‘outbound, facilitation, and experiential training’. He is also an ‘executive presence coach’.
Commenting on his appointment, Wing Commander RD Deshpande said, “I am thrilled to join PRP family and am eager to contribute to the company’s mission of excellence in Defence business and HR Services. I am excited and at the same time committed to drive impactful initiatives and support the growth of our clients and the organization.”
PR Professionals has significantly expanded its senior leadership team, further bolstering its ranks with seasoned professionals. Most recently, the company welcomed Nishant Singhal as president strategy. Furthermore, in the preceding year, PR Professionals made strategic appointments to enhance its leadership cadre. Varun Aggarwal was appointed as assistant vice president (AVP) for business development, bringing his wealth of experience and expertise to drive business expansion initiatives forward. Additionally, the company added Sanjay Singh to its team, a distinguished media and PR veteran, who assumed the role of vice president.
PR Professionals is an integrated communications company that has been delivering quality and excellence since 2011 and has also initiated several philanthropic activities. It provides end-to-end branding and customized public relations solutions that enable businesses to become market leaders. From humble beginnings, PRP today has 12 offices in India and six offices in offshore locations. The 150-member team shares Tiwari’s passion for doing extraordinary things in PR and making a difference to the underprivileged through philanthropic activities.
Brands
Malaika Arora launches Maejoy accessories brand with Myntra partnership
New label debuts with 250 plus handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery.
MUMBAI: When style meets sparkle, a new brand is ready to take centre stage. Actor and entrepreneur Malaika Arora has launched a lifestyle accessories label called Maejoy, developed in collaboration with Exceed Entertainment and Myntra Jabong India Private Limited (MJIPL), the B2B wholesale arm of Myntra. The brand enters the market with a debut collection of more than 250 styles spanning handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery, two categories that continue to define everyday personal style for modern consumers.
The handbag lineup includes crossbody bags, structured shoulder bags, bucket bags, totes, backpacks, clutches and workwear inspired designs. The pieces are crafted using materials such as synthetic leather, raffia, braids, satin, rhinestones and metallic finishes.
Alongside the bags, Maejoy has introduced a jewellery range featuring lab grown diamond rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and tennis bracelets. The pieces are set in 925 sterling silver bases with gold, silver and rose gold tones, and include diamonds certified by IGI and GCI.
Positioned as a premium yet accessible accessories label, Maejoy is built around the philosophy “The Joy of Being Me”, aiming to blend aspirational fashion with everyday usability. The brand’s positioning centres on three pillars: authenticity, empowerment and accessibility.
Arora described the venture as a natural extension of her long association with fashion and personal style.
“Maejoy is a labour of love. Throughout my career, whether on screen, in business or through personal style, I have always believed fashion should feel empowering yet effortless. The Joy of Being Me celebrates individuality while making global fashion trends more accessible,” she said.
MJIPL, CXO and head of house of brands Suman Saha said the brand brings together Arora’s style perspective with a strong opportunity in the accessible premium accessories segment.
“Maejoy combines Malaika Arora’s distinctive style sensibility with fashion forward designs that we believe will resonate strongly with consumers looking for elevated yet wearable accessories,” he said.
Exceed Entertainment CEO Afsar Zaidi added that building celebrity led brands requires balancing authenticity with market viability.
“Malaika commands respect both as a fashion icon and a businesswoman. Bringing her creative vision together with Myntra’s brand building expertise creates a strong foundation for Maejoy,” he said.
The collection is available exclusively on Myntra through its website and mobile app, making the brand accessible to millions of shoppers across India as it steps into the competitive lifestyle accessories space.
