Brands
ZooZoos as TV stars this IPL!
MUMBAI: Those waiting with bated breath for the Indian Premiere League (IPL) have one more reason to hoot. The funny eggheads of the balloon bellies, gibberish and idiosyncratic ways will be back and how!
Vodafone’s ZooZoos, which first appeared during IPL 2009, will take charge for the fifth time this season. This time round, they will be seen participating in television shows of different hues even as they peddle the mobile services provider’s value-added products.
The latest campaign, also created by Ogilvy & Mather, comprises 10 TVCs depicting the ZooZoos in a creative and engaging manner; each promoting a unique Vodafone product/service.
O&M national creative director Rajiv Rao, who, along with his team, started working on the creatives in March this year, said, “Television has become a part of popular culture so we thought of using it as the background. However, it is a challenge for the whole team to keep reinventing ZooZoos and whether we succeed in conveying the brand’s message through these films.”
The first two TVCs releasing on 16 April revolve around two product propositions of Vodafone – Choose your Number and Chhota Credit – and feature a reality TV show and a quiz show, respectively.
Will this result in a ZooZoo overkill? “The street hawkers started selling ZooZoo merchandises at least a month back. This is proof enough of how much people love these characters. On the digital front, the ZooZoos have millions of fans and since they come once a year, I think it’s quite the opposite of overdose,” said Rao.
According to Vodafone India brand communications and insights senior vice president, Ronita Mitra, “Like every year, this year too, Vodafone India has planned a high decibel 360-degree campaign around IPL. The ZooZoos are back during IPL 2014 to communicate Vodafone’s differentiated customer experience that offers unique products and services to make the customer’s life simple and convenient.”
Mitra added that apart from TV, Vodafone’s campaign during IPL 2014 would be supported by OOH, digital and other mediums.
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.
