e-commerce
Performance marketing agency The Automobile group set up as 2025 dawns
MUMBAI: When you are itching to leave your mark on the world, the best way to do so is to turn entrepreneur. Give to the winds your fears, and take the plunge. With resolution as your motto, go ahead and do it.
And, what if you fail? Well, you get up and begin again! It’s not how many times you fall, but how many times you get up that makes you a success.
At least, that’s what Shwetank Pandit and Yash Vardhan believe in and they have fulfilled that belief by setting up a digital agency called The Automobile group.
Its focus: transform how automobile brands connect with their audiences. By partnering with leading auto aggregator platforms and leveraging targeted digital campaigns, the agency says it will help auto companies to drive visibility, engagement, and measurable results.
“It’s a New Year. It’s a new era in automobile advertising,” said Yash on Linkedin.
“Both Yash and I have been friends for 10 years or more. The agency is built on the foundation of that friendship that combines trust, passion, and innovation to create an AI-driven platform that delivers results,” added Shwetank.
Both said that The Automobile group is “a first-of-its-kind performance network designed to revolutionise how automobile brands connect with buyers. In an industry where precision and impact are everything, we’re here to help brands accelerate their reach and drive measurable outcomes.”
Their entrepreneurial initiative is based on such a solid idea and need that the duo found their initial investors within a month and they already have their first round money in their bank account.
The two have divided their co-founder responsibilities amongst themselves: while Shwetank is charge of delivery, Yash has taken on the responsibility of the business.
Shwentak has close to 18 year of learnings in the digital world having worked for Tangence Solutions, Tyroo, Cardekho, Kinesiz Media, and Convertup Media either in mobile advertising or on ad networks or in media sales and planning.
Yash too has got his hands dirty in digital media with stints in Digifish3, SilverPush, Convival Cords, ConvertUp Media, Moca Technology and click2commission over his eight year career.
Their well-rounded exposure to the RoI driven world of performance marketing is what gave them the confidence to cobble together their start up.
Making a solid pitch to potential clients both Yash and Shwetank said: “As you (CMOs, digital marketing heads and media agencies) gear up to make 2025 a breakthrough year for your brand, The Automobile group is your partner in driving growth. Whether you’re launching a new model, boosting brand awareness, or optimising digital campaigns, we’re here to turn your vision into reality.”
Will the automobile marketers help turn Shwetank and Yash’s vision into reality?
e-commerce
Flipkart rolls out 105 per cent bonus for 20,000 employees
Strong FY25 performance drives payouts even as layoffs and shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: In a year where belts were tightened and rewards loosened, Flipkart seems to be playing both offence and defence trimming roles on one hand while handing out a generous 105 per cent bonus on the other. The Walmart owned e commerce major has rolled out a 105 per cent bonus payout for 2025, covering nearly 20,000 employees, signalling a year of steady operational momentum even as the company navigates restructuring pressures. The payout, communicated internally by chief human resources officer Seema Nair, is tied to performance across key metrics including growth, operational efficiency, financial outcomes and people indicators, a combination that suggests the company is inching closer to its long stated goal of sustainable profitability.
Employees at SD level and below are set to receive their bonuses in March, while payouts for senior leadership, including vice presidents and senior vice presidents, will follow after the close of the performance cycle. The elevated 105 per cent multiplier stands out in a sector where cautious payouts have increasingly become the norm, pointing to what appears to be a relatively strong internal scorecard for FY25.
Yet, the announcement arrives with a noticeable contrast. Earlier this year, Flipkart reduced its workforce by around 300 roles as part of its annual performance review process. While officially framed as performance driven, the juxtaposition of layoffs alongside above target bonuses reflects a more nuanced balancing act, one that prioritises cost discipline while continuing to reward and retain high performing talent.
This dual approach is becoming increasingly common across the technology and e commerce landscape, where companies are navigating an uneven hiring environment while under pressure to deliver profitability. Rewarding top contributors, even amid selective workforce reductions, allows firms to maintain morale and retain critical talent without losing sight of financial prudence.
At the same time, Flipkart is also undergoing leadership shifts that hint at a broader strategic recalibration. Nishant Verman has been appointed senior vice president for corporate development and partnerships, while group chief financial officer Sriram Venkataraman is set to step down. Ravi Iyer will take on expanded responsibilities within the finance function, marking a reshuffle at the top as the company gears up for its next phase.
These changes come amid reports that Flipkart is planning to shift its holding structure back to India, a move widely interpreted as groundwork for a potential public listing. While timelines remain fluid, the combination of stronger financial discipline, leadership restructuring and employee incentivisation suggests a company preparing itself for greater scrutiny and scale.
For employees, the 105 per cent payout offers a welcome boost in what has otherwise been a period of adjustment. For Flipkart, it is a signal that even as it cuts where necessary, it is willing to spend where it counts. In the high stakes game of growth versus profitability, the company appears to be hedging its bets carefully, rewarding performance while reshaping itself for what could be its most defining chapter yet.
