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The marketing noisemakers of 2022
Mumbai: Similar to the advertising and media agencies, the marketing industry too saw a lot of roil in terms of the people moving back and forth. The key factor leading to marketing people (like many others) making headway was essentially the economic slump – but in addition to that, people are looking for more moolah, more flexibility (considering the remote work lifestyle that many have adapted to), and undoubtedly, more happiness.
Mondelez India’s Anil Viswanathan, who led the marketing role for the India business for nine years and last held the designation of vice president of marketing, was elevated. He assumed the role of managing director for Vietnam and Southeast Asia in October.
With Viswanathan’s elevation to a larger role, Mondelez India appointed Nitin Saini as vice president of marketing.
Myntra brought Sunder Balasubramanian on board as its chief marketing officer.
Ceat appointed Lakshmi Narayan B as chief marketing officer.
Aditi Anand, who held the position of head of creative strategy for India and Southwest Asia for The Coca-Cola Company quit the company and took up the role of head of marketing at L’Oréal Professionnel in December.
Siddhant Narayan stepped down from his role at OnePlus to take over the marketing lead for Nike in India. This isn’t Narayan’s first stint with the latter – he had earlier been at Nike in various roles between May 2008 and October 2015.
After an eight-and-a-half-year stint at Lenovo, Amit Doshi, whose last held designation at the company was chief marketing officer for India and South Asia went on to join Britannia Industries as chief marketing officer in January.
Former chief marketing officer of Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. (GCPL) Somasree Bose Awasthi took over the reins of consumer goods company Marico as its new chief marketing officer in November. She’s also an executive committee member at the company.
Former marketing lead for Dunzo, the grocery and parcel delivery app, – Sai Ganesh bid adieu to the company in June after a three year stint. He now serves as a brand consultant.
Adhesive manufacturing company, Pidilite Industries’ chief marketing officer Vivek Sharma quit the company in April after a seven-year journey with the company. He joined the car and repair service company Fixcraft in the role of a marketing advisor. Vinay Subramanyam, who was vice president of marketing at Britannia, stepped into his shoes at Pidilite.
Manav Sethi, the former chief marketer of Octro, Eros, and ALT Balaji, quit and went to take up a role at the electric two-wheeler Vida of Hero Motocorp – he joined the company as head of media, martech and growth for its emerging mobility business.
Wingreens Group, a packaged foods and beverages company, roped in Pawan Sarda as its chief marketing officer and D2C head in July. Prior to this role, Sarda was group chief marketing officer of digital, marketing, and e-commerce businesses at the Future Group.
Edtech brand Unacademy’s chief marketing officer Karan Shroff took off from the company in September last year.
Haldiram Snacks appointed Divya Batra as head of marketing.
Smita Murarka, who held the position of chief marketing officer for the sleep solutions brand Duroflex, quit from her role in December. She had joined the company in 2020 as vice president of marketing and e-commerce.
Vedantu, the edtech giant, lost its head of brand marketing, Maninder Bali, to Ogilvy in August.
The marketing industry also witnesses its own share of twists and turns every year, and it would be exciting to see what the new year brings!
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
