Celebrating Manan Kapur: The strategist who helped shape YAAP’s growth story

In an industry that thrives on reinvention, Manan Kapur has built his journey on quiet consistency, sharp instinct and an unshakable understanding of where brands are headed. As he celebrates his birthday, colleagues and industry peers alike look at his trajectory as one that has moved in tandem with the evolution of India’s digital and content ecosystem.

As a founding member and senior partner at YAAP, Kapur has played a defining role in shaping the company into a next-generation, design-led content and marketing partner for brands navigating an increasingly complex digital landscape. Since joining the firm in 2016, he has been closely involved in building its core service lines across design, discovery and distribution, while helping deepen its capabilities in branding, packaging, influencer marketing and content-led strategy. Over time, as YAAP expanded its presence across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Singapore, Dubai and Jakarta, Kapur remained closely aligned with its growth story, strengthening client partnerships and sharpening its influencer marketing practice.

Those who have worked with him often describe him as composed, methodical and deeply outcome-focused. In an environment where speed often overtakes substance, Kapur’s approach has remained grounded in clarity of thinking and disciplined execution. His understanding of consumer behaviour across platforms and formats has allowed him to navigate shifts in the marketing landscape with notable ease.

Before YAAP, Kapur served as AVP–North at TO THE NEW, where he led revenue growth, new business development and strategic operations for the region. The experience expanded his perspective on digital transformation at scale and further shaped his ability to advise companies on platform selection, multi-channel management and performance-led marketing strategies.

Earlier roles helped lay the foundation for his leadership philosophy. At GCell, he led marketing and business development teams across sectors ranging from travel and entertainment to insurance and e-commerce, balancing growth mandates with operational delivery. His stint at Kingdom of Dreams added another dimension, where he worked on integrated digital campaigns designed to amplify live experiences and drive measurable engagement across channels.

Kapur began his career in technical sales at Technosoft Solutions and briefly with Wipro Technologies, experiences that gave him a strong grounding in systems thinking and structured problem-solving — qualities that continue to define his approach today.

On his birthday, Kapur’s journey stands as a reflection of steady growth in a fast-moving industry. Without chasing the spotlight, he has built a reputation for credibility, reliability and thoughtful leadership.