Edtech company BYJU’S has appointed Arjun Mohan as its new Chief Executive Officer (India) as incumbent Mrinal Mohit stepped down after close to a decade with the company.

Mohan was previously the Chief Business Officer at BYJU’S who left to join UpGrad India as its CEO. He spent six months working as a consultant for edtech companies before rejoining BYJU’S as its CEO.

In a mail to the employees, Byju Raveendran reportedly announced the news of Mohan’s return to the company and Mohit’s departure.

The developments come at a time when the edtech company is beleaguered by employee layoffs, lender commitments and a liquidity crisis.

Mohan replaces Mohit in a “well-defined transition plan,” said Raveendran’s mail to the employees, adding that the company is committed to its sustainable expansion “amidst transformational changes for an exciting new phase.”

Liberty General Insurance has announced the appointment of Parag Ved as its Director & CEO Designate, effective from September 20, 2023. Prior to joining Liberty, he was the President of consumer Lines at Tata AIG General Insurance.

In a career that has spanned over 24 distinguished years, Mr. Ved has dedicated almost two decades exclusively to the insurance industry, holding senior leadership roles in prestigious organizations including ICICI Lombard General Insurance. Known for his dedication to innovation and excellence and his expertise in managing various strategic channels, Mr. Ved has showcased his prowess in the General Insurance industry.

Ved's trajectory in the insurance sector has showcased his ability to drive sustainable growth by innovating and tailoring products to the unique demands of the Indian market. His tenure with industry stalwarts amply demonstrates his proficiency and efficacy in managing diverse strategic channels.

Ved holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering from K.J Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai, and a master’s in management from SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS).

Welcoming the new Director & CEO designate, Defne Turkes, President – Asia Retail Markets, Liberty Mutual Insurance, said, "We are pleased to welcome Mr. Parag Ved to Liberty General Insurance. His vast experience, coupled with his visionary approach, positions him uniquely to lead the future of Liberty General Insurance in India. His inclusion not only marks the dawn of an exciting new chapter but also reinforces our unwavering dedication to offering top-tier insurance solutions to our customers. We look forward to his contributions and innovations that will certainly propel the company to newer heights and achieve sustainable profitable growth."

Commenting on his appointment, Parag Ved, Director & CEO designate, Liberty General Insurance said, “Over the last few years Liberty has carved a niche for itself, and it is indeed a privilege to lead the organization, especially in the given interesting times and evolving insurance landscape. As the industry undergoes rapid transformations, my focus will be on harnessing innovation, reinforcing operational efficiency, and optimizing stakeholder engagement. Further, leveraging a data-driven approach would emphasize continually refining and expanding the product offerings to align with customer needs and industry standards. I am looking forward to working closely with the team. Together, I believe we can make a significant contribution towards taking Liberty to new heights. As we progress, the commitment remains unyielding to also align strategies and operations with the regulator's goal of achieving widespread insurance coverage across the nation by 2047”.

Ved takes on the role following the retirement of Roopam Asthana, who was instrumental in establishing Liberty’s business operations in India. Under Asthana’s visionary leadership for over a decade, the company thrived and has set significant industry benchmarks.

Laqshya Media Group has announced significant leadership changes. Amarjeet Singh Hudda has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Laqshya Media Limited to manage the Laqshya Solutions and Laqshya Assets businesses.

Hudda was working as COO for Laqshya Solutions. His journey with the company dates back to 2005.

Yuvrraj Agarwaal who has over 24 years of experience in the Media and Advertising sector has been promoted to Chief Strategy Officer. He initially joined Laqshya as the group’s National Head (New Initiatives).

Furthermore, Satyabrata Das, a veteran and former Strategic Alliance Specialist, has been promoted to Chief Alliance Officer. He has three decades of experience and is known for building strong marketing communities.

“We are proud to announce the well-deserved promotions of Amarjeet Singh Hudda, Yuvrraj Agarwaal, and Satyabrata Das. Their dedication, experience, and leadership will be instrumental in propelling Laqshya Media Group to new heights of success,” stated Atul Shrivastava, CEO of Laqshya Media Group.

Manoj Mathan has been appointed as the CEO of Malayala Manorama's Radio Mango.

On LinkedIn, he wrote about his new role, saying: I would like to thank Amit Mathew and Suresh Pillai for their support during the recruitment process and for trusting me with this huge responsibility.

I would also like to again thank all my former bosses, mentors, and colleagues from Mirchi as well as all my well wishers for their invaluable contributions to my career and personal growth.

I am eager to meet my new colleagues, learn from all the stakeholders of the business and to build new, strong relationships whilst also ensuring Radio Mango scales new heights.

Prior to this, Mathan was associated with Mirchi for over 15 years.

He stepped down as Mirchi's EVP & Head Of International Business in August.

Mathan has two decades of experience in Business and Operations Management, Sales, Marketing, People Management, Content Strategy, Creation, and Management, especially in the four southern regional languages.

Avyan Global has roped in Rahul Welde as partner and advisor.

London-based Welde has been brought to work on international expansion of the company and make further forays into digital services, stated a press release.

Commenting on the appointment, Vishnu Mohan, founder and chairman of Avyan Global, said, “Rahul is one of the most respected and accomplished marketers in the industry and we are grateful to have him on our board of advisers as we kickstart our international expansion. It's early days but we have big ambitions for Avyan Global.”

Welde said, “I have been following Avyan’s growth trajectory with interest and am excited to be part of their journey. I am impressed by Avyan’s ambitions and game plan to build a compelling proposition. Having known Vishnu for several years, partnering Avyan has been an easy decision.”

Mustufa Arsiwalla has announced his decision to move on as the CMO of Britannia Bel Foods.

He wrote a lengthy note on LinkedIn to announce his departure: "Saying Goodbye to an Amazing 4-Year Journey. In just few days, I'll be closing the chapter on my incredible 4-year journey with #Bel/#Britannia Bel foods. It's been a truly enriching experience, filled with growth, learning, celebrations, and enough creamy cheese to fill a swimming pool! ?☕ But now, it's time for me to spread my wings and see if the grass is indeed greener on the other side of the office cubicle. Taking on the challenge of building an emerging brand in India has required a shift in mind-set—adapting the "frugal start up" playbook and challenging traditional approaches. These years with #Bel have been nothing short of transformative. I leave with invaluable experiences, a strong sense of purpose, and the resilience to conquer challenges. Thanks to all the external partners for their support and collaboration. 
Cheers to all at for making this journey unforgettable."

Britannia Bel Foods is a joint venture between Britannia and French dairy company Bel SA. The JV sells The Laughing Cow brand of cheese in India.  

As the CMO, he led the company’s marketing function, including portfolio and brand strategy, activation, integrated comms and innovation. 

Arsiwalla is a seasoned marketing veteran who has worked across consumer goods categories such as food, beverages and personal care products.

He was previously the Head of Marketing at Bel and was associated with Ferrero for over five years. The Stanford-educated exec also worked for Cavinkare and Elder Health Care.

Ipsos has roped in Shalini Sinha to spearhead the two key verticals of Brand Health Tracking (BHT) & Creative Excellence (CRE) in India.

Sinha will be designated Group Service Line Leader, Brand Health Tracking (BHT) & Creative Excellence (CRE) and will report to Amit Adarkar, CEO, Ipsos India.

Her remit at Ipsos India will be primarily to drive the business in the areas of brand and communications for Ipsos’ global partnership clients and the repertoire of leading home-grown companies and contribute to thought leadership. Her key focus area and priority will also be to leverage the business potential in the southern region of India. She moves from Creativeland Asia Pvt Ltd where she was CEO, Consumer Insights Division and Director, Strategy. Though based in Bengaluru, her mandate is for pan India.

Commenting on Sinha’s appointment, Amit Adarkar, CEO, Ipsos India said, “Brand Health Tracking and Creative Excellence have both undergone a major renaissance at Ipsos, with new thinking of brand success framework and its key 3 pillars of expectations, context and empathy which clients are extensively adopting to shape expectations, operating from the space of empathy and understanding the role brands play in the lives of consumers (context);it has resonated well with consumers in driving their purchase decisions. Sinha, with her domain expertise and experience will further reinforce Ipsos’s position in brand and communication in India.”

“We have a large portfolio of solutions within brand and communication, which include brand activation tracking, brand equity measurement, creative development, creative assessment, creative in-market, digital DIY solutions and to top it all a spanking new Brand Success Framework for clients to implement new thinking to connect with their core target groups and improve market shares and enhance consumer stickiness,” added Shalini Sinha.

"I firmly believe that our BHT practice holds immense potential by leveraging Ipsos' robust research methodologies and cutting-edge technologies which are geared to match the pace of consumer and brand evolution today. Furthermore, Ipsos’ CRE practice stands out for its expertise, tailor-made solutions that are designed to address the specific needs of each client, advanced methodologies and actionable recommendations, making it a trusted partner for businesses," added Sinha.