Archive: August 23, 2022

Mars Wrigley India Appoints Meghal Sheth as CFO, India

Bangalore, 23 August 2022: Mars Wrigley has announced the appointment of Meghal Sheth as Chief Financial Officer for India. He will report to Kalpesh Parmar, General Manager (GM), Mars Wrigley, India.

Kalpesh Parmar, Country GM, Mars Wrigley India, said, “I’m delighted to welcome Meghal back into the India business after spending 4 years as Regional Finance Director managing FP&A and Supply Finance for Global Emerging Markets region in MW segment. We are a purpose-led growth company with a dynamic and capable talent pool, and we are excited for Meghal to help define and enable our plans in India, as we continue to innovate and create products that our consumers love. His experience of the business and culture of Mars along with strong regional experience around managing complex and volatile emerging markets and outstanding leadership qualities will be an invaluable addition to the team. I wish him all the success in this new assignment.”

A seasoned member of Mars Wrigley’s finance organization, Meghal comes with significant financial executive experience in the FMCG sector. He had joined the erstwhile Wrigley India in 2015, as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and subsequently led the seamless integration of the chocolate and confectionary businesses in India following the global merger of Mars, Incorporated and Wrigley. During his Wrigley India CFO tenure, he co-piloted the management team towards building a strong portfolio of products. He had also taken the role of stabilizing the India market as interim General Manager (GM) for six months, ensuring delivery of business-as-usual during the time of transition into Mars Wrigley Confectionary. In his role as Integration & Transformation Director, he completed Mars Wrigley integration in 100 days, first unit across Mars Inc to achieve this kind of success Most recently, he served as a Regional Finance Director managing performance management and supply finance for Global Emerging Markets (GEM) driving strong Value Creation for the region and served as a key member of GEM Finance Leadership Team.

“I feel super excited to join back Mars Wrigley India unit, which has not only been phenomenally successful in the past few years, but also has the potential for significant growth for many years to come, driven by the Purpose of creating better moments for consumers, customers, associates and communities. I feel privileged to serve Mars Wrigley India as CFO and partner Kalpesh & LT team in driving strong Value Creation through Quality Growth,” said Meghal Sheth, CFO, Mars Wrigley India. 

Meghal is a certified Chartered Accountant & Company Secretary, with an MBA in Finance from SP Jain Institute of Management & Research. Prior to joining Mars, he worked for 14 years at Unilever, doing six different finance roles across India and global levels.

Meghal will be based in Gurgaon with his wife and two children.

Vasant Blossom by Sheth Creators meets consumer demand with the 2nd iconic luxury tower in Marol, Andheri (E)

Mumbai, August 23, 2022: As it keeps pace with its vision of turning every aspiration into a landmark creation, Sheth Creators is also meeting the buyer sentiment index around Marol, Andheri (E) by adding another tower to its smart community living set-up Vasant Blossom. The Tower-B of its one-stop destination Vasant Blossom is designed to cater to homebuyers who seek the best of luxury living and the convenience of being well-connected.

Following the successful launch of Vasant Blossom with Tower A earlier this year, Sheth Creators has stuck to its promise of an elevated living experience by launching Tower B of the iconic luxury project at Marol, Andheri (E). The Vasant Blossom project comprises two towers that together create a confluence of greenery and luxury housing. Spread over 2.7 acres of a vast landscape, towers A and B stand tall amidst the very best that nature has to offer. Each of the high-end luxury homes comes with balconies that enlarge the living space and enhance the life quality of its residents.

Being in Marol, Andheri East, a high-growth corridor, the project is located within a thriving locality that has fast emerged to become a prime housing destination in the country’s commercial capital. Vasant Blossom with its high-end luxury homes, will redefine the growing demand for well-being and offer enhanced quality of life for its residents. Strategically positioned Vasant Blossom, just like the earlier Vasant Oasis Project by Sheth Creators enjoys the best of road, rail, and air connectivity that increases its accessibility quotient.

Well-connected to other parts of the city through the Marol and Saki Naka metro stations, it provides convenient connectivity to Andheri Station (East) as well as Ghatkopar. Marol is also close to the international and domestic airports, Powai, and all of Mumbai’s major transit points and business hubs in proximity to Western and Eastern Express Highway, JVLR, SCLR, and Eastern Freeway. This makes commuting to any part of Mumbai or Navi Mumbai a cakewalk while putting it high on the buyer sentiment index.

The presence of commercial hubs including MIDC, SEEPZ, Sakinaka Junction, and BKC have transformed Marol, Andheri (E) into a central destination for the MMR. The future planned infrastructure set-ups like the proposed Metro Line 2, 4, and 7, Goregaon Mulund Link Road, and Bandra Versova Sealink (BVSL) will further transform the area into an in-demand stretch from a luxury residential real estate and ease of commuting perspective.

The Vasant Blossom twin towers are a trendsetter that bears testimony to the record 20 million square feet of residential, commercial, retail, and township projects developed by Sheth Creators. Its success, as seen from the response for Tower A is its proximity to corporate parks, noteworthy commercial destinations, educational institutions, healthcare, and recreation centers to which access from Marol, Andheri (E) is easy.

Residents of Vasant Blossom get a living experience par excellence in one of Mumbai’s successful townships that offers quality lifestyle amenities, and a spacious living concept. The two towers consist of 25 habitable floors each, including 2 basements and 1 stilt parking area. The high-end residential apartments in the newly launched Tower B come in 2 and 3-bed configurations. Vasant Blossom with its two towers has been conceived to offer residents luxury homes that are about landscapes, exteriors, and interiors playing a blending role along with other amenities. A swimming pool, landscaped garden, kids’ play area, and an activity zone, are among many other facilities that have been meticulously designed into offering an experience of rare splendour.

According to Ms. Hiral Sheth Gandhi, Director – Marketing, Sheth Creators, “It gives us great pleasure in launching Tower B at Vasant Blossom. This is a residential project that is made of the very best of grandeur and modern living. It is a reflection of luxury, tranquillity, and space. A fully integrated community, the project is a benchmark of quality urban living in Andheri which for us continues to be a priority growth market. Positioned on the three pillars of trust, quality living, and an enhanced living experience that Sheth Creators stands for, the launch of Tower B is a reiteration of our sustained efforts of creating thriving communities and empowering homebuyers to own homes in a quality living environment.”

Vasant Blossom Project by Sheth Creators is registered under MahaRERA No. P51800032286 and is available on the website – http://shethcreators.com/ under registered projects. Please note that the sale/lease of premises in the above-referred project shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the Agreement for Sale/Lease. T&C Apply

HDFC ERGO launches country’s first Electric Vehicles Ecosystem – All Things EV

Bengaluru, August 23, 2022: HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company, a leading private sector general insurance company, has launched ‘All Things EV,’ the country’s first one-stop-solution portal for Electric Vehicles (EV). In line with the Government of India’s push for Electric Mobility, this initiative caters to the needs of existing & potential EV users.

As a part of this initiative, the Company has unveiled a dedicated platform for existing and prospective EV ecosystem users – www.allthingsev.io, which hosts end-to-end information on this emerging sector; the platform caters to all Indians who have either purchased EVs or are planning to buy EV or to make an earning out of the booming EV space. The platform helps the existing users with information on nearby charging stations, locations of charging stations along the route for intercity commute & rich content around the maintenance of their EVs. Potential EV buyers can get information on all the EV options available in India, along with the cost of ownership & subsidies offered by different state governments. Anyone looking to set up charging stations can also find out the available options of charging units, and the associated cost and profitability metrics.

Speaking on the launch of All Things EV, Mr. Parthanil Ghosh, President – Retail Business, HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company, said, “As an insurer who is committed to the sustainability goals under various climate protocols, we recognize our responsibility in supporting India’s aspirational EV roadmap to ensure a greener and sustainable future for ourselves. A supportive policy environment, increasing customer awareness of green technology, availability of electric vehicle models across the value chain along with improved charging infrastructure, has poised the Indian EV market for significant growth in the next few years. Through ‘All Things EV,’ India’s first EV ecosystem, we aim to provide a one-stop shop solution to all the required information related to Electric Vehicles for all existing EV users or prospective customers which we believe will contribute toward faster adoption of this environment-friendly mobility solution” 

The platform (www.allthingsev.io) has a roadmap with features like slot booking at charging stations, roadside assistance, RTO services & creation of an EV community.

T-Hub Partners with Hyderabad Angels to Drive Venture Investment Opportunities for Startups

India, 23 August 2022: T-Hub, which leads India’s innovation ecosystem, today announced its partnership with Hyderabad Angels, the Leading angel Investors in Hyderabad, for more than a decade and also in India. With this collaborative partnership, T-Hub and Hyderabad Angels aim to drive innovation and venture investment opportunities for technology startups in the country.

Through its vast network, Hyderabad Angels will provide access to investment opportunities from India, the USA, the UK, Singapore, Dubai, and UAE, among other countries, to the startups. It will also have a presence at the new facility of T-Hub, the world’s largest innovation campus, creating substantial synergies between Hyderabad Angels and T-Hub stakeholders, especially the startups. The collaboration paves the way for the technology-driven startup with growth opportunities and global exposure.

MSR (Mahankali Srinivas Rao), CEO of T-Hub, said, “Our various collaborations with ecosystem enablers continue to expand the more we learn about our entrepreneurs’ requirements. Joining forces with Hyderabad Angels elevates our value proposition, and we look forward to creating an impact together for our startup community. This will play a key role in providing the startups with access to cutting-edge technology, mentorship, funding avenues and tools they require to accelerate their innovation agendas.”

The partnership will empower T-Hub entrepreneurs to scale globally enduring homegrown technology startups with access to capital, mentorship, and guidance from the Hyderabad Angels. In addition, this will enable T-Hub to introduce Hyderabad Angels to its tech innovation ecosystem and facilitate exclusive meetings with startups and other stakeholders.

Rajesh Manthena, Chairman of Hyderabad Angels,  said, “Hyderabad Angels have successfully invested in 60+ startups till date and works very closely with companies and their founders to improve their chances of success and extend their market access. We are very excited about this collaboration with T-Hub as we are sure this can really add tremendous benefit to the startup ecosystem.”

T-Hub’s programs have been successfully scaling startups in partnership with a robust ecosystem of partners. T-Hub, to date, has impacted over 2000 startups through various programs and initiatives, has over 600 global and national corporate partners and has provided 2000 mentor connects to help the startup scale. T-Hub will continue to drive collaboration between startups and leading innovation ecosystems worldwide, providing global market-access opportunities to startups.

Geidea partners with MOXEY to offer inclusive digital payment solutions to land freight merchants

Cairo, Egypt, 23 August 2022: Geidea, the largest fintech company in Saudi Arabia by market share, has partnered with the digital financial services platform MOXEY to standardize digital payments for merchants in mobility and freight sector.

The partnership enables MOXEY merchants network with a suite of payment solutions with Geidea’s innovative acceptance solutions, making it possible for MSMEs to accept any digital payment, including credit and debit cards through Geidea’s POS, contactless technologies, and QR codes.

Ahmed Nader, general manager at Geidea Egypt said: “We are delighted to partner with MOXEY to develop integrated digital payment solutions for land freight merchants and power MOXEY’s vision to increase financial inclusion.”

The partnership allows merchants to build better credit profiles and access new funding opportunities by making it possible for MSMEs to accept payments through formal digital channels.

Sherif Mohsen, Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer, MOXEY said: “By widening access to digital payments across multiple platforms, we can serve the underserved and enable MSMEs to participate in the digital economy. It’s both good for economic development, job creation, and the realization of many United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The provision of digital channels also creates new opportunities to enhance engagement between merchants and beneficiaries through the creation of loyalty schemes, offers, and discounts for MOXEY end users.”

Ahmed Magdy, Senior Commercial Director at Geidea Egypt continued: “MOXEY’s comprehensive suite of digital solutions and now with our partnership will give MSMEs and underbanked entrepreneurs access to some of the best financial technologies. We are delighted that by digitizing the payments ecosystem and stepping towards a NEO bank for the mobility sector, Geidea and MOXEY are achieving some of the core financial inclusion objectives laid out by central banks across the region.

Ayman Dababneh, Regional Head of Business Launch stated: “We are thrilled to announce this partnership with a world-class regional service provider to empower our merchant network with vital digital tools they need to manage their business through a service-focused approach to enabling success, enhancing impact, and encouraging MSMEs growth.”

Hotelogix powered Leisure Hotels Group bag “Outstanding Project for Cloud Implementation” award at IHE 2022

Bangalore, 23/08/2022: Hotelogix, a leading provider of Multi-property Management System on cloud, has announced that its client Leisure Hotels Group has received the “Outstanding Project for Cloud Implementation” award at India International Hospitality Expo (IHE) 2022. Currently, 22 properties of the India-based popular and growing group hospitality entity are running on Hotelogix’s multi-property solution.

Leisure Hotels Group is a major player in Uttarakhand’s hospitality sector. Since 1989, it has emerged as a hotel group with a strong brand recall among its target audiences. It runs 29 beautiful properties across exotic tourist and scenic destinations, offering leisure, adventure and spiritual experiences.

Speaking about the development, Vibhas Prasad, Director of Leisure Hotels Group, said, “We are excited to receive this award. We have worked hard and taken our decisions keeping efficiency, scale and guest experience in mind. Our properties range from bespoke villas to large luxury hotels, and it was important to centralise our reservations, marketing and sales at the corporate level. With real-time analytics and group-wide MIS reports, centralised revenue management and decision-making have become easier for us.”

Echoing the same sentiment, Aditya Sanghi, Co-founder & CEO of Hotelogix, said, “Leisure Hotels Group was quick in realising the benefits of cloud solutions for multi-property management and is one of the early adopters of modern technology in the hospitality industry. They have made significant strides in centralising their operations, sales and distribution. As their technology partner, we are happy to see them receive the award at IHE 2022.”

The 5^th edition of IHE was organised by India Expo Mart Limited and supported by hospitality industry bodies, including Hotel and Restaurant Equipment Manufacturers Association of India (HOTREMAI), Global Hospitality Technology Professionals (GHTP), Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG) and CIO Klub.