Author: Neel Achary

IHCL Unveils Taj Damdama Lake Resort and Spa, Gurugram

Chandigarh, JUNE 13 2025: The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company unveils the re-imagined Taj Damdama Lake Resort & Spa, Gurugram. Nestled amidst acres of lush greenery and surrounded by majestic Aravalli hills, resort offers a sanctuary away from bustle of urban life.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mandeep Surie, General Manager, Taj Damdama Lake Resort & Spa, Gurugram, said, “The re-imagined Taj Damdama Lake Resort & Spa is a celebration of timeless hospitality. Rooted in the spirit of Tajness, every experience here is thoughtfully curated to offer luxurious stays, wellness journeys and authentic dining experiences. We look forward to welcome guests to this tranquil haven with the warmth of Tajness.”

The resort offers 143 rooms, suites and luxurious villas, including Grand Luxury villas with plunge pools. Shamiana – the all-day dining restaurant serves a curated selection of global cuisines in a contemporary setting with verdant views and alfresco dining, Zvatra – a North Indian fine-dine specialty restaurant offering authentic flavours from Haryana, Rajasthan, Old Delhi, and Punjab, and VIXX serves inventive cocktails making it a perfect place to unwind and socialize. J Wellness Circle offers holistic wellness therapies including the Turkish Hammam experience and expansive outdoor pool amidst nature.

The selection of venues at the resort is perfect for weddings, conferences and social gatherings. The resort’s adventure park offers a range of activities like Pickle Ball, Go-Karting Off-Roading, Cricket Balling among others. Guests can also enjoy immersive experiences within the property, including a dinner in a charming village, a picnic on the lawns amid panoramic Aravalli views, culinary masterclasses, morning yoga sessions, farm and temple tours, and more.

8 CFO Programs in India in 2025

The role of a Chief Financial Officer has evolved significantly over the years. Today’s CFO is not just a number cruncher but a strategic leader, a risk manager, and a key partner to the CEO. Specialized education and continuous development are essential for excelling in this demanding role. New-age CFO programs equip professionals with the skills to manage finances, implement strategies, and lead organizational change. They also offer networking opportunities and insights into best practices. Here are the top 8 CFO programs in India in 2025:

 1. Chief Financial Officer Programme – ISB Executive Education and Imarticus Learning:
ISB Executive Education’s Chief Financial Officer Programme offered by Imarticus Learning, is designed for senior executives and experienced financial leaders looking to pivot to C-Suite roles. It covers recent trends in business, leadership, and strategy with expertise from ISB faculty, leadership coaching, and networking opportunities with CXOs and industry leaders. It follows a blended learning approach with pre-recorded lectures, live sessions, and masterclasses. On completion, participants receive ISB executive alumni status and benefits. Duration: 8 months (Online with campus immersion)

2. Chief Financial Officer Programme – IIM Kozhikode (via Emeritus):
IIM Kozhikode’s CFO programme offered via Emeritus is an executive education program designed for aspiring and existing CFOs to master financial leadership, strategic finance, and enterprise-wide financial management. The curriculum covers advanced corporate finance, risk mitigation, and organizational leadership, incorporating global perspectives through online modules from Kellogg Executive Education.
Duration: 12 months (Blended)

 3. Chief Financial Officer Course – IIM Ranchi (via Intellipaat):
IIM Ranchi’s CFO course offered via Intellipat is an executive post-graduate certification program focused on enhancing financial management and corporate governance skills. It includes live classes by IIM Ranchi faculty, covers managerial economics, accounting and financial management, and offers campus immersion opportunities. It provides placement assistance and prepares participants for key CFO roles.
Duration: 10 months (Online with 3 days campus immersion)

 4. Post Graduate Certificate Programme for Emerging CFOs – IIM Nagpur (via VCNow)
IIM Nagpur’s postgraduate certificate programme for emerging CFOs is crafted to prepare finance professionals to take the big leap into the role of a CFO. The program goes beyond conventional finance education, empowering professionals with the mindset, skills, and knowledge for strategic leadership, digital transformation, and ethical decision-making. It focuses on developing advanced proficiency in commercial and financial management.
Duration: 12 months (Online with 3 days of on-campus module)

 5. Chief Financial Officer Programme – IIT Delhi (CEP Digivarsity)
IIT Delhi’s CFO programme offered through CEP Digivarsity is a comprehensive training and development course for financial professionals aspiring for executive financial leadership roles. It covers advanced financial management, strategic planning, corporate governance, risk management, and financial reporting, with real-world case studies and mentorship from IIT Delhi faculty.
Duration: 10.5 Months (Live Online with campus immersion opportunity)

 6. Postgraduate Certificate Programme for Emerging CFOs – IIM Indore
IIM Indore’s postgraduate certificate programme for emerging CFOs offers a comprehensive understanding of strategic financial management, talent management, and corporate strategy to the learners. It is designed to prepare the participants for leadership roles in a dynamic business environment.
Duration: 10 months (Online)

 7. CFO Leadership Excellence Programme – KPMG in India
The CFO leadership programme by KPMG in India is an executive course designed to help current and aspiring CFOs develop future-focused skills, enabling them to act as strategic advisors to CEOs and boards. It emphasizes the practical application of financial acumen in a leadership context.
Duration: Variable (Typically several weeks to months, depending on format)

 8. CFO Vantage Program – Deloitte
A key initiative within Deloitte’s broader CFO Program, the CFO Vantage Program offers an experiential curriculum specifically designed to prepare senior finance executives for future CFO roles. This immersive program focuses on leadership, influence, and core competencies through various modules, including CFO Transition Labs for newly appointed CFOs, CFO Vision Conferences, and CFO Forums for peer networking. It is designed to help finance leaders navigate complexities, tackle challenges, and adapt to strategic shifts.

Archies Launches DearDad Campaign, this Father’s Day

New Delhi, 12th June 2025: Archies, India’s iconic brand known for helping people express heartfelt emotions through greeting cards and gifts, has launched its special Father’s Day campaign, #DearDad. The campaign is a warm invitation to rediscover the power of expressing love through greeting cards, a timeless medium that captures what many often struggle to say aloud.

The heart of #DearDad lies in the emotional connection that greeting cards foster. While digital communication dominates the modern landscape, Archies believes there is unmatched intimacy in a handwritten message, something that can be held, saved, and cherished for years to come.

As part of this year’s celebrations, Archies has partnered with gifting brand Yaan Man to create a memorable experience for customers. Every Yaan Man Father’s Day hamper will include an exclusive Archies greeting card designed specially for the occasion. These cards are more than just an add-on, they serve as a keepsake that adds emotional weight to the gift, making the gesture more meaningful.

Speaking about the collaboration, Varun Moolchandani, Executive Director of Archies, said “Unlike a text or emoji, a greeting card is tangible, it carries the emotional weight of words written from the heart. Our collaboration with Yaan Man is a shared effort to encourage people to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the most authentic form of expression, a handwritten note. Through #DearDad, we want to bring back that sense of thoughtfulness and emotional depth.”

To support the campaign, a user-generated content video will be released featuring an influencer unboxing a Yaan Man hamper and discovering the Archies card inside. The video captures the moment he reads the card and eventually hands it over to his father — creating an emotional arc that reflects the campaign’s essence. Customers are also being invited to join in by sharing their own Father’s Day gifting moments on Instagram Stories, tagging both Archies and Yaan Man to be part of a larger, collective tribute to dads everywhere.

Rahul Shah, Founder from Yaan Man added “Gifting is about telling a story, and this collaboration with Archies adds a deeply personal layer to our hampers. Including a handwritten card reintroduces the beauty of emotion in gifting — something digital messages often lack. It’s a small addition, but it creates a lasting impact.”

This initiative is a celebration of dads in all their glory, both the serious and the silly, and serves as a reminder that love doesn’t always need grand gestures. Sometimes, all it takes is a card with the right words.

With the #DearDad campaign, Archies continues its mission to help people say what truly matters and to bring back the joy of receiving, reading, and keeping a handwritten note.

Freudenberg India expands Nagapattinam Training center

India, June 12, 2025 – Germany-based global technology conglomerate, Freudenberg Group, today announced the expansion of its training institute in Nagapattinam. Esther Maria Loidl, Chief Human Resources Officer, Freudenberg & Co. and Member of its global management board laid the foundation stone for the expansion and a new auditorium in the presence of G Sivasailam, Director & CEO, Freudenberg Regional Corporate Center India & Managing Director, Freudenberg Performance Materials India and Dr Chitrakala Mohan, Principal, Freudenberg Training Center.

 The Group has made a cumulative investment of over ₹40 crore over the past 16 years to support the upliftment of local communities in the region. Currently, the focus of this expansion and investment is on attracting talent, particularly women students, to provide them with a sustainable future. Plans include converting the existing auditorium into a computer lab that will offer computer-oriented courses. Additionally, a new extension is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2026, featuring state-of-the-art facilities. With this development, Freudenberg Group aims to emphasize inclusion and diversity while providing financial independence and career opportunities for better growth.

 The Freudenberg Training Centre was established in 2008 to support the local youth after the devastating 2004 tsunami. Vocational training is offered in welding, fitting, machining, motor mechanics and electrical, enabling students from neighboring communities to find employment and become independent. Set over 28 acres, the campus currently boasts 18 highly qualified staff led by a veteran academic as Principal. To date, the Centre has trained over 1400 students, some of whom are employed in Freudenberg Group companies, with the rest placed at leading companies like Hyundai, Simpson Group, TVS, among others. Few have established successful entrepreneurship ventures of their own in and around the region.

 In her remarks post the brief ceremony, Esther Maria Loidl, Chief Human Resources Officer, Freudenberg Group and Member of its global management board, said, ”It’s a pleasure and privilege to lay the foundation for further expansion of our largest CSR initiative in India – the Freudenberg Training center in Nagapattinam. The institute’s growth affirms the visionary decision in 2008 to support the region’s rebuilding by empowering its young people with the right vocational skills. We look forward to investing and supporting the institute to grow further in its noble mission to power the aspirations of the needy in this region.”

Commenting on the expansion of the institute, G Sivasailam, Director & CEO, Freudenberg Regional Corporate Center India & Managing Director, Freudenberg Performance Materials India, said, “I am immensely proud to see the growth of the institute to where it is today. This reaffirms many of the core values of the Freudenberg group – long-term commitment, proactive and responsible action, among others. I would like to credit the Principal and her faculty who have been instrumental in ensuring the delivery of quality education to the local youth. They have been constantly innovating and adding to the courses and teaching pedagogy to what it provides is needed in the industry.”

 A visibly delighted and moved Dr Chitrakala Mohan, Principal, Freudenberg Training Center, said: “It has been a great journey leading this visionary initiative for 7 years. The whole-hearted and passionate support we receive from the group executives in India and at the global HQ has been pivotal to whatever we’ve been able to accomplish so far. The foundation laying today and the other initiatives in the pipeline will help us expand sustainable community development through world-class vocational education, which sees local youth gainfully employed with leading companies in India.”

Electric Vehicle Adoption & Ecosystem Growth in India to Spur Demand For Cosmo Films’ Advanced Capacitors Films

Mumbai, 12th June, 2025: India’s automotive transformation looks promising with electric vehicle (EV) sales crossing the 4% market share milestone for the first time in May 2025. This momentum is set to drive demand for high-efficiency electronic components like capacitor films that serve as key enablers of EV power systems. Cosmo Films, a global leader in specialty films for packaging, laminating, and labelling applications, is meeting this rising demand with its advanced Al-Zn Metallised Polypropylene Capacitor Films, specifically engineered for EV and hybrid automotive applications.

India’s electric passenger vehicle sales rose over 53% year-on-year, indicating long-term confidence in EV adoption. This growth is fuelling a parallel need for smarter power management technologies, where Cosmo Films’ innovations are playing a critical role – from inverters and battery management to infotainment and climate control systems. Further, globally the capacitor films market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.40% from 2025 to 2030.

“Electric mobility is not just about the future – it’s an ongoing development of crucial importance globally. As adoption scales, the need for reliable and efficient electronic infrastructure becomes paramount.” Mr. Kulbhushan Malik, Global Business Head, Cosmo Films, said “Our capacitor films are meant to empower EV makers with dependability, efficiency, and long-lasting performance. With such innovative films, we are enabling smarter and more sustainable transportation by means of applications spanning renewable energy and automotive power electronics. We believe, that with the surge in EV productions and adoptions, Cosmo Films is well positioned to cater and tap this opportunity.”

Cosmo Films’ Al-Zn Metallized Polypropylene Film series are designed to satisfy high standards of the automotive environment. These films offer:

• Superior dielectric strength for high-voltage operations
• Thermal stability for fluctuating and high-temperature environments
• Low ESR and ESL values enabling compact, high-performance capacitor systems
• Thinner film technology for optimized space and lightweight system integration
  · Excellent Self-Healing Properties

As the automotive industry evolves with increasing electrification and electronic sophistication, Cosmo Films is reinforcing its role as an innovation enabler – not just a materials supplier. With global manufacturing footprint, commitment to ESG-aligned production and technological advancement, Cosmo Films continues to be a trusted partner of choice for forward-thinking OEMs and EV system integrators worldwide.

IGP Hosts Mumbai’s Sweetest Cake Fest, Uniting Bakers and Dessert Lovers

Mumbai, June 12th, 2025: Mumbai’s dessert scene hit a new high at Versova Social, as IGP, a global D2C multi-category gifting platform, hosted the first-ever IGP Cake Fest, a vibrant celebration of baking, creativity, and community. Aptly called “The Sweetest Scene in Your City,” the event brought together baking talent, dessert lovers, and some serious sugar-fueled fun. With over 2 Mn cakes delivered annually and a stronghold in the category, IGP continues to shape how India celebrates with cake, making this fest a natural extension of its leadership in the space.

At the heart of the fest was the highly anticipated “Battle of the Bakers”, where top home bakers competed for the ₹1 Lakh grand prize and the chance to feature their winning cake on igp’s online platform with 5 million users. After an intense and mouthwatering showcase of skill and creativity, the event saw a wide range of innovative and visually stunning cakes, making it a tough call for the judging panel to choose just one winner. Among 40 shortlisted participants, Trashika Dsena emerged as the standout baker, taking home the title and a sweet reward to match. The audience also had their say, voting live at the venue for the Popular Choice Award, which was won by Jill Shah.

Celebrity chef Natasha Gandhi, known for her appearance on MasterChef India, presided over the judging panel and shared valuable feedback with the finalists. Comedian Shreeja Chaturvedi had the crowd in splits with a live stand-up set, adding just the right dash of humor to balance the sugar rush.

Visitors indulged in dessert tastings, interactive photo ops, fun zones, and exclusive giveaways, making it a true playground for the sweet-toothed.

“The response was overwhelming,” said Tarun Joshi, Founder & CEO of IGP. “Our aim was to spotlight India’s growing baking culture and build a real community around it and IGP Cake Fest turned out to be the perfect platform.”

“IGP Cake Fest wasn’t just about cakes, it was about connection, celebration, and community. And judging by the turnout and smiles, Mumbai was more than ready for it.” Natasha Gandhi, a celebrity chef, further added.

With an unforgettable mix of talent, taste, and togetherness, IGP Cake Fest wasn’t just a celebration of baking, it was a celebration of community. From rising bakers to seasoned creators and dessert enthusiasts, the event brought everyone under one roof for a great evening. As IGP continues to champion creativity and craft in the gifting and celebrations space, Cake Fest marks just the beginning of many more joyful gatherings to come.