21, Dec 2023
Jingle Deals – Federal Bank Unwraps the Festive Delight with Lifetime free Credit Card

 Mumbai, 21 th December 2023: As the holiday season and year-end approaches, Federal Bank unveils their latest credit card offer – “Jingle Deals”, that provides lifetime free credit cards for a limited period of time. Spanning from December 16th, 2023 to January 15th, 2024, Jingle Deals is strategically designed to add joy to the season of giving with 30-day shopping bonanza that will give customers access to fabulous deals and great savings.

The key components of the Jingle deals are the diverse category offering in apparel, electronics, travel, groceries, dining, and more. Federal Bank’s specific brand partners include Reliance Indigo, Reliance Digital, MakeMyTrip, AJIO, Flipkart, Lifestyle, LULU, Swiggy Instamart, and others.

Federal Bank customers can avail the below offers for Christmas 2023

 Offers are listed on https://www.federalbank.co.in/jingle-deals

 Apparel:

  •  Reliance Trends: 15% instant discount on credit card purchases of ₹3999 or more, up to ₹2000 discount.
  • AJIO: 10% instant discount on minimum order value of ₹3500, up to ₹1000 discount.

 Electronics:

  •  Croma: 10% instant discount on minimum transaction of ₹15000, up to ₹1500 (credit card) or ₹2000 (credit card EMI) discount
  • Reliance Digital: 10% instant discount on minimum order value of ₹15000, up to ₹3000 (credit card) or ₹5000 (credit card EMI) discount
  •  Vijay Sales (offline & online): 10% instant discount on minimum order value of ₹15000, up to ₹3000 (credit card) or ₹5000 (credit card EMI) discount

Grocery:

  •  Swiggy Instamart: ₹100 off with Federal Bank credit cards.
  •   Zepto: 15% instant discount using Federal Bank credit cards.

Dining:

  •  Zomato Dining: 15% off up to ₹800 on a minimum order value of ₹3000.
  •  Easy Diner: 15% off up to ₹800 on a minimum order value of ₹3000.

Apart from these, customers can get exciting cashback* of upto Rs. 5000 and Rs. 7500, while booking international and domestic flights and Hotels through MakeMyTrip and Indigo, respectively.

21, Dec 2023
KidZania’s Winter Wonderland: A Magical Festive Extravaganza Captivates Families

Noida, December 21, 2023 – The enchanting Winter Wonderland festivities at KidZania Delhi NCR and Mumbai kickstarted on 15th December 2023 and will conclude on January 7, 2024, leaving behind cherished memories of a magical holiday season. Families and children indulged in the timeless charm and joyful spirit of the holidays throughout the celebration, turning KidZania into a haven of festive joy.

Event Highlights:

● Giant Snow Globe
● Tinkle Mega Collection Box
● Nestle Ceregrow Christmas Art Challenge
● FSM Carol Singing Workshop
● Santa Parade with RightZkeepers
● Christmas DIY

KidZania's Winter Wonderland_ A Magical Festive Extravaganza Captivates Families (1)

Games:

● Ballistic Bingo Blast
● Arctic Pin Tumble
● Jolly Ring Toss Challenge

Rahul Dhamdhere, Chief Marketing Officer of KidZania India, said, “As the season unfolded, we witnessed hearts filled with goodwill and the joy of carols at KidZania. Our commitment to bringing the enchanting charm of Christmas, especially to children, is evident in the unforgettable experiences crafted through meticulously planned activities. In the spirit of love and generosity, we are treating every visitor to delectable food, cherishing moments that make this time of year truly special.”

21, Dec 2023
Quantum Energy Inaugurates New EV Showroom in Noida

21 December 2023: Quantum Energy, a leading electric vehicle (EV) startup specializing in the design, development, and manufacturing of electric scooters, has announced the inauguration of its new showroom in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. This new addition marks the 1st EV two-wheeler showroom in the state, further expanding Quantum Energy’s presence and accessibility to Indian customers.

Quantum Energy_Noida Inauguration

The showroom inauguration took place in the presence of esteemed dignitaries and senior officials from Quantum Energy. Spanning approximately 650 square feet, the newly inaugurated showroom operates under the dealership name Mohak Energy. The strategically positioned showroom provides a convenient hub for customers to explore Quantum Energy’s cutting-edge electric scooters and firsthand experience their advanced features.

At the Mohak Energy showroom, all Quantum Energy electric scooters are prominently displayed, allowing visitors to marvel at the impeccable design, impressive performance, and exceptional build quality of each vehicle. The diverse lineup of electric scooters includes the Plasma, Elektron, Milan and Bziness range, catering to a wide range of commuting needs for Indian consumers.

Specifications of the showcased electric scooters:

Plasma – Powered by a 1500 W motor; top speed of 65 km/h; offers an impressive range of upto 110 km on a single full battery charge. Price – INR 1,21,205 Ex showroom, Maharashtra

Elektron – Equipped with a 1000W motor; top speed of 60 km/h; provides a range of upto 100 km on a single full battery charge; Price – INR 92,055 Ex-showroom, Maharashtra

Milan – Driven by a 1000W motor; top speed of 60 km/h; offers a range of upto 100 km on a single full battery charge; Price – INR 87,896 Ex-showroom, Maharashtra

Bziness – Empowered by a 1200W motor; top speed of 55 km/h; provides a range of upto 110 km in on a single full battery charge; Price – INR 98,291 Ex-showroom, Maharashtra.

Bziness Pro – Empowered by a 1200W motor; top speed of 55 km/h; provides a range of upto 130 km in on a single full battery charge; Price – INR 1,17,200 Ex-showroom, Maharashtra.

Speaking about the launch, Mrs. Chakravarthi C., Managing Director of Quantum Energy Limited, expressed,” With the opening of our new store in Noida, we are excited to increase our presence in Uttar Pradesh even further. It is quite promising that there is a rising interest in electric two-wheelers in the state. Numerous cutting-edge features of our Quantum Energy scooters strongly appeal to all market sectors. Our commitment to making our cutting-edge electric scooters more accessible to the public is fueled by the growing demand for environmentally friendly mobility options. We are currently trying to create more showrooms in Uttar Pradesh to accommodate this demand and make our eco-friendly mobility products more easily accessible.”

Quantum Energy has expanded its network of showrooms around India to an amazing 55 with the opening of the Noida showroom. With the support of the prestigious Kusalava Group, which has over 50 years of experience in the automotive industry, Quantum Energy is committed to reducing carbon emissions, reducing its carbon footprint, and making India a leader in sustainable mobility worldwide.

21, Dec 2023
UPI transactions witnesses 118% rise at retail stores in 2023: PayNearby Report

Assisted e-commerce (meta commerce) grows by 91% in semi urban and rural retail counters

  •  PayNearby releases detailed analysis on ‘assisted digital transactions’ FY23, in its third Pan-India report titled  Retail-O-Nomics
  •  Insurance policy purchase and insurance premium collection saw a massive 150% growth in transaction and 140% in customer adoption
  •   PAN Card issuance services have seen a steep growth of 437%
  •   During PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi fund release, cash withdrawal on an average grew by 36% as compared to the rest of the year
  •   Amongst credit products, personal loan and gold loan, saw good adoption at the last mile, crossing seven-figure mark in disbursements within few months of launch
  •   Bill payments service at local stores witnessed an increase of 74% in value and 39% in volume

 Mumbai, 21th December, 2023: PayNearby, India’s largest branchless banking and digital network, today released data report ‘Retail-O-Nomics’. It highlights Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions saw a 118% and 106% increase in volume and value respectively at semi-urban and rural stores, representing the growing adoption of UPI beyond Tier II regions in the country. In addition, mPOS (Mobile Point of Sale) acceptance too witnessed a growth of 5% in value, emphasising the increasing adoption of cutting-edge technology among small merchants.

 Insurance policy purchases and premium collections surged by 150% in transaction volume and 140% in new customer adoption, underlining the role of digital retail stores in addressing the challenges of insurance penetration in Bharat, and their gradual evolution into multi-utility centres for citizens.

PayNearby Logo

The insights are part of the third edition of the Pan-India report titled ‘Retail-O-Nomics’ released by PayNearby. The report has been prepared based on transactions conducted across a million-plus PayNearby retail touchpoints, consisting of kirana stores, mobile recharge stores, medical shops, customer service points (CSPs), travel agents, etc. throughout the country. The findings compare business data from January to November 2023 with the same period in the year 2022.

As per the report, the nationwide new registered retailer count increased by 9%, underscoring the eagerness of the retail community to participate in India’s growth story by facilitating assisted financial and digital transactions at nearby stores. Overall, transactions grew by 10% both in volume and value. The transactions include not only banking and financial services, but also digital services like utility payment, cash collection, credit, insurance, assisted commerce and more, indicating a significant behavioral shift among consumers in these regions towards assisted digital methods for their banking and lifestyle needs, contributing to their integration into the formal economy.

In 2023, Micro ATM and AePS cash withdrawals, pivotal for rural and semi-urban digital counters (retail stores), fell short of expected growth. However, MATM device demand remained robust, marking a 17% surge in purchases compared to last year. Although transaction volume decreased, the average cash withdrawal per transaction grew slightly from ₹2595 in 2022 to ₹2624 in 2023. Notably, AePS withdrawals surged consistently by 30-40% during DBT releases, notably during PM Kisan Yojana credits, as compared with the rest of the year.

The report also highlights a staggering 65% surge in cash collection at retail counters, reflecting soaring demand for credit and financial solutions nationwide. With an average monthly collection of ₹1,700 crores, the company witnessed heightened demand across various processes, including a remarkable 25% surge in EMI collections for NBFCs, MFIs, and Small Finance Banks. This uptick in EMI collections signifies a rising awareness and interest in credit and financial offerings at the grassroots level. Additionally, positive growth in subscriptions for OTTs, online education, and online gaming underlines a latent demand for digital services, indicating Bharat’s growing affinity towards digital products.

Amongst credit products, business, personal, and gold loans gained rapid traction, surpassing a seven-figure mark in loan disbursement. Impressively, 21% of applicants were new to credit (NTC), reflecting a growing trend. The average age of 28-30 highlights a dynamic, youthful entrepreneurial base. These loans, catering to SMEs’ working capital and individual lifestyle upgrades, underscore the urgent need for scalable, affordable credit solutions for India’s unhindered progress.

The assisted e-commerce segment, meta-commerce emerged as another significant highlight this year, with a network of ~40,000 retailers actively engaged in providing e-commerce services. Particularly noteworthy is the substantial traction of the Branded Shop category, featuring top brands across consumer electronics, mobile accessories, kitchen appliances and more. Popular categories in the ecommerce portfolio include grocery, grooming, toys, and healthcare products. The average ticket size in the branded shop category was ₹3,184, while for the rest of the ecommerce portfolio, it was ₹1,586.

FY 2023 saw a surge in re-banking at retail counters, opening 175,000 new current and savings accounts. The report highlights a robust 202% growth in account balances compared to last year.

Commenting on the report findings, Anand Kumar Bajaj, Founder, MD & CEO, PayNearby, said, “Embracing rural India’s pulse, Retail-O-Nomics depicts a narrative where hinterlands not only keep pace with urban areas but actively integrate into the formal economy. The surge in GTV results from not only the growth in traditional banking and ATM services but also the adoption of products like UPI and MPOS, NTC credit solutions, insurance, e-commerce and more. Despite this, there’s still a huge untapped market needing the right product, pricing, and distribution for easier adoption. This report aims to catalyse dialogues and implement measures for widespread financial and digital service accessibility, especially in Tier II and beyond. Committed to this vision, we empower retailers and consumers through user-friendly solutions, focusing on technology simplification and democratization via our Distribution-as-a-Service network.

A case in point is the introduction of assisted ecommerce in our network. With this service, rural aspirational customers are getting the choicest products at a nearby store, retailers are seeing enhanced income, and e-commerce partners are not only reaching new markets, but seeing reduced returns rates, optimizing overall business costs. In fact, return rates through meta commerce are nearly 1/3rd of the standard return rate witnessed by B2C ecommerce platforms, highlighting the significant role played by human interventions at retail counters in the overall consumer experience.”

Bill payments spiked by 74% in value and 39% in volume, while mobile recharge grew by 3%. Assisted Income Tax Return (ITR) services rose by 4%. Travel bookings maintained an 8% growth in flights and 6% in rail bookings during festivals. New PAN Card issuance and corrections skyrocketed by 437%. Notably, 41% of banking transactions occurred from 3.00 pm to 9.00 pm, highlighting retail outlets’ crucial role in meeting banking and digital needs, especially within the PayNearby network.

21, Dec 2023
Year-End Story Quote from Lexar, a global giant in Flash memory solutions

Fissal Oubida, Lexar

“As another year comes to an end, the memory solutions market did witness an increase in demand for high quality storage solution devices that are faster, secure, with massive capacities. In response to changing customer needs, we have expanded and designed our new product line to meet the demands of a dynamic market. For example, in the gaming sector, we now offer high-quality DDR5 and DDR4 RAMs, along with SSDs that reach speeds of around up to 12000 MB/Sec, tailored for gaming enthusiasts. While DDR4 remains popular, we’re gradually transitioning to the faster DDR5 interface to keep up with technological advancements.

 Our gold microSD, a pioneering product with V60-rated video capacity, has been instrumental in meeting the growing demand for high-performance storage solutions. Additionally, our USB 3.0 to 3.2 flash drives have set new standards for speed and reliability in USB storage.

As we look ahead, we are excited by the opportunities presented by emerging trends, such as the increasing popularity of drone photography in India. The demand for high-speed microSDs capable of recording 4K quality RAW videos is on the rise, and Lexar is poised to meet this demand with our innovative solutions.

In the coming year, we remain committed to our mission of delivering exceptional products that empower our customers to do more. With a focus on next-generation innovations that are cutting-edge, reliable and secure, we are confident in our ability to continue leading the storage solutions industry in India.”

21, Dec 2023
Suzuki Motorcycle India’s Suzuki Matsuri echoes with success in Bangalore

Bangalore, 21 December 2023: Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. (SMIPL), the two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, successfully concludes the second edition of Suzuki Matsuri in Bangalore, marking an unforgettable celebration of motorcycling culture and community spirit. Held at the JK Grand Arena, the event witnessed participation from more than 3,300 enthusiasts showcasing their passion for motorcycling.

Mr. Kenichi Umeda, MD, SMIPL addressing the attendees at Suzuki Matsuri in Bangalore

Expressing gratitude to the participants, Mr. Devashish Handa, EVP Sales, Marketing & After Sales, Suzuki Motorcycle India said, “We are delighted by the tremendous response to Suzuki Matsuri in Bangalore. Having over 3,300 enthusiasts actively participate is truly gratifying. Suzuki Matsuri isn’t just an event; it’s a celebration of the dynamic motorcycle community. We appreciate the support and enthusiasm that participants brought to make this edition an outstanding success.”

Event Highlights:

Navigating Gymkhana Track with the Gixxer

  • · Iconic Rides: Taking the centerstage were Hayabusa parade and Gixxer parade, drawing admiration from the crowd. These parades not only showcased the prowess of motorcycles but also united riders in a shared appreciation for the legendary Hayabusa and the dynamic Gixxer.
  •  · Engaging Experiences: Attendees immersed themselves in a variety of thrilling experiences, from navigating specially engineered Gymkhana Tracks that tested their skills to indulging in the ultimate speed rush on the Zip Track. The Urban Enduro Adventure showcased the dynamic versatility of Suzuki motorcycles. Participants also seized the chance to engage and interact with industry experts who provided valuable insights into the latest motorcycle trends.
  • · Creative Canvasses and Culinary Delights: The Art & Graffiti Zone became a creative haven, adorned with captivating installations and graffiti, adding an artistic touch to the festival. Culinary Cruise offered a diverse range of delectable food options, ensuring a delightful culinary experience for all attendees.
  • · Star-Studded Entertainment: The event’s entertainment lineup lived up to its promise, with the charismatic emcee Rustom K Patel keeping the energy high and DJ Vijay Kumar U D setting the stage for an electrifying atmosphere. This was followed by a mesmerizing headlining performance by artist Raghu Dixit.
21, Dec 2023
AAONXT Marks 3 Years of Operations, Expands Language Reach, Surpasses 1 Lakh Subscribers and 10 Lakh Downloads Worldwide

India, 21 December 2023 – As AAONXT commemorates its 3rd operational milestone on 20th December 2023, Eastern India’s premier OTT platform is elated to announce a significant achievement. As part of our strategic expansion, AAONXT has recently made its presence felt in languages from the eastern part of India, including Odia and Bengali, with plans to further broaden our linguistic offerings by introducing Assamese in the coming months.

3rd Anniverasy_SM_2

AAONXT, Odisha’s First independent OTT platform, is aimed at showcasing web series, feature films, and documentaries across a wide variety of genres. This initiative caters to the entertainment needs of 50 million Odias across the globe who are deprived of quality cinema/content in their mother tongue. We believe in bringing a path-breaking change in entertainment at par with the changing international filmmaking/showcasing scenario.

kausik das

The company, led by Founder and CEO Mr. Kaushik Das, has witnessed remarkable growth, boasting an impressive 80,000 to 100,000 regular subscribers and nearly 10 lakh downloads worldwide. This expansion aligns with AAONXT’s vision to break down language barriers and offer diverse, indigenous content to audiences around the globe. Presently available in 94 countries, AAONXT is breaking new ground in the world of regional entertainment. AAONXT’s Founder and CEO, Mr. Kaushik Das, expressed his excitement about this milestone, saying, “Our journey has been nothing short of exhilarating. We are thrilled to witness the growing global reach of AAONXT and the increasing popularity of our diverse content offerings. The inclusion of Assamese and the positive response from audiences across 94 countries are testaments to our commitment to providing quality entertainment. As we expand our language offerings and witness the overwhelming response from our audience worldwide, we are motivated to continue our mission of bringing diverse, high-quality content to every corner of the globe. AAONXT is not just a platform; it’s a celebration of culture, storytelling, and the human experience.”

Growth Highlights:

  • Linguistic Diversity: AAONXT now offers content in Odia, Bengali, and will soon introduce Assamese.
  •  Global Presence: Available in 94 countries, AAONXT is reaching audiences across the world.
  •  Subscriber Base: With 80,000 to 100,000 regular subscribers, AAONXT is gaining traction globally.
  •    Downloads: The platform has achieved nearly 10 lakh downloads, reflecting its widespread popularity.
21, Dec 2023
Crystal Crop Protection Limited is now Great Place To Work Certified Organization

New Delhi, Dec 21, 2023– Crystal Crop Protection Limited, one of the fast-growing R&D-based crop protection manufacturing and marketing companies in India, has been awarded with the Great Place To Work® certification. This puts Crystal Crop in the prestigious list of organizations known for positive and progressive workplace culture.

crystal crop protyection

Crystal Crop has taken multiple HR initiatives recently:

  • Crystal Women’s Network: With the Goal of Increasing the Diversity Hiring across functions within an Industry where the percentage of Diverse Candidates are less than 5%, to facilitate a safe and encouraging Work environment and create a platform with Senior Mentorship programs and Buddy Programs to encourage Women from Bottom to the Top Levels to succeed.
  •   Engage & Grow: One-of-a-Kind Training program for the HODs and N-1 Level Leaders to unlearn, strategize and Re-learn new ways to combat old problems. It aims at sharpening the thought process of Leaders and encouraging them to think Out of the Box.
  •   HR for Non-HR program: This program trains People managers on management skills and HR policies, so that they are efficient enough to solve their teams problem without the need for employees to go to the HR.
  •   Spearhead workshop: This Interactive Quarterly workshop sessions are aimed at Polishing the Sales Employees with the aim of being the Best Ambassadors of Crystal. This includes Communication with the right Manners and Dress Sense, Negotiations and Relationship Building with Relevant Stakeholders and Shaping their Selling strategies and thought Process.

There are more initiatives in the pipeline:

  • New In-Built HRMS system: with New technology that will manage Recruitment, Onboarding, Leave and Attendance Management and Exit Formalities along with Interactive HR Board with Updates on Company Policies, News, Employee Birthdays/Work Anniversaries, and Rewards and Recognition Announcements, etc.
  •   Advanced Learning Management System (LMS): With a heavy emphasis on Employee Career Development and Skills Training, Crystal will be soon introducing a new LMS platform that will focus on Training and Development programs that are integrated with Career Progression of each Employee.

Speaking on the organization, Crystal Crop’s MD, Mr. Ankur Aggarwal said “We believe in a multi-faceted approach to the workplace. Our focus on internal talent, inclusivity/diversity, training programs for line managers, periodic workshops for employees, revamped insurance claim policies, periodic R&R sessions, and quarterly interactions between employees and HR have enabled us to enhance the workplace experience.”

Speaking on this achievement, Crystal Crop’s CHRO Mr. Bijender Vats said “We are a people first organization, and we focus on policies that create an employee friendly environment. And this certificate is a validation to the same. Keeping in mind that the heart of any organization is the employee experience, we have always worked on making the workplace a positive, flexible, productive, and healthy haven for our employees. This GPTW certification is great source of encouragement for us as an organization.”

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make strategic people decisions. The Institute serves businesses, non-profits, and government agencies in more than 60 countries and has conducted pioneering research on the characteristics of great workplaces for over three decades.

In India, the Great Place To Work institute partners with more than 1400 organizations annually across over 22 industries to help them build High-Trust, High-Performance Cultures designed to deliver sustained business results. Hundreds of CEOs and CXOs from India Inc. are part of the great place community that is committed to the vision of making India a great place to work for all.

The Institute’s research shows that great workplaces are characterized by great leadership, consistent employee experience, and sustainable financial performance. These organizations can deliver a consistent experience to all their employees irrespective of their role, gender, tenure, or level. Their leaders believe in the vision of creating and sustaining a great place to work for all and role models for all leaders.

21, Dec 2023
Ambuja Cements Uplifts Healthcare Facilities for the Tribal Community in West Bengal’s Farakka region

Bengaluru, 21st December 2023: Ambuja Cements, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Group, through its CSR arm, has forged a strategic partnership with the Health Department in order to enhance the healthcare facilities for the tribal communities of Shymlapur village in Farakka region of Murshidabad district. This is a substantial step towards integrating modern healthcare practices into community welfare that has been relying on traditional treatments so far.

A doorstep healthcare service, spearheaded by Health Sakhi Kalpana Mandal, specifically addresses the unique challenges faced by tribal women in accessing healthcare. They dedicatedly focus on providing late-night assistance, pregnancy testing, and family planning services. Their ‘Matriyan’ program, offering free vehicle services, plays a pivotal role in ensuring that vital healthcare reaches every household in the tribal village.

Healthcare Facilities for the Tribal Community in West Bengal

The success of this initiative is evident from the effective delivery of pregnancy test kits, blood pressure screenings, HB testing, and the distribution of essential supplements and family planning resources. This comprehensive approach has resulted in a noteworthy achievement: a 100% institutional delivery rate in Shymlapur village.

The infusion of modern healthcare practices is creating a positive impact on the tribal communities of Shymlapur. The empowerment of tribal women through specialized services exemplifies how modern healthcare practices are tailored to meet the specific needs of the community, ensuring comprehensive and culturally sensitive care.

Healthcare Facilities for the Tribal Community in West Bengal 2

Going beyond doorstep services, the program includes health camps and educational sessions, actively fostering heightened health awareness among the tribal community. This holistic approach not only improves healthcare access but also seamlessly integrates the tribal population into mainstream healthcare services.

Ambuja Cements’ commitment to enhancing healthcare in Murshidabad’s tribal areas aligns seamlessly with its business ethos. These initiatives not only elevate the quality of healthcare but also cultivate a sense of trust and engagement within the community, paving the way for sustainable health advancements.

21, Dec 2023
Kotak Mahindra Bank Appoints Mr. Eli Leenaars as an Additional and Independent Director on its Board

Bengaluru, 21st December 2023: Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (“Bank”) announced on 18th December 2023 the appointment of Mr. Eli Leenaars (Mr. Cornelis Petrus Adrianus Joseph Leenaars) as an Additional and Independent Director on the Bank’s Board, for a period of four years, effective January 1, 2024, subject to fulfillment of statutory/regulatory or other requirements, as may be necessary.

Eli Leenaars Kotak Mahindra Bank

Mr. Eli Leenaars is a successful leader with over 35 years of extensive experience in the financial services sector, including institutional & investment banking, asset management, corporate & retail banking, and life & general insurance. A respected expert on the future of digital banking and global industry trends in finance, investment, banking, and leadership, Mr. Leenaars has experience in managing businesses through a wide range of matters including mergers & acquisitions, complex corporate restructurings, strategic initiatives, and challenging financial environments.

Mr. Leenaars enjoyed a 24-year career (since 1991) at ING Group N.V., a Dutch multinational banking and financial services company, and several of its subsidiaries and held numerous key management positions. After ING, Mr. Leenaars served as the Group Managing Director and Vice-Chairman of the Global Wealth Management Division at UBS Group AG, a Swiss multinational investment bank and financial services company, from April 2015 to May 2021 based in Zurich.

Mr. Leenaars is currently serving as Group Chief Operating Officer of Quintet Private Bank, a medium-sized Luxembourg-headquartered bank and wealth manager with operations in 6 European countries.

Mr. Prakash Apte, Non-Executive Independent Chairman, Kotak Mahindra Bank said, “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Eli Leenaars to the Bank’s Board of Directors. His experience of over three decades in the financial services sector will guide us as we chart out the next phase of the Bank’s growth. A respected expert on the future of digital banking and global industry trends in finance, investment, banking, and leadership, he will bring a fresh perspective to the deliberations, and the Board is looking forward to working with him closely