MAM
D2C brand Plum ropes in Mithila Palkar as brand ambassador
Mumbai: Homegrown beauty and personal care brand Plum on Thursday announced that it has signed actor Mithila Palkar as its first-ever brand ambassador.
Starting her acting career in 2014, Mithila is known for a wide variety of roles that she has portrayed in films and web series. She is also a popular singer. “Being one of the most vivacious and spirited actresses, Mithila exemplifies the girl-next-door image and will appear in key Plum campaigns across digital media,” said the brand in a statement.
“Plum is a youthful brand that resonates with the confident woman of today. So, onboarding a millennial youth icon like Mithila Palkar seemed to be a natural fit. She reflects Plum’s values of being honest and real,” stated Plum CEO and founder Shankar Prasad. “Our association with her is a step towards strengthening the connection with our customers and reaching out to millions of more women who will emotionally associate with our brand and love using our products.”
One of the fastest growing BPC brands in the online space, Plum is available on e-commerce marketplaces such as Amazon, Flipkart, Nykaa and Purplle and in over 250 towns and cities in India, through 900+ assisted retail outlets, and over 10,000 unassisted outlets, said the statement. The brand recently won the Best Vegan Cosmetics award at the PETA India’s Vegan Fashion Awards.
“I deeply resonate with the philosophy of the brand and their unique approach towards creating products which are truly good for your skin,” said Mithila Palkar. “In Plum, I have found my partner, which provides an authentic, dependable, efficacious, and delightful experience in skincare. I am truly glad to be associated with them.”
Brands
Microsoft name Aparajita Puri as managing director – strategic pursuits team (SPT)
Former McKinsey partner to drive large-scale enterprise transformation deals
MUMBAI: Aparajita Puri has joined Microsoft as managing director for its strategic pursuits team in India and South Asia, stepping into a newly created leadership role aimed at scaling large enterprise transformation initiatives.
The role is part of Microsoft’s India leadership structure and is focused on strengthening engagement with key clients, particularly as demand rises for large, tech-led business transformations. Puri will lead strategic deals across sectors, working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, data, and cloud adoption.
Her appointment marks a shift from consulting to big tech after more than a decade at McKinsey & Company, where she most recently served as partner. Over an 11-year stint, she held multiple roles across geographies, advising global clients on strategy and transformation.
Reflecting on the move, Microsoft managing director Aparajita Puri said, “After an incredibly rewarding journey at McKinsey, I’m excited to begin a new chapter at Microsoft.” She added that the shift comes at a time when technology and business transformation are converging at an unprecedented pace.
Puri also highlighted the opportunity to work on large-scale transformation mandates. “It’s an exciting time to be at the intersection of tech and business transformation, especially as AI, data and accelerated cloud adoption reshape industries,” said Microsoft managing director Aparajita Puri.
In her new role, she will collaborate closely with senior leaders including Lloyd Adams, Mark Leigh and Puneet Chandok, aligning with Microsoft’s broader push to deepen its enterprise footprint in the region.
With a background that spans consulting, finance and policy, including stints at global firms and academic exposure at leading institutions, Puri brings a mix of strategic depth and execution experience to the role.
Her appointment underlines Microsoft’s growing focus on India and South Asia as key markets for high-value digital transformation. As enterprises double down on AI and cloud, the company appears to be gearing up with leadership that can both spot big opportunities and see them through.
