Brands
Marico names Ankit Porwal CEO for beauty and digital
Former L’Oréal leader to steer styling portfolio and power data-led growth
MUMBAI: Marico has brought in a seasoned beauty and e-commerce hand to sharpen its digital edge. The company has appointed Ankit Porwal as chief executive officer for beauty and styling in its digital business, tasking him with leading the portfolio while accelerating online and data-driven growth.
In his new role, Porwal will oversee Marico’s beauty and styling brands and drive the company’s push across digital commerce and omnichannel platforms. The mandate is clear: build stronger online visibility, harness data more intelligently, and turn clicks into consistent growth.
He joins from L’Oréal, where he spent more than thirteen years in a series of regional leadership roles across Asia and the Middle East. Most recently, he served as regional director and general manager for e-commerce and marketing transformation for the Sapmena region, where he focused on building large-scale digital, content and data transformation engines.
Before that, Porwal led the consumer products division as general manager for the Malaysia and Singapore cluster and earlier headed e-commerce for the South East Asia, India, Pacific, Middle East and North Africa region. His work spanned building digital infrastructure, expanding online penetration and leading cross-functional teams across sales, marketing, finance and supply chain.
His L’Oréal stint also included regional marketing leadership for Garnier across India and South East Asia, as well as senior marketing roles in Indonesia and India. Prior to L’Oréal, Porwal built his early career at Colgate-Palmolive and Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, moving through sales and marketing roles across India and Thailand.
With this appointment, Marico is betting on deep beauty expertise and digital fluency to style its next phase of growth. For Porwal, it is a homecoming of sorts, back to the Indian consumer market, this time with a mandate to blend beauty, data and digital into a sharper growth formula.
Brands
Mana Projects names Ranbir Kapoor brand ambassador amid rebranding
Bengaluru developer unveils new identity focused on design and nature.
MUMBAI: When real estate meets reel star power, the foundation for a new brand story is often laid brick by brick. Mana Projects, the Bengaluru based real estate developer, has appointed actor Ranbir Kapoor as its brand ambassador while unveiling a refreshed brand identity aimed at aligning the company with the evolving expectations of modern urban homebuyers.
The announcement marks a new phase for the developer, which has spent over two decades building residential communities in Bengaluru, particularly along emerging growth corridors such as Sarjapur Road.
The updated brand identity reflects the company’s emphasis on design led living and environmentally conscious development. According to the developer, the new positioning focuses on creating residential spaces where architecture, nature, engineering and lifestyle planning work together to shape meaningful living experiences.
Mana Projects chairman and managing director D. Kishore Reddy said the rebranding represents a natural progression as the company adapts to the expectations of a new generation of homeowners.
“This rebranding represents the natural evolution of Mana Projects as we align ourselves with the aspirations of a new generation of homeowners, particularly millennials who form the backbone of Bengaluru’s dynamic homebuyer community,” Reddy said.
He added that today’s buyers increasingly look beyond basic housing to spaces that combine design, sustainability and a strong sense of community.
“At Mana, our philosophy centres on creating homes where space is purposeful, design is intelligent, nature is respected and engineering ensures long term sustainability. Our association with Ranbir Kapoor reflects this new chapter as we continue to build communities that enable people to truly live brilliantly,” he said.
Kapoor, who has been associated with several lifestyle and consumer brands, said the partnership resonated with his own understanding of what makes a home meaningful.
“A home is one of the most meaningful investments people make in their lives, and it should reflect comfort, warmth and a sense of belonging,” Kapoor said.
“What impressed me about Mana Projects is the brilliance of their thought, the way design, nature and functionality come together to enhance everyday living. I’m delighted to be associated with Mana Projects as they continue to create homes that inspire modern urban families to truly live brilliantly.”
The collaboration will be introduced through a large scale integrated campaign spanning digital platforms, outdoor media and experiential activations, making it one of the developer’s most prominent branding initiatives in recent years.
Founded in Bengaluru, Mana Projects has built a portfolio of residential developments that emphasise thoughtful architecture, amenity rich neighbourhoods and environmentally sensitive planning. The company’s projects often integrate open spaces, green landscapes and energy efficient engineering to support sustainable urban living.
With Bengaluru continuing to attract young professionals and technology workers, the developer believes the city’s housing market is increasingly being shaped by buyers seeking well planned communities that balance functionality with quality of life.
Looking ahead, Mana Projects plans to expand its presence across the city by developing future ready residential projects designed to accommodate emerging lifestyle trends such as hybrid work culture, community driven living and multigenerational households.
By combining a refreshed brand identity with a high profile ambassador, the company hopes to strengthen its position in Bengaluru’s competitive real estate market while appealing to a new generation of homeowners seeking homes that blend design, nature and modern living.
