Katonic.ai

VP - Marketing & Growth

Akasa Air

Built the brand and the marketing ecosystem from the ground up, which included, 
o Setting up of the Brand, Marketing, Media Planning, Social Media, and Digital verticals, including the recruitment of agencies and team members to manage these functions. 
o Design of the website and app. 
o Extension of the brand identity to 50+ sub-brands and services.
o Development of a unique Tone of Voice for social, digital, PR, in-flight and IVR.
o Overall creative and media launch plan for the start of operations.
o Creative development and execution of branding at all customer touchpoints, including the airport and aircraft.

GM & Head - Marketing

VFS Global

o Promoted to General Manager - Marketing in less than 2 years
o Led a team of marketing managers and designers. Responsible for all research, marketing, digital and media activities globally.
o Developed and executed a global content strategy across all digital, social, and traditional channels.
o Refreshed and relaunched the “Visa at Home” service campaign, which became a major source of revenue during the pandemic when centres were closed. 
o Launched a first-of-its-kind Twitter-based booking channel for ‘Visa at Home’ using marketing automation.
o Exponentially increased share of positive brand sentiments by working closely with the Operations & CX teams. (An extremely important criterion for winning new client govt. contracts)

DGM - Brand & B2C Marketing

Jet Airways

Led a 7-member marketing team and managed an annual global budget of over INR 40 Cr. 
o Planned and executed a video-led content strategy for digital and social, which helped achieve the highest industry engagement and growth rates across all critical platforms for 3 consecutive years.
o Re-launched Global Linker, an SME platform through a digital and 6-city radio campaign which resulted in the registration of 112000 SMEs in 4 months (Nov ‘17-Mar’ 18)
o Redesigned and relaunched a dormant student travel program which has brought in revenues of over INR 40.3 Cr in FY2018-19, a growth of 55% over LY.
o Doubled uptake of Jet Screen, a mobile streaming service, through a highly low-cost marketing activation. An increase in uptake allowed ancillary revenue generation of over INR 20+ CR through advertising in 2017-18.
o Achieved 32%+ revenue over the target and 2nd highest market share on the EU-India route within 2 years of launch.
o Overhauled the entire brand imagery and tone of voice for Jet Airways, including creating a unique sound logo and music bank.

Senior Brand Manager

Godrej Appliances

Category Marketing Manager for the 1500+ Crore refrigerator category. Managed 3 sub-brands and launch a new premium brand (NXW) which allowed Godrej Appliances to reposition itself as a modern, technologically advanced brand.

Senior Marketing Manager

Managed planning and execution of PAN India activations to drive sales and brand scores. Planned and
executed all campaigns across India, including print, radio, and store-level activations.

Marketing Manager

Nutrela, Ruchi Group

Summer Intern

VP, Marketing - Katonic AI | Ex - Marketing Head, Akasa Air | LinkedIn College to Campus Mentor | New Dad

A marketing and growth leader who believes in building authentic brands and nurturing compassionate workplaces. Currently steering marketing, growth, and operations at Katonic AI, where we're shaping the future of Enterprise AI solutions.

My journey spans from crafting memorable experiences at legacy brands like Jet Airways and Godrej Appliances to building a new airline brand at Akasa Air. At VFS Global, I led global marketing initiatives that bridged cultures and continents. Now at Katonic AI, I'm helping democratize AI adoption while driving our highest revenue growth since inception.

What truly drives me is the belief that great marketing isn't just about tools, metrics and campaigns—it's about understanding people and creating meaningful connections that build love between the brand and the community. Whether it's mentoring young professionals, creating opportunities that transform lives, or sharing insights about the realities of corporate life, I strive to bring authenticity to everything I do.

As a LinkedIn Top Voice, I write about the intersection of career growth, work-life balance, and leadership with empathy. My posts reach millions monthly, sparking conversations about making workplaces more human and inclusive.

Having started from ordinary family from a small town in India and navigated the corporate landscape for over a decade and a half, I understand both the challenges and opportunities that shape careers. This perspective influences how I lead teams, build brands, and mentor the next generation of professionals.

When not working, you might find me spending quality time with my young son—cherishing the simple joys of life, or sharing stories that remind us that behind every corporate success is a very human journey.

My hero isn't some marketing genius, 
But the guy in the saree shop. 

He shows 500 options.
The customer says, "Kuch maza nahi aaya."

Without missing a beat, he smiles and says,
"Arey madamji, aapke liye ek special piece side mein rakha hai."

That special piece is exactly like the first option he showed. 

People think creative is a feelings game .
It's a numbers game.

Because every client, every boss, has a minimum number of creatives they need to reject. 

Before finally approving one, usually the worst backup one that you hate 😄

#Marketing

Neel Jadhav

VP, Marketing - Katonic AI | Ex - Marketing Head, Akasa Air | New Dad

Today my parents, lovingly called Uncle and Aunty in our village, are over the moon.

One of their favorite students graduated at the top of his class and was placed in an MNC.

This achievement is profound because of everything he had to overcome. He lost his father early and his mother works on someone's farm. 

Most people in his position would blame fate and give up. Not him. 

He now is within reach of a successful life.

In my Aie Baba's own words, they are the luckiest people in the world.

As parents, they get to see me succeed once in a while. But as teachers, they get to witness that joy again and again, over the years. 

To so many of you who have helped and contributed, thank you. You are changing lives.

To Jitu, you made us so proud. ❤️

You can find meaning in your life.
Sometimes much later than you imagine.

My dad was a banker.
Retired with just enough savings.

My mom was a homemaker.
Raised me, looked after the house.

At 60, they thought their productive years were over.

They were wrong.

After retirement, they settled in our hometown.
Started teaching underprivileged kids for free.

A hobby at first.

15 years later, 1500+ students.
Two completely different people.

They wake before sunrise.
Water the garden.
Do their chores.
Prepare for classes.

Healthier than they've ever been.
More purposeful than their "productive" years.

Everywhere we go in town, someone stops them.

An ex-student. Their family. Someone who knows what they did.

My parents keep telling me,
They are not 75.
But just 15.

Because their life really started,
Only after they turned 60.

There are times when I question myself,
If I am doing enough beyond just living.

I don't have to look too far,
The answer is in my own house.

Whoever worked on this ad,
Really enjoyed themselves.

One has to closely, 
because it's easy to miss.

See the text in the bottom right. 😂
Then see the url.

Yes, Lumio talks about a problem which everyone faces but still doesn't realize is a problem.

And they do explain it quite creatively. 

But what I loved the most, are these tiny gems where creative teams can really express themselves.

#lumio #vision #ad #lumiovision #marketing

When I started managing commercial decisions, my productivity was terrible. 

Being new and unsure, I ran everything by my boss first.

So my boss called me and said one thing: "Neel, you are allowed to make a mistake."

That one line changed everything.

People think learning is about drive and motivation. Maybe it is. 

But it is also about permission. 

If your people are asking you before every decision, they are not slow learners. They are just scared of being punished. 

They don't need you to give them a push, they need you to catch them if they fall.

I have a marketing joke but it hasn't been approved yet.

I usually don't talk about my work but this one is worth sharing.

This has been our best year. Ever.
And we are only about halfway through it.

We just changed one thing.
We started doing less.

On the product side, we cut everything where we didn't have a massive advantage. Doubled down on our key differentiator.

In sales, we stopped chasing leads after the second meeting. No intent? No problem. We moved on to the next serious lead.

Size of the logo didn't matter.
Only revenue potential did. 

In marketing, we stopped obsessing over more content. Started obsessing over distribution.
Creating something no one sees is pointless.

I feel trying to do everything isn't about lack of clarity.

It's driven by fear.
Fear makes you do everything, just in case.
You make multiple bets, just in case others fail.

But when you try to do everything, you do nothing.

Do less. Do it better than anyone else.
That's been our thought process.

After months of real market feedback and validation, we launched our new website.

Katonic AI: The Operating System for Sovereign AI.

We aren't for everyone. But for enterprises and nations wanting complete control over their AI, IP and data?

We're a perfect match.

All our wins this year are proof.

Katonic AI Prem Naraindas

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