The team @TrueBrain
Anil Nim
Partner - New Delhi
Anil brings over 26 years of experience in marketing communications and PR, making him a trusted advisor for businesses that are leading the way, driving change, and shaking things up. He’s spent more than a decade each in top roles at major global communication firms and leading marketing teams in-house. His career includes stints at agencies like Vaishnavi Corporate Communications, Weber Shandwick, Genesis Burson Marsteller, and Edelman. On the client side, he’s held key positions such as Head of Marketing Communications at Invista for South Asia (formerly Dupont Textiles & Interiors), Associate Director of Brand, Marketing, and Communications at EY, and National Director of Communications at a top corporate law firm in India.
Anil has worked on mandates for large organisations, like helping MTV India grow into the leading youth music channel in the country, boosting sales for the Almond Board of California, managing reputational risks for GMR during the Delhi Airport privatization, and driving consumer preference and sales for LYCRA and Teflon brands in India. His experience spans a wide range of industries and brand challenges.
When he’s not immersed in work, Anil loves to travel to different corners of the world and has explored places like Spain, Russia, Hungary, and China. At home, he’s an avid reader, enjoys soaking up the sun with a good book, and finds gardening to be a great way to unwind and connect with nature.
Urvashi Datwani
Partner - Mumbai
Urvashi has over 25 years of experience in corporate communications and business development, making her a seasoned pro in her field. She spent more than two decades with two of India’s top corporate law firms, playing a pivotal role in their impressive growth.
At AZB & Partners, Urvashi was instrumental in transforming the firm from a single lawyer operation into a bustling practice with over 500 professionals. She was key in developing the firm’s business development and marketing strategies and setting up their Client Relationship Management program, working closely with the firm’s Partners across various practices. Later, she took on a new challenge at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, where she led the client and market development function. There, she significantly boosted the firm’s thought leadership presence, contributing to high rankings in global legal awards and strong media coverage for the firm and its partners.
On the personal side, Urvashi is actively involved in community service through the Baha’i community and serves as a Director at Wishing Well, Mumbai. This organization supports various NGOs through fundraising events and donation drives. Her contributions have earned her a spot in Forbes’ Legal Powerlift from 2021 to 2023, showcasing her as one of the top management professionals in India.
Ashok Hegde
Partner - Mumbai
Ashok is a seasoned content expert with more than 30 years in the industry. He’s also the Co-Founder and CEO of Quantent, an award-winning digital strategy and content marketing firm based in Mumbai.
Ashok started his career as a journalist, spending seven years with top publications like The Onlooker, The Indian Post, Mid-Day, and The Indian Express. As the first Internet boom swept through India, he shifted seamlessly from journalism to digital content strategy. His first venture, Sepia Media Consultants, worked with Internet giants such as Yahoo, Rediff.com, and eBay, covering everything from breaking news and search engines to web magazines and content moderation.
Throughout his career, Ashok has assisted companies in achieving diverse online objectives, including building brands, launching products, acquiring customers, creating communities, and managing reputations. He firmly believes in the power of content to create compelling customer experiences.
When he’s not focused on content, Ashok enjoys reading detective fiction on his Kindle and playing guitar, often while singing.
Ritul Yadav
Partner - New Delhi
Ritul is a seasoned marketing & communications professional with two decades of hands-on experience crafting creative, business-driven marketing campaigns. Her career spans a mix of agency and corporate roles, where she has successfully navigated the full marketing landscape, leading integrated campaigns across India and the ASEAN region.
She specializes in managing multi-stakeholder relationships and influencer outreach, focusing on reputation management in various sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, travel, lifestyle, agro commodities, and retail. Ritul has previously spearheaded marketing communications for notable brands such as The CG Group, Parker, Mekosha, Ananda in the Himalayas, Radisson Blu Plaza, Delhi and luxury hotels in Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and Portugal, specifically targeting the Indian market.
What sets Ritul apart is her extensive media relations experience across platforms like print, television, and digital. She has built strong connections with influential hospitality and lifestyle journalists, known for going the extra mile and delivering beyond the obvious. Her social media and influencer marketing skills are top-notch, and she excels at media research, which helps her create compelling pitches that resonate across different categories. Additionally, she is skilled in crafting messaging and content tailored to specific market segments.
Ritul earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Delhi University and a Master’s in Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She has also shared her expertise as a guest faculty member at MDI, Gurgaon.
Siddhartha Deshaprabu
Partner - New Delhi
Siddhartha Deshaprabhu has over 24 years of experience driving both B2C and B2B success through digital platforms. He currently looks after digital services at TrueBrain and is also founder of Tapdance Digital, a boutique digital marketing agency.
Before launching Tapdance Digital, Siddhartha spent five years at PwC India, where he played a key role in marketing and branding. He was part of the team that introduced and promoted PwC’s SaaS-based technology solutions to enterprise clients and also helped shape and promote the firm’s ESG initiatives through the PwC India Foundation.
Siddhartha’s approach to marketing is distinct—he excels in working with entrepreneurial, promoter-driven, and family-run businesses. Over the past few years, he’s taken on various marketing roles in digital-first companies, including Yahoo! India, ibibo.com, and Fashos.com, and Tapdance Digital.
He’s skilled at crafting digital strategies for businesses, building demand pipelines through account-based marketing, and maximizing the value of social media platforms.
Ashonal Pereira
Partner - Mumbai
With over a decade of experience in marketing, Ashonal Pereira has built a solid reputation for planning and executing effective strategies. He’s known for creating aspirational environments that help elevate brands both in India and internationally.
Ashonal kicked off his career at Camson Agri-ventures, where he managed international and modern retail brands. He then took on the role of Project Head for ABEC | ITE Group’s real estate business, overseeing international operations in regions like Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Korea, Turkey, and the Middle East. After that, he worked as an AVP at Belle Property International, leading their real estate investments into markets such as Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, the UK, and the USA. His role there involved a range of services, including migration, investment advisory, strategic financial planning, and investment structuring.
A few years ago, Ashonal founded Mancunianz, his own digital, PR, and marketing firm. Outside of work, Ashonal enjoys traveling, reading, and relaxing in nature, often taking his pet dog for morning walks.
Nazim Khan
Partner - Mumbai
Nazim is a journalist-turned-marketer with a knack for blending content, finance, and technology. His ability to think across disciplines helps him tackle a wide range of challenges, whether it’s driving website traffic, crafting engaging content, or creating strategies to meet business goals.
He kicked off his career in 2007 as a real estate reporter at the Hindustan Times, then shifted into financial journalism as a senior sub-editor at Moneycontrol. Next, he moved to Morningstar’s India office, where he climbed the ranks to become website editor. There, he tripled the site’s views in just 18 months and helped set up the panelist list for Morningstar’s early investment conferences.
Nazim then returned to Moneycontrol, where he led a team of 35 journalists, managed content quality, and handled social media. He also played a crucial role in Moneycontrol’s 2018 relaunch, which led to a sixfold increase in unique visitors over two years. He oversees content strategy and business operations, helping clients create impressive content properties.
He’s got a journalism degree from Mumbai University and completed an executive program in strategic marketing from IIM Lucknow. When he’s not working, Nazim enjoys playing chess and table tennis, singing a bit, and staying updated with the latest trends through audiobooks and podcasts. He even continues writing for his old employers, including a column for CNBCTV18 about fraudulent finfluencers that led to the creation of the ‘Verified’ feature in the broking industry.
Lester Castelino
Partner - Mumbai
Lester Castelino has built an impressive career over the past 8 years in digital marketing. His journey began as a chartered accountant with Anand Mehta & Associates, where he honed his financial acumen. He then transitioned to Webboxstudios, taking on the role of Head of Finance, where he managed the firm’s financial operations and strategy.
Driven by a growing fascination with marketing, Lester took a significant leap by co-founding Mancunianz, a comprehensive digital agency, that specializes in branding, digital marketing, public relations, and web design. His leadership and vision have been instrumental in positioning the firm as a key player in the industry.
Outside of his professional life, Lester is passionate about tracking the stock market, which keeps him engaged with the latest financial trends and investment opportunities. He also values socializing as a way to build relationships and network with professionals from various fields. Lester is a strong advocate of the “Learn to Earn” philosophy, constantly seeking to expand his knowledge. In his downtime, he enjoys reading and exploring topics related to personality development, always aiming to grow both personally and professionally.
Anil Nim
Anil Nim
Making him a trusted advisor for businesses that are leading the way, driving change, and shaking things up. He’s spent more than a decade each in top roles at major global communication firms and leading marketing teams in-house. His career includes stints at agencies like Vaishnavi Corporate Communications, Weber Shandwick, Genesis Burson Marsteller, and Edelman. On the client side, he’s held key positions such as Head of Marketing Communications at Invista for South Asia (formerly Dupont Textiles & Interiors), Associate Director of Brand, Marketing, and Communications at EY, and National Director of Communications at a top corporate law firm in India.
Anil has worked on mandates for large organisations, like helping MTV India grow into the leading youth music channel in the country, boosting sales for the Almond Board of California, managing reputational risks for GMR during the Delhi Airport privatization, and driving consumer preference and sales for LYCRA and Teflon brands in India. His experience spans a wide range of industries and brand challenges.
When he’s not immersed in work, Anil loves to travel to different corners of the world and has explored places like Spain, Russia, Hungary, and China. At home, he’s an avid reader, enjoys soaking up the sun with a good book, and finds gardening to be a great way to unwind and connect with nature.
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