Independent design and brand consultancy Elephant has appointed Kedar Parundekar as chief growth officer as part of its leadership expansion strategy. The move follows the launch of the company’s Asia Pacific hub in Singapore last year and signals the consultancy’s focus on strengthening its business and brand consulting capabilities across global markets.
Parundekar joins Elephant with experience across strategy, branding and business development, having previously worked with global agencies Blue Marlin and Design Bridge. He also shares a prior association with Elephant, bringing familiarity with the consultancy’s culture and long-term vision.
In his new role, Parundekar will lead Elephant’s growth strategy, with responsibilities spanning strategic partnerships, client engagement and market expansion across India and overseas markets. The consultancy said the appointment aligns with its next phase of growth and broader ambitions within the consumer and corporate branding sectors.
Parundekar brings 18 years of experience working with brands including Tata Group, Reliance, Nexus Malls, Bacardi, Jubilant Foodworks, ICICI Bank and Grupo Bimbo. His expertise spans strategic business solutions and brand development across multiple sectors.
Founded in 1989, Elephant has established itself as an independent design and brand consultancy in India, working across FMCG, consumer goods, retail and institutional branding. The firm currently has a team of more than 70 strategists, researchers and designers operating across multiple cities, including Singapore.
Its client portfolio includes brands such as Tata, Reliance, Emami, Marico, MTR, Coca-Cola, Domino’s, Revlon, L’Oréal, Symphony and Hector Beverages. The consultancy is also among the founding members of The Design Alliance Asia, a network of independent design agencies focused on sharing regional and cultural insights across Asia for over 25 years.
The appointment comes at a time when design consultancies are increasingly positioning themselves as strategic business partners rather than purely creative service providers. Elephant said it plans to further strengthen its expertise across FMCG, consumer brands and institutional transformation projects as part of its growth plans.
Ashwini Deshpande, co-founder and director, Elephant, said, “This is not just a team augmentation. It reflects our commitment to fostering intrapreneurship that will shape Elephant’s next phase of growth.”
Parundekar added, “My decision to join Elephant comes from a shared ambition to elevate the role of design from a creative discipline to a strategic growth driver for organisations. Elephant has shaped some of India’s most meaningful brands over the past three decades, and I am excited to help build its next chapter by strengthening strategic partnerships and expanding the firm’s impact across industries and markets.”
With the appointment, Elephant aims to strengthen its strategic consulting capabilities while expanding its regional and international footprint through deeper client relationships and business-led design solutions.
