Mumbai: Gullak Money has announced the onboarding of seasoned marketing leader Nikhil Rao as its Brand Advisor. With over two decades of experience in building some of India’s most iconic consumer brands, Rao’s addition marks a significant milestone in Gullak’s ambition to further scale and deepen its market presence.
Nikhil is best known for his work on campaigns like Cadbury’s “Shubh Aarambh,” 5 Star’s “Ramesh-Suresh,” Snickers x Rohit Shetty, and Boomer’s “Boom Boom Boomer.” His ability to turn everyday products into beloved household names—through a mix of storytelling mastery, digital-first thinking, and executional excellence—makes him an ideal strategic advisor as Gullak aims to become synonymous with digital gold savings across Indian households.
An alumnus of IIT Madras and IIM Calcutta, Nikhil has held key leadership roles at Cadbury, Mondelez Southeast Asia, and currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer at Mars Wrigley India, overseeing brands like Snickers, Galaxy, Orbit, Bounty, and Boomer, alongside the company’s e-commerce strategy. He played a pivotal role in launching Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk, Cadbury Bournville, and led the global refresh of Cadbury Dairy Milk.
At Gullak, Nikhil will work closely with the founding team, contributing to long-term brand vision, consumer engagement, and strategic positioning. His expertise will guide product positioning, go-to-market strategies, and brand storytelling as the fintech startup strengthens its leadership in the digital gold space.
“I’m excited to be part of Gullak’s journey,” said Nikhil Rao.“Gold is emotional, aspirational, and universal to Indian households. Gullak is making it digital, disciplined, and effortless — and I’m thrilled to contribute to that evolution.”
“Nikhil has a rare instinct — the kind that turns ideas into brands everyone remembers. With him guiding us, we’re a step closer to making digital gold synonymous with Gullak. We’re grateful to have someone like Nikhil believe in what we’re building and share his time and experience with us” said Naimisha Rao, Co-founder, Gullak.
Gullak has already facilitated over ₹770 crore worth of gold transactions and currently manages Assets Under Management (AUM) worth ₹615 crore. The appointment of Nikhil Rao signals a renewed focus on brand-led growth as the company scales its impact in India’s evolving fintech ecosystem.
