The CMO’s MO: Puneet Gupta believes employee well-being can be aligned with client expectations

The CMO’s MO (modus operandi) shines the spotlight on some of India’s prominent chief marketing officers as they share their marketing mantra, trends for the future, and what keeps them up at night. In a free-wheeling chat, the who’s who of the country’s leading marketers give a sneak peek into their personalities, plans, and passion-projects for the year ahead.

In this week’s edition of CMO's MO, we chat with Puneet Gupta, senior EVP and business head for digital business at Nuvama Wealth. He was instrumental in providing direction to the company's digital landscape since 2018, leading strategies that accelerated app downloads and client acquisitions.

With extensive experience in the financial services sector, he specialises in business development and digital marketing and has helped the company achieve profitability within the first year and also ensured sustainable growth.

In this week's edition, Gupta, who describes himself as a strategic, authentic, and result-oriented marketer, sheds light on his company's present-day marketing challenges and the future of wealth management. Read on to find out more.

What are the top marketing challenges for Nuvama Wealth right now?

In an industry flooded with promises, ensuring that our ‘Let’s do it right’ ethos cuts through the clutter and resonates authentically with our audience is a constant challenge. Another difficulty is balancing tradition and innovation, as we embrace the latest technologies and approaches.

Adhering to the traditional values that have built our reputation on is also critical. Lastly, navigating market volatility has been the biggest challenge. Market fluctuations pose a great challenge in maintaining consistent messaging and client confidence, requiring agility and clear communication.

Where are you investing your marketing budgets this year?  

We have increased our investment in digital marketing and content creation, particularly on educational resources that empower our clients and showcase our people’s capabilities. We also aim at positioning Nuvama as one of the top ranking places to work for the industry.

Which industry topic doesn’t get talked about enough? 

An often overlooked conversation is how the industry should focus more on ethical wealth management—how we can better align financial growth with social and environmental responsibility.

On the other hand, being client-centric and building trust, are the over-discussed topics. At Nuvama, we don't just pay lip service to these principles—we practice them. They are deeply ingrained in our culture and daily operations. We believe it's time to move beyond these buzzwords and focus on demonstrating how these values translate into real, tangible benefits for our clients.

What separates Nuvama Wealth's brand culture from others?

The culture at Nuvama is defined by our client-first approach and a commitment to ethical practices. We foster a work environment that encourages pushing the envelope. Every team member is empowered to contribute to our mission of ‘Doing it right’.

We treat our employees with fairness and have built a culture of trust and ownership, which leads to better outcomes for our clients. This focus on mutual respect and trust-building, both with clients and within our team, truly sets us apart in the industry.

What needs to change in your industry when it comes to working culture?

The industry needs to place greater emphasis on work-life balance and employee well-being. Financial services sector has traditionally been known for its high-pressure work environment.

However, we believe that creating a supportive environment leads to better outcomes, not only for employees but also for the clients. Diversity and inclusion at all levels can ensure that a broad range of voices and perspectives will shape the future of wealth management.

What is the best piece of professional advice you ever received?

Trust is earned, not given. This aphorism has been the cornerstone of our approach. We believe that by consistently putting our clients' interests first, we earn their trust and build lasting relationships.

What’s your favourite brand campaign that you participated in or wish you had? The campaign, ‘Fizool Kharach Taalo, Invest Kar Daalo’ (Avoid unnecessary spending; invest instead) that Nuvama launched in 2020. It addressed a common challenge: we often come across people who are reluctant to invest, either because they find it unsafe or due to paucity of money.

It is observed that people are often careless with their own money. The ease of making online transactions lures them into spending irrationally. With this campaign, we aimed to educate people and make them aware of how to curb unnecessary expenses and invest that money instead. Even the smallest amount, when invested wisely, can potentially go a long way in securing our future.

Is there a brand with an amazing customer experience that you admire?

Apple stands out as a brand with great customer experience. Its ability to combine innovation with simplicity ensures that every customer feels valued and understood. It has mastered the art of recognising customer needs, often coming up with solutions even before customers realise they need them. Apple’s consistency in delivering an intuitive experience across touchpoints is something every brand can learn from.