Manappuram General Finance and Leasing Ltd (Manappuram Finance) -India’s largest listed and highest capitalised and credit rated gold loan company, has roped in Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar as its Brand Ambassador. V P Nandakumar: Chairman, Manappuram Finance said “We are proud and privileged to welcome Super Star Akshay Kumar, as our Brand Ambassador to promote Manappuram’s initiatives on financial inclusion, making quick and easy finance available against gold jewellery pledge.” %% Manappuram Finance is the first NBFC in Kerala to get the A1+ rating from ICRA (the highest short term rating awarded to any corporate in India by ICRA) and a long term rating of LA+ from ICRA for its working capital limit of Rs.6 billion under BASEL II norms. Manappuram Finance has over 1100 Branches across 15 States, and a customer base of over 6 lakhs. According to V P Nandakumar, Indian households own 20,000 tons of gold which amounts to two third of the country’s GDP and the total size of mortgaged gold is 1500 tons. Manappuram Finance is managing over 26 tons of mortgaged gold assets. %% V P Nandakumar further added that “A new regional approach to marketing of products will be made with more focus on regional communication strategy by having local dialogues to reach out the masses. These brand ambassadors will help to connect and communicate Manappuram Brand values to its current and prospective users”. The company has signed various celebrities across India as its brand ambassadors, to connect with the consumers, according to Mr. I Unnikrishnan, Managing Director of the company.