MAM

Goafest 2023 to showcase the future of creativity

Published

3 years ago

May 19, 2023

Mumbai: This year’s Goafest is all about technology and creativity which will go hand in hand and enhance human creativity in the coming years.

Goafest is slated to begin on the 24th of this month, Indiantelevision.com in conversation with the organising committee of the festival – Advertising Agencies Association of India president and GroupM South CEO Asia Prasanth Kumar, Goafest 2023 Organising Committee chairman Jaideep Gandhi, and Havas Media Group India CEO and Goafest 2023 Co-chair Mohit Joshi.

On the question of Goafest going futuristic this year, Joshi said, “Everybody’s talking about the future now and generative AI is something that is going to change our future for sure. There are already a lot of questions around the fact whether our jobs in these domains will get impacted or not, which, in my view, is not a very genuine concern, but we need to see how these things are going to be positively impacting our industry, our work, whether it’s creativity, media, marketing, and that’s the reason we thought this was very relevant, as a topic for Goafest, because it is an event where all stakeholders from the industry are there, the clients, the agencies, the media partners, and we wanted to talk about this important aspect of Futurism, which is generative AI, and its positive impacts.”

Joshi also added, “Creativity is not going anywhere, humans are going to drive AI and it’s not going to be the other way around. It probably may enhance creativity.”

Kumar added to it by saying,” I think there are a few things that will stand out. It’s all centred on the theme of the future of creativity. The most important thing is, we actually wanted the voice of young leaders to come onto the stage, and that’s very critical, from an industry perspective. That will stand out, as we will have a lot of people sharing their views, being part of the sessions, and younger leaders from the industry. I think there’s going to be a lot more experts coming in, we have marketers coming in and sharing their views, taking some sessions. There will be experts from global markets and experts from different bodies like ASCI and IAA. So it’s so all in all, it is going to be a collective gathering, a collective fest, where there can be more exchange of views, time for learning, or unlearning, and as well, some of the conversations around innovative ideas, celebrating awards, and a lot of experimentation also.”

This year there are more sponsors on board for Goafest, Gandhi said,” The funnel has been wider, and it is widening every year. This year we are seeing more participation across all the sectors, be it print, radio compliance is also a part of the sponsorship.”

Joshi added to that saying, “This year I think there’s an overall excitement in the industry and Goafest is a very important event for the whole industry. An attempt has been made to widen the funnel, get everybody together, and get new sponsors, and they have shown a lot of interest. There were two years when we didn’t do Goafest due to COVID. Everybody wants to come to learn and get inspired during these three days at Goafest. The attempts have been made by the team here to ensure, by our President himself, that clients are also invited to panels. Overall, the level of interest has been significantly higher.”

On the sessions and the number of international speakers this year at Goafest, Gandhi said,” The speaker portfolio will be released shortly. But yes, Goafest is all about the scale. We have more than 50 speakers and 15 sessions happening in the ballroom. There is a variety of content. It starts from the future of creativity to data marketing, and data-driven marketing, to influencer sessions, and the future of the economy and startups. Of course, we’ve also partnered with ASCI and IAA and there would be 4 sessions between the two. There are going to be 11 Master Classes this year as compared to Nine last year. So basically, when the content is planned one can choose and we have seen that 75 per cent of the audience is below 35. They’re coming to network to see the leaders or meet the leaders and talk to them and get inspired. There are specific knowledge-driven master classes in which somebody wants to learn about the art of storytelling, or video optimization and creating cooler production. The ballroom itself has a variety of debates and the number is higher this year. Coming back to your next question, which is about the international participants. Yes, we have two big international speakers coming this year. I myself am looking forward to one important session.”

Kumar said,” We got more than 50 speakers this year and over double-digit masterclasses going on. These are all larger than what we could do in the past as we want to give more opportunities, and more options for people who are coming there to listen to versatile topics, and also understand how things will be shaping up in the coming few years.”

“So, all of that is going to help now obviously, it’s also great to see and we’re quite thankful to our sponsors and it is again in double digits and it is very encouraging. They will also be there as they are part of the same industry. We have people from TV, digital, Print, radio and OOH and it is good. These are things which we’re seeing. We’ve also seen some good progress on the delegate’s registration. We feel that it will be an interesting thing to see if the numbers are very similar to last year or even go up. But what is more interesting, is the composition of the delegates. Of course, with all of this, I think a lot of fun and entertainment is also planned,” said Kumar.

On the question of inclusivity, Joshi said, “It is a very important aspect, the gender balance in the industry has improved significantly over the years, and even at work we have been conscious of that. But inclusivity is also from the perspective of having clients, the different industry bodies that Jaideep just spoke about ASCI, IAA etc. all of it coming together, its inclusivity in a much larger form, understanding the aspects of different partners that we have.”

Gandhi added to it saying,” AdAsia 2023 is currently happening in Seoul and we will be having a few Korean delegates from there at Goafest.”

Joshi also mentions that “the Musical show is also about giving our talent an affinity to perform on stage. That’s also inclusivity. It’s taking into account the talents beyond advertising.”

On what is the expectation of Goafest this year, Joshi goes on to say, “I’m expecting more knowledge, more inspiration and more entertainment. It will be a good balance of all these three, as Jaideep said, knowledge is critical because that’s what Goafest is driven by and you cannot compromise on that. A lot of inspiration from the various master classes. But the entertainment portion is really important. And hence, we have a good amount of entertainment during the three days. It’s a good mix, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Brands

Netflix India names Rekha Rane director of films and series marketing

Streaming giant bets on a seasoned marketer who helped build Amazon and Netflix into household names

Published

4 weeks ago

February 9, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Netflix has put a proven brand builder at the helm of its films and series marketing in India, naming Rekha Rane as director in a move that signals sharper focus on audience growth and cultural cut-through in one of its most hotly contested markets.

Rane steps into the role after seven years at Netflix, where she has quietly shaped how the platform sells stories to India. Her latest promotion, effective February 2026, crowns a run that spans brand, slate and product marketing across originals, licensed content and new verticals such as games.

A strategic marketing and communications professional with roughly 15 years’ experience, Rane has spent much of her career building technology-led consumer businesses and new categories, notably e-commerce and subscription video on demand. She was part of the early push that introduced Amazon.in, Prime Video and Netflix to Indian homes, then helped turn them into everyday brands.

At Netflix, she most recently served as head of brand and slate marketing for India from March 2024 to February 2026, leading teams across media and marketing for global and local content portfolios. Before that, as manager for original films and series marketing, she led IP creation and go-to-market strategy for titles including Guns and Gulaabs, Kaala Paani, The Railway Men* and The Great Indian Kapil Show, spanning both binge and weekly-release formats.

Her earlier Netflix roles covered product discovery and promotion in India and integrated campaign strategy to drive conversations around the content slate, product awareness and brand-equity metrics.

Before Netflix, Rane logged more than three years at Amazon in brand marketing roles in Bengaluru. There she handled national and regional campaigns for Amazon.in, worked on customer assistance programmes in growth geographies and contributed to the go-to-market strategy for the launch of Prime Video India.

Her career began well away from streaming. At Reliance Brands in Mumbai, she worked on retail marketing for Diesel and Superdry. A stint at Leo Burnett saw her work on primary research for P&G Tide, mapping Indian shoppers’ paths to purchase. Earlier still, at Orange in the United Kingdom, she rose from sales assistant to store manager, running a team and owning monthly P&L for a retail outlet.

The arc is telling. As global streamers fight for attention in a crowded Indian market, executives who understand both mass retail behaviour and digital habit-building are prized. Rane’s career sits at that intersection.

For Netflix, the bet is simple: in a market spoilt for choice, sharp marketing can still tilt the screen. And with Rane now leading the charge, the streamer is signalling it wants not just viewers, but fandom.

Brands

Orient Beverages pops the fizz with steady Q3 gains and rising profits

Kolkata-based beverage maker reports stronger revenues and profits for December quarter.

Published

4 weeks ago

February 9, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: A fizzy quarter with a steady aftertaste that’s how Orient Beverages Limited, the company that manufactures and distributes packaged drinking water under the brand name Bisleri closed the December 2025 period, as the Kolkata-based drinks maker reported improved revenues and a healthy rise in profits, signalling operational stability in a competitive beverage market.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, Orient Beverages posted standalone revenue from operations of Rs 39.98 crore, up from Rs 36.42 crore in the previous quarter and Rs 33.53 crore in the same quarter last year. Total income for the quarter stood at Rs 42.24 crore, reflecting consistent demand and stable pricing across its beverage portfolio.

Profit before tax for the quarter came in at Rs 3.47 crore, a sharp improvement from Rs 1.31 crore in the September quarter and Rs 0.39 crore a year ago. After accounting for tax expenses of Rs 0.79 crore, the company reported a net profit of Rs 2.68 crore, nearly three times the Rs 0.99 crore recorded in the preceding quarter.

On a nine-month basis, the momentum remained intact. Revenue from operations for the period ended December 31, 2025 rose to Rs 117.66 crore, compared with Rs 106.95 crore in the corresponding period last year. Net profit for the nine months climbed to Rs 5.51 crore, more than double the Rs 2.18 crore reported in the same period of the previous financial year.

The consolidated numbers told a similar story. For the December quarter, consolidated revenue from operations stood at Rs 45.06 crore, while profit after tax came in at Rs 2.06 crore. For the nine-month period, consolidated revenue touched Rs 133.57 crore, with net profit of Rs 4.49 crore, underscoring the group’s improving profitability trajectory.

Operating expenses remained largely controlled, with cost of materials, employee benefits and other expenses broadly aligned with revenue growth. The company continued to operate within a single reportable segment beverages simplifying its cost structure and reporting framework.

The unaudited financial results were reviewed by the Audit Committee and approved by the Board of Directors at its meeting held on 7 February 2026. Statutory auditors carried out a limited review and reported no material misstatements in the results.

In a market where margins are often squeezed by input costs and competition, Orient Beverages’ latest numbers suggest the company has found a reliable rhythm not explosive, but steady enough to keep the fizz alive.

MAM

Washington Post CEO exits abruptly after newsroom cuts spark backlash

Leadership change follows layoffs, protests and a bruising battle over trust.

Published

4 weeks ago

February 9, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: When the presses are rolling but patience runs out, even the editor’s chair isn’t safe. The Washington Post announced on Saturday that its chief executive and publisher Will Lewis is stepping down with immediate effect, bringing a sudden end to a turbulent two-year tenure marked by financial strain, newsroom unrest and public backlash.

Lewis’s exit comes just days after the Bezos-owned newspaper announced sweeping job cuts that triggered protests outside its Washington headquarters and a wave of anger from readers and staff. While newspapers across the US are grappling with shrinking revenues and digital disruption, Lewis’s leadership had increasingly come under fire for how those pressures were handled.

The Post confirmed that Jeff D’Onofrio, a former Tumblr CEO who joined the organisation last year as chief financial officer, has taken over as CEO and publisher, effective immediately. In an email to staff, later shared by reporters on social media, Lewis said it was “the right time for me to step aside.”

The leadership change follows the announcement of large-scale redundancies earlier this week. While the Post did not officially confirm numbers, The New York Times reported that around 300 of the paper’s roughly 800 journalists were laid off. Entire teams were dismantled, including the Post’s Middle East bureau and its Kyiv-based correspondent covering the war in Ukraine.

Sports, graphics and local reporting were sharply reduced, and the paper’s daily podcast, Post Reports, was suspended. On Thursday, hundreds of journalists and supporters gathered outside the Post’s downtown office in protest, calling the cuts a blow to public-interest journalism.

Former executive editor Marty Baron described the moment as “among the darkest days in the history of one of the world’s greatest news organisations.”

Lewis defended his record in his farewell note, saying “difficult decisions” were taken to secure the paper’s long-term future and protect its ability to publish “high-quality nonpartisan news”. But his tenure coincided with growing scrutiny of editorial independence at the Post.

Owner Jeff Bezos faced criticism for reining in the paper’s traditionally liberal editorial page and blocking an endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 US election. The move was widely seen as breaking the long-standing firewall between ownership and editorial decision-making.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, around 250,000 digital subscribers cancelled their subscriptions after the paper declined to endorse Harris. The Post reportedly lost about $100 million in 2024 as advertising and subscription revenues slid.

While the wider newspaper industry continues to battle declining print advertising and the pull of social media, some national titles have stabilised. Rivals such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have managed to build sustainable digital businesses, a turnaround that has so far eluded the Post despite its billionaire backing.

As Jeff D’Onofrio steps into the role, the challenge is stark, restore confidence inside the newsroom, win back readers who walked away, and prove that one of America’s most storied newspapers can still find its footing in a brutally competitive media landscape.