ITV

Category: Digital

  • Vishal Bali joins Thomson Reuters as MD Asia & emerging markets

    Vishal Bali joins Thomson Reuters as MD Asia & emerging markets

    MUMBAI:  Vishal Bali has taken over as Thomson Reuters managing director of Asia & emerging markets, effective January 2025. His appointment was announced in December 2024.  

    Bali, who is based in Sydney, brings extensive leadership experience from his tenures at GfK and Nielsen, where he focused on data-driven strategies and customer-centric solutions across multiple Asia-Pacific markets.

    Adrian Fognini, head of international at Thomson Reuters, announced that Bali will oversee growth strategies and business operations in Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. “Vishal’s impressive track record in driving long-term growth will help us deliver innovative solutions to our customers,” Fognini said.

    Bali expressed enthusiasm about his new role, stating, “I am thrilled to join a team known for its innovative technology and world-class talent. Together, we will simplify complexity for our customers and drive impactful growth.”

    This appointment follows the retirement of Jackie Rhodes, who led the Asia and emerging markets team for five years. Bali’s selection marks a significant step in Thomson Reuters’ commitment to strengthening its leadership team as it continues to adapt in a rapidly changing market.

  • LeapX takes conversational AI tack with DAC platform for digital advertising

    LeapX takes conversational AI tack with DAC platform for digital advertising

    MUMBAI: AI-powered digital advertising solutions provider LeapX AI has unveiled DAC, a platform designed to simplify and transform the management of digital advertising campaigns through conversational AI.

    DAC allows marketing teams to manage complex, multi-platform advertising campaigns effortlessly, using natural language conversations with AI. Unlike conventional tools with rigid workflows, DAC adapts to the unique workflows of marketing teams, seamlessly integrating with existing knowledge systems to ensure alignment with brand guidelines and organisational practices.

    From crafting audience personas to optimising campaign performance, DAC streamlines every step of the advertising journey. By consolidating tasks into a single conversational interface, the platform eliminates the need for juggling multiple tools, significantly reducing repetitive workloads. Early adopters have already reported productivity gains of 50-60 per cent, underscoring DAC’s potential to revolutionize digital advertising.

    As marketing teams grapple with growing demands and tighter resources, DAC offers a timely solution by enhancing efficiency while maintaining high-quality outcomes. The platform’s accessible conversational interface democratises advanced AI capabilities, allowing all team members—regardless of expertise—to contribute effectively to campaign management.

    “Advertising today operates in a landscape shaped by rapid technological advancements, evolving consumer expectations, and relentless margin pressures,” said LeapX AI CEO Vishal Kumar.”DAC enables teams to manage multi-platform campaigns through simple conversations and automates intricate workflows that previously required specialised expertise. By leveraging natural language interactions, DAC empowers teams to focus on strategy and creativity while adapting to dynamic market conditions. Early adopters have seen transformative results with up to 60% gains in efficiency.”

    LeapX AI is collaborating with three design partners to refine DAC further, ensuring the platform evolves in response to real-world challenges. The vision is to bridge the gap between innovation and execution.

  • Amadeus promotes Suraj Joshi to vice-president media sales – international

    Amadeus promotes Suraj Joshi to vice-president media sales – international

    MUMBAI: Suraj Joshi is pretty kicked up these days. He has just been kicked up upstairs to the post of vice-president of media sales for the international division of travel tech company Amadeus based in Dubai. He was the senior director,  digital media international media from May 2021 to Dec 2024 at the same company.

    Suraj spent four years as director of media at TravelClick between from Jul 2016 to May 2021 based in Singapore. A posting at iprospect kept him busy for two years and six months, and he rose there to become associate director by the time he left in June 2016.

    Resultrix absorbed him so much that he stayed put at the agency  climbing from  search manager when he joined in  March 2011 to the time of his exit in 2013  when he carried  the designation of director – -digital marketing paid media.

    Said Suraj: “As we enter this new year, I am eager to embrace the exciting journey ahead, filled with opportunities for growth and innovation. I look forward to collaborating with all to drive our business forward.”

     

     

  • PerformAce snares Tania Kundnani as product business head

    PerformAce snares Tania Kundnani as product business head

    MUMBAI: This postgraduate diploma holder in marketing and sales from Jaipuria Institute of Management has traveled a distance in her career over the past 19 years with her motto being “I like challenging myself.”

    Tania Kundnani today announced on Linkedin that she has been hired as business head of martech agency PerformAce based in Gurugram and founded in 2023 by Saurabh Gaur.

    She began her full time career at The Times of India, Bangalore as an assistant manager key accounts where she stayed for nearly three years. From there she shuttled between Mumbai and Delhi  first as a regional  manager west  ( focus)  and  senior manager  First Post  at web18 and Mobile18. Then she transferred to Quintillion Media as regional manager (west) for a year, then Scoop Whoop Media as regional manager -west &  south, again for a year.

    Following these postings, she had two-year long stints each with Times Internet (regional manager west &  south)  and Hotstar (digital sales), before staying for periods less than a year at Mad Influence (business manager west) and Aditya Birla Capital (digital manager).

    Her last four jobs were in Mumbai and then she shifted back to Gurugram to work with PublLve where she stayed for a year and four months, when she got the offer to join PerformAce earlier this month.  Her focus throughout has been on selling – either solutions or services or content a- client management and business development.

    At PerformAce – which has products like Audience X, NativeHub, Vision TV, Canvas and AdVance – she has been given the responsibility of developing the business for the last product. 
     

  • Kraftshala’s 2024 digital marketing hiring trends: skilled entry level jobs in demand

    Kraftshala’s 2024 digital marketing hiring trends: skilled entry level jobs in demand

    MUMBAI: It’s back to offices for most digital marketing companies, remote working is passe at the entry level – maybe hybrid working is ok –  according to a trends report released by edtech platform for  marketing jobs   Kraftshala. 

    Entitled the Digital Marketing Trends Report 2024, it highlighted the surging demand for skilled entry-level digital marketers despite news of hiring slowdowns across the year in other sectors. The report provides a detailed analysis of 765 roles floated during Kraftshala’s placement processes for three programs: marketing launchpad, marketing launchpad (emerging talent – hinglish), and content and social media launchpad.

    Key findings revealed a steady increase in entry-level hiring in 2024, driven by agencies and large brands actively seeking skilled professionals. Agencies accounted for 60 per cent of these roles, underscoring their reliance on fresh talent for growth. Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR emerged as dominant hiring hubs, contributing to 67 per cent of the roles. Interestingly, cities like Pune, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Chennai, Kolkata are also growing in prominence in India’s digital marketing landscape.

    Kraftshala DataBangalore remains the top choice for competitive compensation, with 28 per cent  of roles in the city offering higher cost to company (CTCs). Interestingly, cities like Chennai and Noida, despite their smaller market size, are also offering premium compensation for niche skills, demonstrating the growing importance of regional hubs in the hiring landscape.

    The workplace trends revealed by the report are equally compelling. 93 per cent  of the roles floated in 2024 were either in-office or hybrid, and only 7 per cent were fully remote. Employers emphasised collaboration and on-the-ground problem-solving, which explains the limited adoption of fully remote positions. For candidates, this shift underscores the need to be adaptable to workplace expectations while demonstrating the ability to thrive in team environments.

    Fluency in English remains a key factor for success, with over 80 per cent of marketing roles requiring understanding and a certain level of fluency in the language. While this does not preclude candidates with lesser fluency from securing opportunities, it does emphasize the advantage of strong communication skills during early hiring stages. 

    The perennial debate of skills versus degrees is also uncovered in this report where it’s clear that more and more recruiters are now open to non-linear career trajectories, valuing practical skills over conventional resumes. Examples of hires with non-traditional backgrounds, including those with career gaps or unrelated degrees or in fact no graduation degrees, illustrate the industry’s openness to diverse talent profiles.

    Said  Kraftshala founder & CEO Varun Satia: “The digital marketing industry is at a fascinating crossroads, with immense opportunities for those willing to upskill and adapt to the changing landscape. Recruiters are not just looking for candidates with certificates but those who can bring real value through their problem-solving abilities and technical knowledge. This report underscores the importance of building practical, hands-on expertise to stand out in today’s competitive job market.”

    “What we’re seeing now is a clear departure from traditional hiring practices. Employers are willing to pay premium salaries even for entry-level roles, provided the candidates can demonstrate their ability to think critically and adapt to emerging technologies. This is a wake-up call for students to not just focus on collecting certificates but actually focus on skill building.”Varun Satia

    Recruiters are shifting their focus away from traditional hiring processes like aptitude and psychometric tests, instead prioritizing tasks that gauge problem-solving abilities and encourage candidates to apply themselves. This change aligns with the decline of basic roles, which are increasingly being automated or redefined. In parallel, recruiters are demonstrating a willingness to pay higher salaries for skilled candidates, even if it means extending the hiring timeline to secure the right talent. “

    The report also underscores the challenge of ensuring quality among a growing pool of applicants. An example in the report notes how an emerging company sifted through 7,000 applications over five months to fill a single digital marketing role, highlighting the critical importance of demonstrated skills over superficial qualifications.
    Kraftshala’s findings also shed light on the growing importance of technical specialisations. Roles in programmatic advertising and e-commerce are experiencing rapid growth, reflecting the industry’s adoption of cutting-edge technologies and emerging trends. 

    (The main picture of this story was generated using Microsoft Image generator. No copyright infringement is intended.)

  • Sell-side ad firm Magnite launches Magnite Audiences in India

    Sell-side ad firm Magnite launches Magnite Audiences in India

    MUMBAI:  It’s hoping to get a large enough agency side audience in India. Independent sell-side advertising company Magnite  announced the expansion of Magnite Audiences and its debut in India and southeast Asia. The solution empowers publishers to unlock the full value of their audiences, while helping buyers connect with high value audiences at scale. Magnite Audiences sits within the Magnite Access suite, a collection of audience and addressability tools purpose-built for publishers and buyers to maximise the value of their data assets.

    Magnite Audiences’ standardised, scalable segments based on publisher first-party data enable publishers to monetise their audiences and protect their user data. These audience segments, which include interest, purchase intent, demographic, seasonal and custom categories, provide the value and scale buyers want to achieve their campaign goals across key demographics. They offer significant reach from a trusted pool of standardised data originating from first party sources without compromising quality.

    “It’s essential for us to be able to create value from the vast amount of data at our disposal so that we can both enable precise targeting for advertisers while also enhancing the user experience we provide,” said NDTV vice-president product monetisation & analytics Dinesh Joshi. “Leveraging Magnite Audiences is helping us tap into new revenue streams and increase the attractiveness of our ad offerings, while bringing more personalisation to our readers and viewers.”

    “As a full-service digital marketing agency, we constantly look for new ways of activating audience data at scale,” said Interactive Avenues (the digital arm of IPG Mediabrands India) EVP, media & investment Harish Iyer. “We are confident that Magnite Audiences will play a pivotal role in this journey by helping us curate customized ad inventory that aligns with our clients’ campaign goals. We look forward to leveraging this partnership to drive measurable impact for leading brands.”

    “Amid the changing identity landscape, buyers and publishers need to explore different models and approaches to solve for audience addressability,” said Magnite Asia managing director Gavin Buxton. “Magnite is committed to providing our clients with solutions like Magnite Audiences to help buyers and publishers package, find and reach audiences in new ways. The tool is ready and available for activation in India and southeast Asia, and we look forward to continued adoption as more publishers and buyers begin to leverage it to their benefit.”

  • Sripriya Iyer moves on from Spotify India

    Sripriya Iyer moves on from Spotify India

    MUMBAI: A specialist in media and entertainment recruitment and people management. That’s Sripriya Iyer for you. The HR professional is all set to depart from Spotify India with December being her last month of working with the audio streamer as senior recruiter, India.

    Sripriya has about 19 years of recruiting experience beginning with Accenture, joining BigFM for more than six years. She settled down at recruitment ABC Consultants for more 17 years according to her Linkedin profile. And then came her move to Spotify India where she helped the organisation grow its talent pool.

    Said the commerce graduate and post-graduate diploma holder in HR:  “My Spotify wrapped snapshot in the last 2.7 years says, innumerable memories, relentless hours of work and play, building some of the best teams and working amongst them and above all learning from the best! Spotify is a dream come true and will always be one! “

  • Akshit Kaushik goes from Google to Lenskart as performance marketing head

    Akshit Kaushik goes from Google to Lenskart as performance marketing head

    MUMBAI: When you get an opportunity to lead performance marketing at a company which is building a category would you take it up or let it go?

    Well, Akshit Kaushik said yes and he’s joined Lenskart as head of performance marketing. He says he’s going to make every marketing penny count and drive best in class ROI.

    The company is sure to benefit from the his experience at Google which he quit after a five and a year stint learning the tricks and trade as senior campaign manager, performance marketing lead and finally as global CX and quality lead- Google ads.

    Akshit has also had a four-year assignment with Amazon where he had varied roles right from marketing manager (for Junglee) to category manager to senior category manager -Amazon Renewed. A two-year term with Godrej Interio as marketing manager resulted in him picking up the skills of demand generation, understand media trends and build relationships. 
     

  • Global digital agency Dept brings in David Neal as CFO

    Global digital agency Dept brings in David Neal as CFO

    MUMBAI: He is getting on board to get to the depth of finance in tech and marketing services agency Dept.  Former global CFO for Dentsu Creative and Tag, David Neal has joined the close-to-30-year old digital agency as its new global chief financial officer (CFO). In this role, David Neal will bring together the global finance and operations team at Dept, driving innovation and streamlining processes by positioning finance as a strategic partner to the business.

    “During my conversations with the leadership team and colleagues, I was invigorated by the energy and ambition within Dept,” said Neal. “I realised this is a place where we can do things differently. I hope to transform finance into a true strategic partner, providing insights, analysis, and driving commercial growth.”

    David brings substantial experience as a chief financial officer, with a proven track record in the marketing and advertising sectors across south and southeast Asia and global leadership positions.

    In his new role, David will  be based in London. He will leverage his extensive background to redefine the finance department as a strategic ally within Dept, enhancing collaboration with other business units—especially operations, and people & culture. Neal has been mandated to  harness the potential of AI to transform financial processes, fostering a culture of relentless curiosity and innovation.

    “At Dept,  we’re all about keeping innovation at the core of everything we do. By bringing our finance and operations teams closer together, we are merging two key business areas to drive strategic growth. David will help us unlock new opportunities and ensure that innovation remains at the heart of everything we do,” says Dept global CEO Dimi Albers.

    Neal is stepping into the role as Mickey Kalifa moves on after two years with the company. 

    In the past two years, the company has welcomed seven agencies and achieved remarkable growth, with revenues increasing by over 200 per cent. This impressive performance is heavily supported by its AI services; currently, 50 per cent of its global revenue is AI-enabled. Dept continues to set industry standards as a B-corp-certified agency. It works with top-tier brands like Google, KFC, Philips, Audi, Twitch, Patagonia, and eBay, has offices in 30 countries and employs close to 4,000 digital specialists.

  • From data to delight: How AI is powering the next wave of customer engagement

    From data to delight: How AI is powering the next wave of customer engagement

    Mumbai: Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the marketing landscape, becoming a key tool for brands looking to deliver smarter, faster, and more personalised experiences. For digital marketing agencies and brands, AI is moving beyond hype and becoming an essential part of how they connect with their audience. Whether through automation, personalisation, or predictive insights, AI is driving significant changes in marketing strategies.

    Personalisation at scale: A game-changer for marketers

    Personalisation has been a core goal for marketers for years, but scaling it has always been challenging. AI allows brands to analyse massive amounts of customer data in real time, providing valuable insights into individual preferences and behaviours. This enables brands to deliver highly personalised content, offers, and recommendations to consumers at scale.

    For example, many e-commerce platforms use AI algorithms to recommend products based on a customer’s browsing and purchase history. This type of hyper-personalization has been shown to boost engagement and conversions. According to a 2023 McKinsey report, companies using AI to power personalisation have seen a 10-20 per cent increase in conversion rates. This makes AI an invaluable tool for digital marketing agencies striving to deliver unique, targeted experiences to each customer without the need for excessive manual intervention.

    One major advantage of AI is its ability to constantly learn and adapt. As customers interact with a brand, AI-driven systems can fine-tune recommendations, content, and offers to reflect evolving preferences. This dynamic capability allows brands to stay relevant and responsive, offering a level of personalisation that was previously unattainable.

    Predictive analytics: Anticipating what customers want

    Predictive analytics is another area where AI is making a profound impact. Instead of relying on historical data alone, AI-driven tools are now helping brands predict future customer behaviours and preferences. By analysing past interactions, purchase history, and external factors like trends or seasonality, AI can forecast what products or services a customer may be interested in next.

    This proactive approach allows brands to tailor their marketing strategies, accordingly, delivering offers or recommendations before the customer even realises their need. For instance, streaming platforms like Netflix use AI to recommend content based on user viewing patterns, significantly improving customer retention and satisfaction. A 2024 study by Deloitte highlights that companies using AI for predictive analytics are 1.5 times more likely to retain customers compared to those using traditional approaches.

    Efficiency through automation: Scaling marketing efforts

    While personalisation and predictive analytics are driving enhanced customer experiences, AI’s power in automating routine marketing tasks is equally transformative. AI tools are increasingly being used to automate processes like email marketing, social media management, and even ad buying, allowing brands to operate more efficiently.

    One of the biggest benefits of AI-driven automation is that it enables digital marketing agencies to focus on higher-value tasks such as strategy, content creation, and relationship building. For instance, AI can optimise email marketing campaigns by determining the best time to send emails, selecting relevant content, and analysing recipient responses. This kind of automation not only increases engagement but also saves marketers significant time and effort.

    AI is also optimizing digital advertising. Through programmatic advertising, AI tools analyze real-time data to adjust bids for ad placements automatically, ensuring that budgets are spent efficiently while reaching the right audiences at the right time. This automated approach to digital marketing can dramatically improve ROI and reduce wasted ad spend.

    Conclusion

    AI is fundamentally transforming marketing, enabling brands to deliver more personalised, predictive, and efficient customer experiences. As AI continues to evolve, its role in marketing will only grow, making it essential for brands to adopt these technologies to stay competitive. The future of marketing lies in embracing AI-driven strategies that not only enhance customer experiences but also streamline operations, offering a significant advantage in an increasingly complex digital landscape. The future is clear: AI is not just enhancing marketing—it’s revolutionising it.

    This article has been authored by VUI Live co-founder and business head Akash Manchanda