ITV

Category: Digital Agencies

  • Win blows into Cannes with ideas that are worth their metaverse in gold

    Win blows into Cannes with ideas that are worth their metaverse in gold

    MUMBAI: If Cannes is the playground for global creativity, Women Inspiring Network (Win) just brought the rulebook rewrite. On 18 June, amid the Riviera’s sparkle and the swirl of creativity at Cannes Lions 2025, Win is set to take over the iconic Hotel Martinez with the Win Lounge, a full day of boundary-breaking conversations on marketing, innovation, and leadership. But this isn’t just another panel fest. Think of it as a high-octane, insight-loaded salon for the world’s most disruptive thinkers.

    Adding sonic flair to the soirée is the debut of the Win Voices podcast, a platform spotlighting raw and unfiltered narratives from global game-changers. The vibe? Less conference, more cultural reset.

    The theme lineup reads like a cheat code to the future:

    1    Disrupting the Default: The New Playbook for Inclusive Innovation

    2    Culture is Capital: The New Frontier of Creative Influence

    3    Marketing in the Metaverse: Redefining Brand Engagement

    4    Beyond Advertising: Building Purpose-Driven Brands

    5    The Purpose Playbook: Philanthropic Families and the Art of Giving Big

    6    Metamorphosis of Marketing: Rebuilding Enterprises with Data, AI & Creativity

    The cast? Star-studded. From Snap’s Resh Sidhu, Spotify’s Bridget Evans, M·A·C Cosmetics’ Aïda Moudachirou-Rébois, and Samsung’s Antonia Faulkner, to Gumgum’s Phil Schraeder, Tigress Tigress’ Meera Sharath Chandra, Seeme Index’s Asha Shivaji, and WeTransfer’s Julia Linehan, the Win Lounge boasts a speaker lineup as sharp as a Cannes jury.

    And it’s not just media and tech titans. Voices from social impact and philanthropy like Neera Nundy of Dasra will add depth to the dialogue. “When families bring purpose to their philanthropy, they don’t just fund programmes, they shape futures,” she shared.

    Win founder Stuti Jalan summed it up with flair: “This is more than a gathering. It’s a game-changing celebration of creativity, courage, and connection.”

    Brands like Google, Apple, M·A·C Cosmetics, Samsung Electronics, Snap Inc., Publicis Groupe, and Influencer.com are already on the guest list. And this is just the start Win will next turn up at Climate Week in New York on 24 September, bringing its trademark fusion of inspiration and impact to the UNGA stage.

    So yes, Cannes might be about lions. But this June, the Win Lounge promises to roar the loudest and leave echoes of brilliance long after the rosé has run dry.

  • Enormous rings up mobile victory as Goafest goes portable

    Enormous rings up mobile victory as Goafest goes portable

    GOA: Day two of Goafest 2025 saw Enormous proving that size matters in the mobile specialist category, though ironically their victory came through modest means rather than massive hauls.

    The agency dialled up 12 points to claim the ‘mobile specialist agency of the year’ title with one silver, one bronze and a merit—a performance that was more steady connection than lightning-fast 5G, but apparently quite enough to leave competitors with no signal.

    In a delicious twist, the runners-up actually managed to bag the category’s only gold medals. McCann Worldgroup India and VML India each secured eight points with one gold apiece, proving that sometimes having fewer awards but better quality can still leave you runner-up. 

    BBH Communications India and Mindshare found themselves tied at six points each courtesy of one silver apiece.

    The middle order proved that even in mobile marketing, participation trophies still exist. Havas Life Mumbai managed four points with a bronze, whilst The New Thing by Talented also hit four points but did it the hard way with two merits.

    Those bringing up the rear weren’t entirely left on silent mode. redBus, BC Web Wise, Cheil India, and FCB India all managed two points with a merit each.

    The Abby Creative Awards 2025, powered by The One Show, continued their systematic sweep through advertising’s specialist categories, with broadcaster, PR, digital specialist, design specialist, and direct specialist awards.

  • Enormous lives up to its name as digital dominance gets properly massive

    Enormous lives up to its name as digital dominance gets properly massive

    GOA: Day two of Goafest 2025 witnessed Enormous absolutely bulldozing the digital specialist category with the sort of performance that makes other agencies wonder if they’ve been doing this whole digital thing wrong all along.

    The aptly named agency lived up to its billing by hoovering up 64 points through one gold, five silvers, six bronzes and a merit—a haul so comprehensive it left competitors reaching for their calculators and then quietly weeping into their keyboards.

    Leo India managed a respectable second place with 26 points courtesy of two silvers, three bronzes and a merit, though one suspects they might have preferred a few more zeros on that scoreboard. Meanwhile, ^a t o m network and Mudra Max found themselves locked in a dead heat at 22 points each—^a t o m network with one silver, three bronzes and two merits, whilst Mudra Max opted for one silver and four bronzes. 

    The gold rush wasn’t entirely monopolised by the winner. Tilt Brand Solutions snagged 18 points with one gold, one silver and one bronze, whilst Schbang grabbed 16 points with one gold and two bronzes. Swiggy Ltd proved that food delivery companies can serve up awards too, bagging 14 points with one gold and one silver.

    The middle order was packed tighter than a Mumbai local train. Digitas, Maitri Advertising Works, The New Thing by Talented, and VML India all managed 12 points each—though their routes  varied wildly. FCB India scraped together 10 points with one bronze and three merits.

    Those trailing weren’t entirely forgotten. Grey Group, Krafton India, and Restless – a division of Magic Circle Communications each managed six points, whilst the stragglers—BelieveTrinity, Havas Life Mumbai, Havas Worldwide India , Interactive Avenues , and Rapidue Technologies —all pocketed two points each. 

    The Abby Creative Awards 2025, powered by The One Show, continued their systematic dismantling of every conceivable advertising category, with broadcaster, design specialist, mobile specialist, technology specialist, and direct specialist awards ensuring no stone remains unturned in the quest for creative excellence.

  • Leo India and Mindshare tie for tech supremacy as Goafest gets techie

    Leo India and Mindshare tie for tech supremacy as Goafest gets techie

    GOA: Day two of Goafest 2025 delivered a technological thriller as Leo India and Mindshare found themselves locked in a perfect 10-point tie for ‘technology specialist agency of the year’—proof that sometimes even the most sophisticated algorithms can’t pick a winner.

    Leo India clinched its share of the crown with one silver and two merits, whilst Mindshare matched the tally with one silver and one bronze. It was the sort of neck-and-neck finish that would make a horse race look pedestrian.
    Leo India
    The chasing pack managed  eight points each. ^a t o m network secured third place with one bronze and two merits, whilst Cheil India, Enormous, Havas Life Mumbai, and Madison Media all bagged eight points courtesy of two bronzes each. Good Morning Films managed the same score with a single gold—which suggests that sometimes quality beats quantity, though not by much.

    The middle order was positively stuffed with contenders. BBH Communications India private limited, Hyphen Brands, and Tagglabs Experiential each grabbed six points, with BBH and Tagglabs managing a silver apiece whilst Hyphen Brands settled for one bronze and one merit. Tribes Communication also hit six points, though it did it the hard way with three merits—the participation trophy approach to excellence.

    The tail-enders weren’t entirely forgotten. FCB India and Interactive Avenues each scraped together four points with two merits apiece, whilst Hogarth Studios managed the same score with a single bronze. Grey Group and VML India brought up the rear with two points each, courtesy of one merit—hardly the stuff of technological revolution, but at least they showed up.

    The Abby Creative Awards 2025, powered by The One Show, continued their relentless categorisation of excellence, with broadcaster, PR, digital specialist, design specialist, mobile specialist, and direct specialist awards ensuring that every conceivable advertising niche gets its moment in the sun.

    (Pictures: Top: The Mindshare team, below: The Leo India team)

  • SRV Media names Chaitanya Sharma as director to supercharge digital growth strategy

    SRV Media names Chaitanya Sharma as director to supercharge digital growth strategy

    MUMBAI: SRV Media has bolstered its leadership team with the appointment of Chaitanya Sharma as director—digital marketing & growth. The move underscores the digital agency’s commitment to rapid expansion and strategic innovation across regions, with Sharma expected to lead operations, optimise processes, and spearhead customer-first solutions.

    With nearly a decade of experience in global tech ecosystems, Sharma has held key roles at Google Operations Centre and Accenture, with a career spanning quality assurance, operations, and learning & development. He also served as the L&D expert for Google’s Ads Optimisation unit—bringing a blend of strategy and on-ground insight to his new role at SRV Media.

    “Joining SRV Media presents a unique opportunity to contribute to a forward-thinking organisation poised for impactful growth. My focus will be on strengthening our team, streamlining operations, and expanding our digital reach. I believe in building systems that are responsive, effective, and reflective of a collaborative culture. With the right strategy and an inclusive mindset, I’m confident we can achieve meaningful progress and long-term success,” said Sharma.

    Known for his compelling public speaking, Sharma has delivered sessions at TEDx and Josh Talks, often weaving themes of diversity, equity, and inclusion through his tri-lingual talks in Hindi, Bengali, and English.

    SRV Media co-founder & director Vikram Kumar added, “We are delighted to welcome Chaitanya to SRV Media. His rich experience in digital marketing and proven leadership, especially in driving large-scale initiatives at global organisations, make him an invaluable addition to our team. As we expand our footprint in Kolkata, Chaitanya’s expertise in process optimisation and his inclusive leadership style will be instrumental in building a more agile and innovative organisation. We look forward to the new dimensions of growth and culture he will bring to the team.”

    Sharma will now lead SRV’s digital growth roadmap, enhancing its strategic output and reinforcing its commitment to agile, inclusive marketing leadership.

  • Pazago’s new film gives India’s export chaos a digital detox with structure and sass

    Pazago’s new film gives India’s export chaos a digital detox with structure and sass

    MUMBAI: In a country exporting everything from textiles to tech talent, it’s ironic that India’s own export processes still feel like they’re stuck in dial-up mode. Enter Pazago. The Mumbai-based logistics tech startup dropped its first brand film—a no-nonsense, visually gritty look at the behind-the-scenes chaos plaguing exporters.

    The film doesn’t sugarcoat it. Exporters are seen juggling vendors like hot potatoes, misplacing paperwork like it’s a national sport, and chasing follow-ups with the stamina of marathoners.

    The message?

    It’s messy out there.

    But it doesn’t have to be.

    Pazago offers a digital way out: a single platform where documentation, tracking, coordination, and communication all live under one (virtual) roof. It’s less spreadsheet, more spaceship.

    “The export industry has been left behind in the tech revolution. While sectors like finance and retail have embraced digitalization, exporters are still battling inefficiency and confusion. At Pazago, we’ve decoded the export order recipe — what it takes to move an order from origin to destination without chaos. By bringing structure to this process, we empower exporters to focus on growth rather than getting bogged down by paperwork and coordination hassles. This film is a reflection of the change we’re leading,” said Pazago founder Nikhil Agrawal.

    The film aims straight for the eyes and inboxes of India’s medium to large-scale exporters and manufacturers—the ones who know the pain of fragmented systems all too well. It offers a digitised, centralised solution to decades of export dysfunction.

    Backed by clean visuals and sharp storytelling, the brand film doesn’t promise to make exports sexy. It just promises to make them bearable. And scalable. And finally, a little less archaic.

    Now streaming on Pazago’s digital platforms, the film marks the startup’s push to become the digital backbone for India’s export operations. For an industry long ignored by Silicon Valley shine, this may just be the cinematic kick it needs.

  • Anubhav Roda joins PinDrop as partnership director

    Anubhav Roda joins PinDrop as partnership director

    MUMBAI: Anubhav Roda, a seasoned veteran in the sports sponsorship game, has made a power play, joining PinDrop as its new partnership director. Roda, known for his knack for nailing lucrative deals, brings a wealth of experience, having previously juggled partnerships at SportQuake, the International League T20, and even a stint at Deloitte, where he strategised sporting success.

    “From the get-go, Sean and Menino’s data-driven approach hooked me,” Roda quipped, clearly chuffed with his new gig. “. Their vision of empowering brands and rights holders to create measurable, impactful sponsorships aligns perfectly with my own passion for leveraging analytics to drive success.”

    He’s diving headfirst into PinDrop’s impressive roster, which includes the likes of Newcastle United, Rangers FC, and the International Tennis Federation, not to mention forays into the wild west of Web3.

    PinDrop, a rising star in the sports marketing arena, prides itself on its “insights-led” strategy, a fancy way of saying the company actually knows what its team is up to. PinDrop’s  focus on quantifying sponsorship performance has clearly struck a chord with Roda, who sees “tremendous potential” in blockchain’s ability to shake up fan engagement.

    Roda’s CV reads like a sports fan’s dream, with pit stops at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, PwC, and even a stint writing for sports outlets like SportsKeeda and Scroll. He’s clearly not afraid to get his hands dirty, having also managed the commercial side of Minerva Punjab Football Club and Delhi Dynamos FC.

  • WPP snaps up InfoSum, promising a data-driven bonanza for brands

    WPP snaps up InfoSum, promising a data-driven bonanza for brands

    MUMBAI:  WPP has bagged InfoSum, the data collaboration cutting edge solutions provider. This acquisition, a proper “data-licious” deal, promises to supercharge WPP’s AI-driven marketing arsenal, giving clients access to a treasure trove of data signals.

    “At WPP, we have been building the technology and data infrastructure that will give our clients a unique competitive advantage in the AI era. Bringing InfoSum into WPP is a major step forward for our data capabilities and the results we can deliver for our clients,” said WPP CEO Mark Read. “It allows clients to stay in complete control of their first-party data, while also giving them access to vastly greater quantities of high-quality, privacy-compliant data and pioneering technology that is not available anywhere else in the market today.”

    InfoSum’s patented cross-cloud tech allows brands to mingle their data with billions of signals from big hitters Channel 4, DirecTV, ITV, Netflix, News Corp, and Samsung Ads, as well as major retailers around the world and five billion identifiers through identity and data partners like Experian, TransUnion, Circana, Dynata, and NCSolutions. 
     
    “InfoSum’s mission has always been to reimagine how data powers marketing in a secure, privacy-first, and, most importantly, impactful way for advertisers and consumers. WPP and GroupM are the perfect partners to help us accelerate our impact on a truly global scale. We couldn’t be more excited to join forces with the team at GroupM as privacy and security become non-negotiables, and AI allows us to redefine what’s possible for advertisers and our network of media and data partners,” quipped InfoSum  chief executive Lauren Wetzel, who’ll now be pulling double duty as GroupM’s chief solutions officer.

    GroupM chief executive officer Brian Lesser was equally enthusiastic, stating, ” Directly integrating InfoSum’s global data network and technology infrastructure will allow our clients to create even more value from their first-party data and enable us to train client AI models against the most data, from the most places, at unprecedented scale and speed. Our approach recognizes the importance of identity data to today’s marketing strategies while allowing us to take advantage of the limitless opportunities for growth we can create by moving beyond them. As more and more clients leverage our AI-first solutions, every client model, every audience, and every campaign will benefit from network effects that will exponentially increase their intelligence and competitive advantage.” 

    The deal allows WPP’s clients to train custom AI models in secure environments, delivering smarter audiences, optimised campaigns, and better business outcomes. Basically, it allows the ability to get your hands on all the juicy information, without anyone else seeing your private bits.

    InfoSum’s network boasts hundreds of billions of data signals, and five billion identifiers, allowing for a level of insight that’s previously been the stuff of marketing fantasies. No more relying on those crumbling cookie-based systems, which are about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.

    This acquisition represents a bold leap into the future of predictive performance and AI-driven marketing intelligence. WPP is betting big on AI, and with InfoSum in its pocket, it’s ready to unleash a marketing storm that’ll leave competitors scrambling for cover.

  • NP Digital India ropes in Venkata Gavaskar Dontha from iProspect India

    NP Digital India ropes in Venkata Gavaskar Dontha from iProspect India

    MUMBAI: The performance-driven digital marketing agency, NP Digital India, has welcomed Venkata Gavaskar Dontha as its new head of digital operations. Armed with over 17 years of expertise in performance marketing, SEO, social media, and analytics, he’s stepping in to lead client growth, revenue expansion, and the next wave of digital innovation tailored for the Indian market.

    Venkata joins NP Digital India from iProspect India, where he helmed the performance practice, driving cross-functional teams to award-winning success. His strategic vision helped the agency bag prestigious Agency of the Year titles, cementing his status as a digital marketing trailblazer. Now, at NP Digital India, he’s all set to shake things up.

    The appointment of Venkata is part of NP Digital India’s aggressive growth strategy. Over the past few months, the company has strategically onboarded two senior leaders, reinforcing its commitment to expanding global digital solutions in India.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Venkata to our leadership team. His remarkable expertise will be key to our strategy of integrating technology-driven digital services and SEO, enabling us to deliver global products in the Indian market. In fact, over the last couple of months, we have strategically onboarded two leadership positions to strengthen our executive team and accelerate our growth. This is just the beginning of a transformative phase for NP Digital India,” said NP Digital India CEO & co-founder Prady.

    Venkata, too, is ready to hit the ground running. “I have always admired the digital marketing insights of Neil Patel. Now, joining NP Digital India gives me a unique opportunity to both learn and apply my existing experience within a company that embodies an innovative, ahead-of-the-curve approach. I’m excited to transform digital challenges into creative, performance-driven solutions for our clients,” he said.

    NP Digital India is on a mission to dominate the digital marketing space, and bringing in leaders like Venkata only strengthens its commitment to innovation and client success. With his expertise, the company aims to drive operational excellence, expand revenue streams, and continue leading the charge in digital marketing’s technological evolution.