ITV

Category: Media Agencies

  • Abhay Kaul’s Adtomica swipes right on Tinder as agency on record for India brand partnerships

    Abhay Kaul’s Adtomica swipes right on Tinder as agency on record for India brand partnerships

    MUMBAI: Love may be fleeting, but creative chemistry endures. Following the viral impact of Tinder’s 2025 ‘Move On’ campaign, independent creative shop Adtomica has been named the agency on record (AOR) for Tinder’s brand partnerships in India. The campaign, built around the emotionally liberating act of binning mementos from past relationships, delivered both heartbreak therapy and a bold marketing statement.

    Executed in collaboration with quick commerce platform Blinkit, the campaign distributed 150,000 Tinder Plus vouchers at 75 per cent off via Singles mode. Adtomica led the charge on creative direction, integrating the offers directly into the platform with in-app assets that drew heavy engagement.

    “Tinder is a brand that dares to be bold, and we love that. As their agency on record for partnerships in India, we’re excited to keep building experiences that are platform-first, culturally sharp, and always rooted in value for users”, said Adtomica founder & CEO Abhay Kaul.

    Tinder’s team credited Adtomica for nailing the cultural pulse and turning insight into action. “Tinder is more than a dating app — it’s a reflection of how young India explores identity, connection, and self-worth. With the ‘Move On’ campaign, we wanted to create something emotionally resonant yet unmistakably bold. Adtomica understood that instinctively. Their ability to translate cultural insight into real-world engagement made this campaign truly memorable. We’re excited about what’s next”, said a Tinder spokesperson.

    With Tinder continuing to shape gen z’s social rituals in India, Adtomica now carries the creative baton to expand its brand partnership playbook. If the last campaign was any hint, expect more swipe-worthy ideas to follow.

  • Essencemediacom bags Hero Motocorp’s unified media mandate in high-stakes agency showdown

    Essencemediacom bags Hero Motocorp’s unified media mandate in high-stakes agency showdown

    MUMBAI: Essencemediacom India just pulled off a pitch win that’s revving up the media world. The GroupM-backed agency clinched the consolidated media mandate for Hero MotoCorp, emerging victorious in a multi-agency battle that involved five of India’s top networks.

    For the first time, Hero MotoCorp—the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer—has handed its entire media portfolio to a single partner. The mandate covers Hero’s flagship range, its electric mobility arm VIDA, and its Harley-Davidson business unit.

    Under the agreement, Essencemediacom will lead full-funnel strategy, planning and execution across both traditional and digital channels. The remit includes audience-first approaches, competitive intelligence, performance planning, and campaign automation through unified dashboards. The agency will also deliver tech-enabled creative solutions and integrated content models for a cohesive cross-functional execution.

    “As Hero MotoCorp accelerates the journey towards its Vision, ‘Be the Future of Mobility’, Essencemediacom will play a pivotal role in driving media and data innovation to support its growth across core, premium, and electric segments,” the company stated.

    Essencemediacom south Asia CEO Navin Khemka called the win “a moment of transformation”. He added, “This partnership brings together three iconic brands—Hero, VIDA, Harley-Davidson, each representing a unique facet of India’s mobility story. By blending deep market intelligence with platform innovation, we aim to drive transformational outcomes across categories, regions, and consumer segments for Hero”.

    The win signals a strategic consolidation in India’s auto-media space, as brands seek integrated partners capable of scaling across formats and devices in a highly fragmented landscape. With mobility shifting toward electric and digital-first experiences, the race for full-service media dominance has clearly entered a new gear.

  • Madison Media Alpha bags Zouk account, rides IPL and CTV wave with bold brand blitz

    Madison Media Alpha bags Zouk account, rides IPL and CTV wave with bold brand blitz

    MUMBAI: Fashion met function, and now it’s meeting Madison. The proudly Indian and 100 per cent vegan lifestyle brand, Zouk has awarded its media duties to Madison Media Alpha after a tightly contested multi-agency pitch. With the deal sealed, the agency has wasted no time launching a full-blown campaign across IPL, Connected TV, Google, and Meta.

    The high-decibel campaign aims to scale Zouk’s presence among conscious, fashion-forward consumers by targeting them across platforms that dominate young India’s screen time. From cricket lovers to binge-watchers and digital dwellers, Zouk is taking its blend of Indian design and practical style straight to the pulse points.

    Zouk, known for handcrafted office bags, slings, luggage, and backpacks featuring Indian prints, is riding this campaign to expand brand salience and reach. Zouk co-founder Disha Singh said, “We’re excited to partner with Madison Media Alpha at a time when Zouk is scaling its brand story through a bold new campaign across IPL, CTV, and digital. With Madison’s strategic thinking and deep media expertise, we look forward to reaching millions of new consumers and solidifying Zouk’s position as a Proudly Indian, 100 per cent Vegan lifestyle brand”.

    At the Madison end, the media muscle is flexing. Madison Media & OOH group CEO Vikram Sakhuja noted, “We are delighted to partner with Zouk, a brand that stands at the intersection of innovation and style. This collaboration is a perfect fit for our expertise in creating data-driven, creative media strategies. Our goal is to elevate Zouk’s presence and amplify its voice in the market, helping it reach new heights by connecting with conscious consumers who value both fashion and sustainability”.

    With IPL serving the eyeballs and Madison steering the ship, Zouk’s multi-touchpoint media sprint is poised to turn heads and unlock wallets.

  • Chaaipani to brew up brand buzz at Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2025

    Chaaipani to brew up brand buzz at Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2025

    MUMBAI: Chaaipani has steeped itself into the grand spectacle of the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2025, bagging the exclusive rights for advertising and brand activations at one of India’s most iconic religious gatherings, expected to draw over 15 million devotees.

    As the official brand activation partner, Chaaipani will craft immersive brand experiences, striking a fine balance between spirituality and smart storytelling. From on-ground sponsorships to high-impact brand placements, the agency’s mission is to keep the sanctity of the event intact while ensuring brands resonate with the sea of devotees flooding Puri’s streets.

    Set to roll out on 27 June 2025, the Rath Yatra will see the majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra embark on their legendary journey from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. For brands, this isn’t just a journey of faith—it’s a direct route to the hearts of millions, especially from India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

    Chaaipani founder Shruti Chaturvedi  described the partnership as a privilege and a challenge, saying, “We are deeply honored to be entrusted with the advertising and brand activation for the Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025. This is more than just a festival—it is an embodiment of faith, devotion, and centuries-old tradition. Our goal is to create a respectful and authentic brand storytelling experience that enhances the Yatra for millions of devotees while preserving its spiritual essence.”

  • Madison Media cracks the code, wins Gold at AAAI Ad Spend Hackathon at Waves Summit 2025

    Madison Media cracks the code, wins Gold at AAAI Ad Spend Hackathon at Waves Summit 2025

    MUMBAI: Madison Media scored big at the recently concluded Waves Summit 2025, taking home the Gold in the high-stakes Ad Spend Optimiser Hackathon—an initiative jointly hosted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI). The platform challenged India’s sharpest marketing minds to craft innovative, budget-conscious ad spend strategies powered by data science, machine learning and real-world application.

    Launched under the Waves Create India Challenge Season 1, the competition narrowed down entries from across the country to four finalists: Group M, Hansa Cequity, OMD and Madison Media.

    The brief?

    Develop a compelling strategy that balances marketing outcomes with budget discipline—no fluff, just pure performance. Madison’s winning pitch wowed the judges for its strategic rigour, tech-enabled planning, and applicability across evolving media landscapes.

    “Winning Gold at the Ad Spend Optimiser Hackathon was an unforgettable experience—made even more special by receiving the award from Aamir Khan and sharing the moment in the presence of our honourable prime minister Narendra Modi,” said Madison Digital GM Suchi Jain. “It’s a proud milestone for all of us at Madison and a strong testament to the power of data-driven creativity.”

    Madison Digital DGM Pooja Vichare added, “It was an incredible experience competing with some of the brightest young minds in the industry. Tech, AI, and media go hand in hand—and this is where our media expertise and engineering skills came together to deliver impactful results.”

    The win reinforces Madison Media’s position as India’s most awarded homegrown media powerhouse. Ranked the world’s 4th largest independent media agency by Recma and named Independent Agency of the Year at the E4M Media Ace Awards 2024, Madison has also secured TV Media Agency of the Year for five years straight at the Prime Time Awards.

    It has racked up over 470 awards since 2020.

    With a blue-chip roster that includes Marico, Asian Paints, Titan, Blue Star, TVS, Raymond, CEAT, and Samsonite, Madison Media continues to bring performance-first thinking to the boardroom table. The agency is part of Madison World, which serves over 500 advertisers through 11 specialised units.

  • Cheil India rebrands as Cheil SWA Group, builds full-funnel marketing arsenal for the future

    Cheil India rebrands as Cheil SWA Group, builds full-funnel marketing arsenal for the future

    MUMBAI: Cheil India just hit refresh. On 1 May 2025, the agency formally announced its rebranding into the Cheil SWA Group, marking a strategic expansion of its services to meet the evolving needs of modern marketers. From being Samsung’s in-house agency in 2003 to becoming a multi-pronged marketing ecosystem, the transformation signals its ambition to own the entire value chain—creativity, commerce, content, and conversion.

    At the helm is Cheil SWA Group president & CEO Carlos LimSeob Chung. Jitender Dabas joins as Cheil X CEO, the creative and strategy wing serving non-Samsung clients, while Mandeep Sharma takes over as Cheil India COO, driving CRM and customer experience across the group.

    Guided by the philosophy ‘Impact Every Moment’, Cheil SWA Group now operates through seven specialised companies:

    1    Cheil India (Samsung Business): Continues as Samsung’s integrated agency, delivering on creative, retail, digital, and brand experiences.

    2    Cheil X: Expands creative and strategy solutions to global and Indian brands beyond Samsung, with a recent footprint added in Mumbai.

    3    Experience Commerce: The digital marketing and tech arm acquired in 2017. Houses an Offshore Development Center (ODC) for the global Cheil network and boasts consistent double-digit growth.

    4    Cylndr: The content production studio for VFX, CGI, and end-to-end video creation.

    5    Digital media and influencer marketing: A 300+ member strong vertical specialising in performance marketing, influencer engagement, and D2C solutions.

    6    NewRx: The retail design and store innovation unit handling everything from concept to execution.

    7    Cheil GDC: The data analytics hub that drives automated marketing through real-time consumer insights.

    Together, these arms position Cheil SWA Group at the confluence of creativity, commerce, and data—ready to deliver fully integrated campaigns that are not just pretty, but performance-driven.

    “Today’s marketing landscape demands integrated thinking and specialised execution,” said Chung. “Our transformation into Cheil SWA Group is a natural evolution of our capabilities, allowing us to offer clients seamless access to world-class expertise across every touchpoint of the consumer journey.”

    From a Samsung-only outfit to a group built for tomorrow’s marketing challenges, Cheil SWA Group is laying claim to the full funnel—pixel to purchase.

  • Pooja Tomar hops over to Publicis Groupe as senior director of buying

    Pooja Tomar hops over to Publicis Groupe as senior director of buying

    MUMBAI – Media maven Pooja Tomar is on the move again. After nearly three years as senior business director at Havas Media Group, Tomar has been snapped up by Publicis Groupe, stepping into the newly minted role of senior director, buying from April 2025. She will be based in India, working on-site.

    With more than a decade of navigating the labyrinth of media planning, buying and strategy across FMCG, e-commerce and technology, Tomar brings a bulging toolkit of cross-media skills to her new perch. Her career reads like a masterclass in media evolution — from digital hustle to broadcast muscle.

    Before Havas, Tomar clocked nearly five years across Starcom and Publicis’ ZenithOptimedia, sharpening her cross-platform planning chops. Earlier stints at Madison World and GroupM saw her navigating media buying with a keen eye on both budgets and ROI, across some of India’s top retail, telecom and tech accounts.

    Tomar’s trademark: an uncanny knack for aligning new technology with old-school brand strategy – and for chasing hard numbers with harder insights. Over the years, she has built a reputation for being a strategist who can not just plan campaigns but anticipate market moves, with a solid grip on consumer trends, media fragmentation, and the shifting sands of cross-platform engagement.

    Expect fireworks as she joins Publicis Groupe, bringing her “360-degree media brain” to a fiercely competitive Indian media marketplace.

  • Sungrow Europe taps Content Digital Agency to electrify digital media across 20 countries

    Sungrow Europe taps Content Digital Agency to electrify digital media across 20 countries

    MUMBAI: Solar meets strategy as Sungrow Europe plugs into Content Digital Agency (CDA) to supercharge its digital marketing presence across the continent. In April 2025, CDA announced it had been appointed as Sungrow Europe’s digital media partner, handling activations across more than 20 countries.

    Sungrow, ranked number one globally in PV inverter shipments according to S&P Global Commodity Insights, is sharpening its digital focus to align with its mission of innovation and sustainability in renewable energy.

    “We are excited to partner with Content Digital Agency to strengthen our digital presence in the European market,” said Sungrow Europe senior digital marketing manager Zaid Basheer. “Their expertise in digital marketing will help us to enhance the communication of our brand values and solutions to our target audience.”

    Content Digital Agency founder Zubin Nalawalla shared his enthusiasm, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with Sungrow Europe. Our team is committed to delivering innovative digital solutions that meet Sungrow’s marketing objectives and contribute to their continued success in the renewable energy sector.”

    The partnership, born out of a successful pilot campaign, has grown into a full-fledged engagement. “What started as a pilot campaign has resulted in a strong association, and it’s a testament of our agency’s capabilities and expertise in delivering effective results,” added CDA chief communications officer Rayo Sarkari.

    With sustainability taking centre stage globally, Sungrow’s strengthened digital play positions it to reach wider audiences while advancing renewable solutions across Europe’s rapidly evolving energy landscape.

  • Sugosh Iyer plugs into Mindshare to power Unilever’s digital future

    Sugosh Iyer plugs into Mindshare to power Unilever’s digital future

    MUMBAI:  Sugosh Iyer has hit the refresh button, stepping into the hotseat as head of digital trading at Mindshare earlier this year, leading the charge on all things digital for FMCG titan Unilever.

    In his new role, Iyer will pilot negotiations, data and tech partnerships, first-party data strategies, and turbocharge commerce conversations — stitching together the future of media buying across connected ecosystems.

    It’s been quite the pivot-packed journey. Iyer’s career, spanning over 17 years, has crisscrossed industries and continents: from banking at Kotak to media stints at NDTV Media, Starcom, Spatial Access, Flipkart, and senior leadership gigs across Madison, GroupM, and Kansai Nerolac Paints. Most recently, he helmed digital marketing for Grasim Industries (Pulp & Fibre), blending traditional business sense with e-commerce agility.

    Known for his customer acquisition chops, B2B savvy, and an eye for e-commerce acceleration, Iyer has consistently stayed ahead of the curve, whether in the bustling media hubs of Mumbai or navigating client leadership roles in Kuala Lumpur.

    With digital trading now the frontline of advertising wars, Mindshare seems to have found the perfect battering ram — a blend of finance brains, media muscle, and tech-first thinking — to storm the gates of tomorrow’s marketing battlefield.

  • Gaurav Saxena steps up as associate director at Havas Media Network

    Gaurav Saxena steps up as associate director at Havas Media Network

    MUMBAI: Gaurav Saxena is riding a wave of momentum at Havas Media Network, clinching a promotion to associate director after nearly four years of sharp planning, strategic buys, and delivering results that clients love to brag about.
    Armed with more than nine years of experience in optimising, negotiating, and snapping up prime media real estate across TV, radio, and print, Saxena has earned a reputation for mixing market insight with financial discipline — squeezing every drop of ROI from client budgets.
    His journey has criss-crossed some of the industry’s biggest names, with stints at Omnicom Media Group, GroupM, and Vizeum, before parking himself firmly at Havas, where he rose through the ranks from buying manager to media group head, and now associate director.
    Known for his calm critical thinking and strong vendor relationships, Saxena has consistently translated high-stakes briefs into high-impact campaigns. Whether crafting media plans or negotiating killer rates, he brings the same passion to every challenge — and it’s clearly paying off.