ITV

Category: Media and Advertising

  • Taronish Karkaria to lead iconic Taj West End, Bengaluru as GM

    Taronish Karkaria to lead iconic Taj West End, Bengaluru as GM

    MUMBAI: Taj West End, Bengaluru has appointed Taronish Karkaria as its new general manager. A second-generation hotelier, Karkaria has spent more than 20 years with Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL), shaping operations at some of the group’s most celebrated properties.

    He was most recently the pre-opening general manager of Taj Gandhinagar Resort & Spa, and earlier served as director of operations at  Taj Palace, New Delhi, the capital’s largest luxury convention hotel. His career has also spanned senior roles at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, and Taj Lands End, Mumbai.

    IHCL, senior vice president–operations, Satyajeet Krishnan said Karkaria’s experience would “play a key role in further strengthening the hotel’s position as one of the city’s most distinguished luxury destinations.”

    Calling Taj West End “a true icon of Bengaluru’s hospitality landscape,” Karkaria said he aimed to build on its legacy by blending warmth and innovation to craft meaningful guest experiences.

    In his new role, he will oversee operations, sharpen revenue strategy and strengthen the property’s reputation as one of Bengaluru’s most storied hotels.

     

     

  • Mallika Nath Handa inks a new chapter with Network18 leadership move

    Mallika Nath Handa inks a new chapter with Network18 leadership move

    MUMBAI: When it comes to building big brand bridges, Mallika Nath Handa knows the blueprint. The seasoned media and partnerships leader has joined Network18 Media & Investments Limited in August 2025 to helm Building Strategic Relationships, marking yet another power move in a two-decade career spanning India’s biggest media and digital houses.

    Handa’s career arc is as eclectic as it is impressive. She most recently spent 1 year and 9 months at Zomato, where she headed partnerships and played a pivotal role in shaping the food-tech major’s brand-building efforts. Before that, she spent a mammoth 11 years and 8 months at Times Internet, rising to the position of head of revenue and branded content for Indiatimes Lifestyle Network.

    Her early innings saw her hold senior sales roles at AIDEM Ventures (1 year 11 months), NDTV Media (4 years 3 months), and Star TV (2 years 5 months). Across these stints, she sharpened her expertise in revenue growth, branded content, digital innovation, and strategic partnerships, working at the intersection of media, technology, and brand storytelling.

    An alumna of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (2000–2004) with a degree in Fashion Design and Information Technology, Handa’s journey reflects a blend of creativity and commercial acumen, a combination that’s particularly suited to navigating Network18’s expansive media ecosystem.

    The move comes as Network18 continues to deepen its relationships with advertisers, creators, and platforms in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. With her proven track record in forging partnerships and scaling businesses, Handa’s entry signals the company’s intent to fortify its strategic growth playbook.

    From fashion design to food-tech to forging the future of one of India’s largest media networks, Handa’s career trajectory proves she has always been in the business of connections and at Network18, she now gets to take that literally.

  • David George takes charge of creative content & design at Gulf News

    David George takes charge of creative content & design at Gulf News

    MUMBAI: David George, a journalist turned brand strategist, has been named director of creative content and design at Gulf News. His promotion crowns a ten-year stint at the Dubai-based daily, where he has previously served as publisher–commercial and head of design.

    George cut his teeth at Emirates Today before moving to MEED and Bloomberg Businessweek Middle East, where he helped launch both the print and digital editions. Over the years, he has worked across newsrooms, commercial desks and design studios, bringing a journalistic rigour to branded storytelling.

    With more than 15 years in the region’s media industry, George has built a reputation for crafting campaigns and working at the intersection of journalism and brand storytelling. At Gulf News, he will now oversee strategy, design and branded content at a time when publishers in the Gulf are under pressure to monetise audiences and diversify revenues.  

  • Efficacy Worldwide bolsters leadership with three senior hires

    Efficacy Worldwide bolsters leadership with three senior hires

    Gurugram: Efficacy Worldwide, the full-service advertising and marketing agency founded in 2021, has added three heavyweights to its top deck as part of an aggressive expansion across India.

    Somnath Sarkarr joins as national investment director, bringing two decades of media-buying expertise from Madison, Vivaki, Lodestar UM and Initiative, where he was most recently vice-president investment. He will oversee digital and traditional media portfolios, blending programmatic with scale, and drive partnerships to squeeze more value out of spends.

    Prajesh Dutta, with over 20 years at Madison, Wavemaker, m/Six, Maxus and GroupM, has been named national director – strategy and innovation. He will spearhead P&L, sharpen strategy and strengthen teams.

    Meanwhile, Raj Choudhary takes charge as business head for the south. He moves from History TV18, where he was regional head, and has stints at Zee Media, Indian Express, Warner Media, Network18, Sony Pictures and Network India.

    “We are at a pivotal point in our journey and these three key senior appointments underscore our commitment to strengthening leadership and scaling operations across India,” said co-founder Sapna Sharma.

    In three years, the agency has bagged mandates from Kohler, Omega, Rado, Hero Cycles, Suzlon Energy, Foundit, Clear Dekho, UP Tourism and more. Efficacy has built a reputation for marrying creativity with technology, wielding AI-led insights, influencer SaaS tools and funnel optimisation to deliver ROI at speed.

    The trio’s combined half-century of experience marks the agency’s latest attempt to turn scale into clout.

  • Logitech names Manoj Sahay as India country head

    Logitech names Manoj Sahay as India country head

    MUMBAI:  Logitech has appointed Manoj Sahay as its new country head for India, betting on the FMCG veteran to sharpen its consumer focus and push deeper into one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

    Sahay, who has logged more than 20 years at Britannia, Reckitt Benckiser and Castrol, takes charge of Logitech’s India business with a brief to accelerate growth, expand distribution and strengthen brand presence.

    “India is a top priority market for us, and Manoj’s deep understanding of consumer behaviour, honed in the competitive FMCG sector, is precisely the expertise we need,” said Logitech, vice-president and head of global emerging markets, Moninder Jain.

    Sahay said he was “honoured and excited” to lead the company’s India operations, adding that his passion for building brands and mining consumer insights would help connect Logitech’s “legendary” innovation with local needs.

    The appointment underlines Logitech’s ambition to scale up across product lines ranging from PC peripherals and gaming gear to streaming and hybrid-work solutions.

  • Something Special signs Courtney Boyett to script global sales success

    Something Special signs Courtney Boyett to script global sales success

    MUMBAI: When a company’s called Something Special, you expect its hires to be nothing short of headline-worthy. True to form, the Seoul-based format agency has brought on Courtney Boyett as senior manager of global sales, adding a bilingual edge and a globe-trotting flair to its international ambitions. Boyett steps into the role after a stint at Kiwi Vine, where she spearheaded business development in webtoon localisation and edited stories for global audiences. A fluent speaker of both English and Korean, she began her career as a translator and researcher, giving her a strong cultural bridge that fits neatly into the DNA of a format specialist.

    Armed with a business degree from Alabama’s Troy University and time at Inha University in Seoul, Boyett has lived across the U.S. and Korea while racking up stamps from extensive travels, an experience that may come in handy as she takes Something Special’s formats to markets worldwide.

    True to form president and executive producer Jin Woo Hwang couldn’t hide his enthusiasm: “Courtney will no doubt deliver great results with her sparkling personality and expertise. After my recent MENA trip, our sales arm is primed for expansion.”

    True to form co-founder EVP & head of content Insoon Kim, echoed the sentiment: “When I first met Courtney at Hong Kong Filmart, I was immediately impressed by her professionalism and bright character.”

    For Boyett, the feeling is mutual. “I’m excited to work with Insoon, Jin and the team at Something Special and look forward to sharing their innovative formats with the content world at several markets,” she said.

    With Asia’s format exports booming and Something Special sharpening its global push, Boyett’s appointment is both timely and telling: this is a format house with no intention of staying local.

  • From Netflix to Next-Gen AI, Akash Iyer joins OpenAI India as social lead

    From Netflix to Next-Gen AI, Akash Iyer joins OpenAI India as social lead

    MUMBAI: Lights, camera… AI-ction! After nearly seven years scripting cultural moments at Netflix, Akash Iyer is stepping into a whole new frame as the social lead for OpenAI in India. Iyer, who announced his move on LinkedIn with a mix of excitement and humility, joins at a pivotal moment. India is ChatGPT’s second-largest market after the US, and OpenAI is doubling down on its local presence with its first India office slated to open in Delhi later this year and a new India-only ChatGPT plan priced at Rs 399 per month.

    With over a decade in media and marketing, Iyer has a résumé as eclectic as it is impactful. At Netflix, he masterminded over 100 campaigns, from The Archies to the flagship Playback, scaled Youtube from zero to 20 million subscribers, and grew Instagram from 1 million to 8 million followers. Before that, he sharpened his storytelling craft at Buzzfeed, Sportskeeda, and The Glitch, dabbling in everything from viral video formats to sports explainers.

    His move signals OpenAI’s serious intent to court India’s fast-growing user base especially students, who, according to the company, use ChatGPT more here than anywhere else in the world. OpenAI comms head for Asia Pacific Jake Wilczynski summed it up: “India is not just a big market, it’s a critical one.”

    For Iyer, the leap is more than a career pivot. “It’s an incredible opportunity, but also a deep responsibility to contribute to building AGI for the benefit of humanity,” he wrote. With his cultural instincts and digital flair, OpenAI’s India story may just get the blockbuster treatment it needs.

  • Tenable adds up a win with Matthew Brown as new CFO

    Tenable adds up a win with Matthew Brown as new CFO

    MUMBAI: When it comes to numbers, Tenable wants nothing left exposed. The exposure management giant has roped in Matthew Brown as its new chief financial officer, effective immediately putting a seasoned hand on the calculator as it eyes its next phase of growth. Brown succeeds Steve Vintz, who recently swapped the CFO chair for the Co-CEO seat alongside Mark Thurmond. With more than 20 years in tech finance, Brown isn’t a stranger to high-stakes balance sheets. His last gig was at Altair Engineering, where he steered strategy, delivered consistent double-digit software revenue growth, expanded margins, and ultimately played a key role in clinching its 10.7 billion dollars sale to Siemens.

    His career ledger also features senior finance roles at Nortonlifelock, Symantec, Blue Coat, Brocade, Netgear, and KPMG, spanning everything from M&A and investor relations to operational excellence and controllership.

    “Matt brings a proven track record of scaling global technology businesses, delivering operational efficiency, and driving shareholder value,” said Tenable co-CEO Steve Vintz. “His strategic mindset and collaborative leadership style make him the ideal partner to help Tenable accelerate growth.”

    Brown, for his part, sounds ready to crunch big numbers: “Tenable is in a prime position to lead the future of exposure management. Pairing its market leadership with bold financial strategy is incredibly energising, and I’m ready to help propel the company to its next chapter.”

    Armed with a B.S. in Business Administration from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and a CPA licence in California, Brown is set to bring both rigour and ambition to Tenable’s books.

    For a company built on spotting vulnerabilities, this looks like one appointment that definitely adds up.

  • Anuja Trivedi named chief strategy and marketing officer as Shemaroo eyes next phase

    Anuja Trivedi named chief strategy and marketing officer as Shemaroo eyes next phase

    MUMBAI: Shemaroo Entertainment has expanded the remit of Anuja Trivedi, elevating her to chief strategy and marketing officer (CSMO). In addition to leading marketing, she will now head the central strategy team, cementing the company’s sharper focus on long-term growth, integrated brand positioning and closer consumer alignment.

    Since joining as chief marketing officer in 2023, Trivedi has driven brand growth and boosted visibility for Shemaroo’s TV, OTT and digital platforms. In her expanded role, she will spearhead strategic initiatives and work with cross-functional leaders to unlock synergies across the group’s diverse business verticals.

    She brings broad experience spanning strategy, revenue and content, with stints at Disney Star, World Gold Council (WGC), McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley and PwC. At Disney Star, she shaped content strategy for TV and digital, driving Disney+ Hotstar subscriptions and improving TV market share in key genres.

    “Anuja’s role expansion comes at a time when we are sharpening our strategic priorities to stay ahead in an evolving media and entertainment ecosystem,” said chief executive of Shemaroo, Hiren Gada. “Her deep understanding of consumer behavior, market dynamics, and business transformation will be instrumental as we move into our next phase of growth.”

    Chief operating officer of Shemaroo, Arghya Chakravarty added, “Over the last two years, Anuja has been instrumental in shaping Shemaroo’s brand story. Her expanded role reflects our belief in her ability to bridge strategy with execution, drive cross-functional alignment, and keep the consumer at the center of all decisions.”

    With Trivedi’s new mandate, the brand is amplifying its bet on strategy-led brand building and future-ready planning as it caters to the changing tastes of Indian and global audiences.

  • Ruralshores takes the Singhal route to global growth with new Group CEO

    Ruralshores takes the Singhal route to global growth with new Group CEO

    MUMBAI: From villages to boardrooms, Ruralshores is ready to go big and it has found its navigator. The rural outsourcing pioneer has appointed Tarun Singhal as group CEO of Ruralshores Integrated Business, signalling a bold new phase of AI-led transformation and global expansion. The company, already the world’s largest rural digital operations firm, employs over 3,500 colleagues across 14 centres nationwide. With Singhal at the helm, the focus sharpens on scaling Ruralshores’ “Scalable Workforce-as-a-Service” model, a unique blend of tech, talent and social impact designed to deliver value for global clients while empowering rural youth.

    Singhal arrives with heavyweight credentials, having driven digital transformation and international client growth at HCL and Sopra Steria. A recognised voice in Gen-AI strategy and digital innovation, he brings both gravitas and energy to a company that has long championed the marriage of cutting-edge tech with grassroots opportunity.

    “This is not just a transition, it is a launchpad,” said Ruralshores co-founder and director Murali Vullaganti hailing the appointment as a turning point in Ruralshores’ journey.

    For his part, Singhal painted a vision of rural India powering global digital ambitions: “Teams are geared up to revolutionise rural operations with AI-enabled, ESG-supported, data-driven services, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat. We’re set to transform work in complex, underserved environments, harnessing rural India’s exceptional talent.”

    With its unique dual promise reducing costs for startups and enterprises while maximising social impact Ruralshores is betting that its rural workforce model can be scaled into a global movement. And with Singhal now in the driver’s seat, the road ahead looks set to be both inclusive and innovative.