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Category: Media and Advertising

  • Kuwahara hits the high note as new CEO of Nippon TV Music

    Kuwahara hits the high note as new CEO of Nippon TV Music

    MUMBAI: From Death Note to chart notes Nippon TV Music has a new maestro at the helm. In a strategic move that harmonises anime excellence with music publishing prowess, Nippon Television Music Corporation has appointed Kako Kuwahara as its new president and CEO. She takes the baton from Akihiro Shimizu, who now heads Tipness Co. Ltd., another Nippon Television Holdings subsidiary.

    Kuwahara’s appointment signals a dynamic new chapter for the Tokyo-based music publisher, which plays a vital role in exporting Japan’s most iconic soundtracks and character IPs across the globe. With a portfolio boasting anime heavyweights like Hunter×Hunter, Death Note, The Apothecary Diaries, and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Nippon TV Music is a key player in delivering Japan’s pop culture to the world, one theme song at a time.

    Having led international and anime business strategies at Nippon TV, Kuwahara was instrumental in globalising recent anime hits. Under her leadership, the company aims to further amplify its presence through collaborations with sub-publishers and creators worldwide. She will report to Nippon TV Holdings senior operating officer Keiichi Sawa.

    “While Nippon TV is already a global powerhouse in Japanese entertainment, we at Nippon TV Music aim to further elevate our presence through the music we produce,” Kuwahara said. “With anime, films, dramas and variety shows, and Japan’s incredible music creators, we want to craft characters and songs that speak to the world.”

    Founded in 1969, Nippon TV Music operates in two main verticals: music and character business. It manages theme music and scores for major shows, supervises copyright and master recordings, and nurtures rising artists. On the character front, it handles international merchandising and game adaptations for titles like Anpanman and Lupin the Third.

    With Kuwahara now composing the next act, Nippon TV Music’s mission is clear keep the beats rolling and the fandom growing across continents.

    (If you are an Anime fan and love Anime like Demon Slayer, Spy X Family, Hunter X Hunter, Tokyo Revengers, Dan Da Dan and Slime, Buy your favourite Anime merchandise on AnimeOriginals.com.)

  • Theblurr brings on Sainath Saraban as co-founder and chief creative officer

    Theblurr brings on Sainath Saraban as co-founder and chief creative officer

    MUMBAI: Theblurr has announced the appointment of Sainath Saraban as co-founder and CCO. With a legacy of bold storytelling and a globally attuned creative lens, Sainath will lead Theblurr’s creative vision across markets, helping brands cut through noise with ideas rooted in insight, craft, and outcomes.

    Sai brings over two decades of creative leadership, having worked across India, the USA, LATAM, S.E. Asia, Europe, and Africa. His portfolio spans some of the world’s most respected brands including Pepsi, Bacardi, Coca-Cola, Nike, Levi’s, Amazon, Microsoft, and Hewlett-Packard with standout work like the iconic ‘Aaj kuch Toofani karte hai’ campaign for Thums Up.

    From his early days at JWT and McCann to becoming National Creative Director at Leo Burnett India, and later founding Simple Creative Inc. and Studio Simple in the U.S., Sai has continuously bridged cultural nuance with big-brand storytelling. His work as a Global Creative Director with Hewlett-Packard demonstrates that great ideas can travel globally while staying locally relevant.

    “Sai is not just a creative leader—he’s a global storyteller who speaks the language of culture, technology, and human truth,” said Theblurr co-founder & CEO Shamsuddin Jasani. “At Theblurr, where we combine AI with human intelligence, he will be key in driving creative excellence with speed and purpose.”

    Commenting on his appointment, Sai said, “Theblurr is the kind of agency I’ve always wanted to build a creative playground fueled by technology and purpose. From campaign thinking to platform storytelling, I’m excited to create work that is culturally alive, globally scalable, and commercially impactful.”

    (If you are an Anime fan and love Anime like Demon Slayer, Spy X Family, Hunter X Hunter, Tokyo Revengers, Dan Da Dan and Slime, Buy your favourite Anime merchandise on AnimeOriginals.com.)

  • Mukesh Sharma appointed CEO of Bright Outdoor Media

    Mukesh Sharma appointed CEO of Bright Outdoor Media

    MUMBAI: Bright Outdoor Media Ltd has announced the appointment of Mukesh Sharma as its new chief executive officer. Sharma, a seasoned professional with a strong background in the media industry, is expected to spearhead the company’s strategic growth, focusing on expanding revenue, strengthening profitability, and identifying new opportunities within the dynamic advertising and media landscape.

    Bright Outdoor promoter Yogesh Lakhani expressed his pleasure in welcoming Sharma, highlighting his impressive track record and expertise in driving growth, building robust business ecosystems, and delivering stakeholder value.

    Sharma previously served as business head at Mid-day Infomedia Ltd, where he gained valuable experience in leading media operations. His appointment is poised to play a crucial role in elevating Bright Outdoor Media’s brand in the competitive out-of-home (OOH) media sector, signalling a move towards a “brighter, bolder future” for the company.

  • Rohit Shaw boards Havas Media Network as senior vice president

    Rohit Shaw boards Havas Media Network as senior vice president

    MUMBAI: Rohit Shaw has rejoined Havas Media Network as a senior vice president, a significant move for the integrated marketing strategist. Starting this July, Shaw will be part of Arena Media, focusing on agency relations and key client management.

    Shaw’s return to Havas follows a year as senior vice president at Bharat Media & Entertainment group (BMEG), where he spearheaded national planning and strategy, driving client growth and revenue. Before that, he spent two years as a strategic client lead consultant at Havas Media group.

    His extensive career includes a three-year tenure as senior marketing manager – consumer marketing strategist at Dabur India Ltd, where he managed marketing strategy and media deployment for multiple successful brands. Prior to Dabur, Shaw was the senior manager and head of media marketing at Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd., overseeing marketing communications for Domino’s India and providing strategic recommendations based on market intelligence

    Shaw’s agency experience also includes roles at GroupM, where he was an associate director of business and business group head, managing media requirements for brands like Paytm and Dabur. He also served as a business group head at Dentsu Aegis Network, handling accounts for Microsoft, Nokia, and General Motors. 

    Early in his career, he worked as a media planner for Emami Ltd, managing brands such as Boroplus and Navratna, and held an assistant manager position in business development at Consim Info Pvt Ltd.

    Shaw’s appointment is expected to bolster Havas Media Network’s client engagement and strategic capabilities, leveraging his deep understanding of digital marketing, media planning, and consumer behaviour.

  • Aman Kishore appointed head of marketing at Bits Pilani Digital

    Aman Kishore appointed head of marketing at Bits Pilani Digital

    MUMBAI: Bits Pilani Digital, the online education arm of India’s esteemed Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, has announced the appointment of Aman Kishore as its new head of marketing. Kishore, a seasoned professional with over 24 years of experience in integrated marketing and communication, steps into the role with immediate effect, having joined in April 2025.

    His extensive career spans a diverse portfolio of leading brands, including Samsung Mobiles, BMW, Mini Honda, Lufthansa, Nestle, Vodafone, Dabur, Walmart, Singapore Red Cross, and Mundi Pharma. At Bits Pilani Digital, Kishore will leverage his expertise in integrated campaigns, digital strategy, media integration, and performance marketing to expand the institution’s legacy to a wider audience.

    Before this latest assignment, Kishore served as integrated campaign lead at Cheil India, where he spearheaded marketing efforts for Samsung Mobiles’ innovative A-series, M-series, and F-series, focusing on GenZ engagement through digital, influencer, and social content. He also led the Samsung CSR initiative, ‘Solve for Tomorrow.

    His prior experience includes a notable four-year tenure as deputy general manager at The Times Of India, where he managed business development, revenue growth, and P&L for a unit responsible for marquee events such as the Literature Festival and Global Music Festival – Life in Colour. He also held significant roles at Serviceplan India, overseeing integrated media for BMW, MINI, and Lufthansa, and at Ogilvy & Mather, where he led business and strategy for clients like Honda Jazz and Vodafone.

    Kishore’s appointment signals Bits Pilani Digital’s commitment to robust marketing and a content-driven approach as it expands its digital offerings in data science and artificial intelligence. He brings a proven track record of developing communication solutions that deliver business goals, fostering consumer insights, and mentoring teams, all while maintaining a keen focus on technology and digital innovation.

  • Mother Sparsh brings grandma’s secrets back in vogue with #RecreateRituals campaign

    Mother Sparsh brings grandma’s secrets back in vogue with #RecreateRituals campaign

    MUMBAI: Mother knows best, but grandma might have said it first. In a nostalgic-yet-modern digital push, Mother Sparsh has launched #RecreateRituals, a campaign that champions age-old Indian baby care practices, reimagined for today’s millennial mum.

    At the heart of the campaign is Mother Sparsh’s Milky Soft Baby Care Range, infused with the age-old goodness of milk and coconut oil, ingredients Indian families have trusted for generations. Running in three interactive phases, the month-long digital blitz features polls, carousels, and influencer-led storytelling, all culminating in an emotional photo-sharing moment celebrating the timeless bond between grandparents and their tiny descendants.

    Mother Sparsh CEO & co-founder Himanshi Gandhi spoke about the vision behind the campaign: “Through the #RecreateRituals campaign, we wish to bring back the time-tested solutions that our grandmothers used for little children. While many scoff at them as redundant, time stands testament to the fact that a wise grandmother has always solved all of the baby-related problems for a new mother. Thus, we are celebrating this bond with mothers and creating awareness by providing them a solution to take care of their baby’s sensitive skin.”

  • WPP Media and Indriya turn cinema ceilings into starry runways with ‘Aasmaniyat’

    WPP Media and Indriya turn cinema ceilings into starry runways with ‘Aasmaniyat’

    MUMBAI: Who said the sky’s the limit? WPP Media has gone above and beyond, quite literally, with a category-busting cinema ceiling activation to launch Indriya’s new diamond collection, Aasmaniyat, for Aditya Birla Jewellery.

    In a dazzling first, theatre-goers in Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad were treated to an overhead spectacle as cinema ceilings shimmered with celestial visuals synced to Indriya’s brand film. The campaign, timed during high-traffic screenings of Sitare Zameen Pe, was conceptualised and executed by WPP Media’s OOH Solutions and Mindshare teams, transforming auditoriums into immersive jewel boxes.

    By cleverly aligning the star-studded theme of the film with its own constellation-inspired collection, Indriya delivered an unforgettable “look up and wow” moment, a bold departure from standard screen-only storytelling.

    Part of a 360-degree media blitz that spans cinema, OOH, TV, and print, the campaign is set to run until early August, aiming to drive top-of-mind recall and emotional resonance for the brand.

    WPP Media South Asia, client solutions, Amin Lakhani said, “This campaign shows how media can evolve when creativity, insight, and technology unite. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in brand storytelling, not just reaching audiences but moving them. The ‘Aasmaniyat’ activation for Indriya reflects our focus on innovation that is bold, memorable, and drives results. It’s about creating moments that matter, where media becomes a stage for emotion and impact.”

    “As media consumption patterns evolve, the role of OOH has expanded from visibility to immersive storytelling. This campaign is a defining example of how we can reimagine traditional spaces like cinema halls into high-impact brand experiences. Our focus is on innovation that captures attention, creates emotional resonance, and drives measurable value. The cinema activation is not just a media first, it’s a category-defining moment that showcases what’s possible when creativity meets contextual intelligence.” said WPP Media head of media solutions, Ajay Mehta.

    Indriya CMO Shantiswarup Panda added, “For the first time in the industry, a brand has leveraged the immersive power of cinema to connect with a broader audience in a truly innovative way. Inspired by the vast, mysterious beauty of the cosmos, Aasmaniyat captures celestial elegance through exquisitely crafted diamond pieces that sparkle like constellations in the night sky. And what better stage for this brilliance than a darkened cinema hall, where Indriya’s diamonds shimmer and illuminate the ceiling with every frame.”

    With Aasmaniyat, Indriya isn’t just launching jewellery, it’s elevating the very stage on which it sparkles. And thanks to WPP Media’s innovation, the sky is not the limit, it’s the canvas.

  • Opptra names Afshan Banu as CEO – fashion and beauty

    Opptra names Afshan Banu as CEO – fashion and beauty

    MUMBAI: Opptra, the AI-powered omnichannel platform helping consumer brands scale into Asia, has appointed Afshan Banu as chief executive officer – fashion and beauty, bringing on board a heavyweight with over three decades of retail and digital expertise.

    Banu, whose career spans iconic names like Nike, Victoria’s Secret, GAP, Triumph and Lazada, will lead Opptra’s expansion strategy for fashion and beauty verticals, turbocharging digital transformation and franchise-led growth for international labels eyeing Asian markets.

    At Nike, she served as senior director for e-commerce across Southeast Asia and India, playing a crucial role in building Nike.com, the Nike App, SNKRS, and its marketplace muscle. Her previous stints at Lazada and Victoria’s Secret saw her drive brand development, strategic partnerships, and regional profitability in high-growth segments.

    Opptra’s co-founder called her appointment “a shot of adrenaline” for its global ambitions. With deep expertise across brick-and-mortar, e-commerce and digital ecosystems, Banu’s mandate is clear — bring the world’s best brands to Asia, faster and smarter.

    Commenting on her appointment at Opptra CEO – fashion and Beauty, Afshan Banu said, “I am excited to join Opptra at a time when the omnichannel experience is becoming more important. As global commerce continues to grow, Opptra’s digital-first technology and strong product solutions are well-positioned to provide the best experiences, both online and offline for consumers. We aim to help brands overcome infrastructure, regulatory, and cultural challenges by creating the world’s most innovative international expansion franchise model for brands.”

    As beauty and fashion brands battle for scale in a fragmented retail landscape, Opptra’s AI-led omnichannel playbook, now helmed by a leader with proven mettle — could be the edge they need.

  • iCubesWire ropes in Shashank B. V. to lead influencer content sales in the South

    iCubesWire ropes in Shashank B. V. to lead influencer content sales in the South

    MUMBAI: iCubesWire has brought back a familiar face to fuel its southern ambitions. Shashank B. V. has been appointed business director – sales (South) to lead content sales for influencer marketing, with a laser focus on hyperlocal, creator-first storytelling that delivers both scale and substance.

    Shashank, a digital veteran with over 20 years of experience, is no stranger to iCubesWire. His previous stint as group head, South, saw him lay the groundwork for the company’s growth in the region. Now, with influencer marketing entering a high-stakes era of ROI and relevance, Shashank’s brief is clear — connect brands with communities, not just clicks.

    From past leadership roles at Hungama Digital Services, Times Internet, and Tyroo Media, he brings a sharp understanding of branded content and digital sales, with a network that straddles both blue-chip advertisers and fast-rising D2C disruptors.

    Reporting to Nishant Sharma, co-founder and chief business officer at iCubesWire, Shashank will drive native integrations, performance-led influencer strategy, and multilingual content monetisation, all part of the agency’s aggressive push into the southern market.

    As brands double down on creator commerce and culturally-rooted campaigns, iCubesWire is positioning itself as the go-to MarTech ally for brands looking to translate influence into impact and Shashank is back at the helm to make sure the story sticks.

  • Bipasha, Sania and Ravi Kishan front Protinex’s new campaign

    Bipasha, Sania and Ravi Kishan front Protinex’s new campaign

    MUMBAI: In a fresh digital blitz, Danone India’s nutrition heavyweight Protinex has enlisted a trio of household names — Bipasha Basu, Sania Mirza, and Ravi Kishan, to spotlight one of India’s quietest health crises: the daily protein gap.

    With over 70 per cent of Indian adults failing to meet their protein needs and 90 per cent unaware of it, Protinex’s latest campaign cuts through the noise with slice-of-life moments that hit close to home. From Bipasha balancing shoots and wellness, to Sania navigating motherhood with self-care, and Ravi Kishan sounding the alarm on counterfeit nutrition, each narrative champions authentic, informed choices in a world buzzing with quick fixes.

    Wrapped in relatable storytelling and by the brand’s 65-year-old legacy, the campaign nudges Indians to stop sleepwalking through their diets and start reading the fine print, especially when it comes to protein.

    More than just a star-powered health plug, the campaign aligns with Danone’s global mission to democratise health through food. With a sharp focus on authenticity, accessibility, and awareness, Protinex is doubling down on its promise to make protein-packed living an everyday, no-fuss habit across Indian households.

    Because when it comes to health, shortcuts don’t cut it and protein isn’t optional, it’s essential.