ITV

Category: Media and Advertising

  • 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.

  • AI, aye Captain, Shekhar Kapur to steer Studio Blo’s ethical vision

    AI, aye Captain, Shekhar Kapur to steer Studio Blo’s ethical vision

    MUMBAI: In a plot twist worthy of his own films, Shekhar Kapur has boarded the AI express, this time not behind the camera, but at the helm of innovation. The celebrated director has been named chairperson of the Board of AI Ethics & Creative Stewardship at Studio Blo, a move that fuses reel-life mastery with real-time tech.

    Studio Blo, the next-gen content studio making waves with AI-powered filmmaking, is counting on Kapur to lead the charge as it navigates the tricky intersection of creativity, culture, ethics, and artificial intelligence.

    Commenting on his appointment, Shekhar Kapur said, “AI is not here to replicate the past it’s here to create entirely new forms of cinematic expression. I believe AI films will soon stand as a genre of their own, unbound by traditional definitions of cinema. Studio Blo is doing some of the most cutting-edge work I’ve seen globally, and I’m excited to shape a future where imagination is limitless, and technology is the brush.”

    And if anyone can lend gravitas to that future, it’s the man behind Elizabeth, Bandit Queen, and Mr. India. With a Padma Bhushan, a BAFTA, and a shelf full of national and international accolades, Kapur brings not just credibility but a cinematic sensibility that’s both visionary and deeply human.

    Studio Blo, meanwhile, isn’t just dabbling in AI, it’s diving in head-first. With collaborators ranging from Warner Music and YRF Films to Dentsu and Nykaa, the studio is rewriting the rules of filmmaking, blending old-school craft with cutting-edge AI workflows.

    Studio Blo co-founder and CEO Dipankar Mukherjee said, “Shekhar Kapur’s association with Studio Blo is both an honour and a powerful validation of our vision to disrupt content production and filmmaking through AI. His mentorship will not only guide our global expansion but will also help us invent a bold new grammar of storytelling, one where AI becomes a co-creator of cinematic experiences rather than just a tool.”

    With Kapur now in the director’s chair of ethics and imagination, Studio Blo’s script just got a lot more exciting and perhaps even Oscar-worthy.

  • Milestone Systems taps Diya Girish as sales director to drive India market push with AI-powered security stack

    Milestone Systems taps Diya Girish as sales director to drive India market push with AI-powered security stack

    MUMBAI: Milestone Systems has doubled down on India’s digital growth story, appointing technology veteran Diya Girish as its new sales director to lead go-to-market strategies in one of the world’s fastest-growing security and surveillance markets.

    Announced on 7 May 2025, the move signals Milestone’s renewed focus on sectors like smart cities, infrastructure, healthcare, and manufacturing, where real-time video management, analytics and cloud-based solutions are increasingly vital. Girish, who brings over 20 years of experience from Oracle, EY, and IBM, is tasked with scaling adoption of Milestone’s expansive portfolio including XProtect VMS, Arcules (VSaaS), BriefCam video analytics, and the new AI-powered Project Hafnia.

    India’s appetite for smarter, scalable security solutions is soaring. The market is growing rapidly, driven by increased urbanisation and demand for intelligent, integrated video tools capable of managing large-scale data streams. Milestone has responded by reshuffling its sales leadership structure to better capture this momentum, with Girish’s appointment at the core of this strategic push.

    “Milestone Systems is evolving with the current needs of the security market. Apart from XProtect, their cloud offering VSaaS-Arcules, Video Analytics software-BriefCam and now the new AI Data platform, Project Hafnia, forms an integral part of the solution stack – a game changer in AI model training for computer vision developers,” said Girish. “My focus will be on collaborating with our partners and delivering unmatched and innovative new security solution use cases for expanding enterprises like manufacturing GCC and infrastructure projects among others.”

    She added that India’s complexity as a market makes it “interesting and challenging,” and noted the opportunity for enterprise customers to unlock the full potential of Milestone’s diverse product lineup.

    Prior to this role, Girish served as sales director & country head for Oracle’s Application Unlimited line of business, where she led strategic sales and delivered substantial growth across regions.

    Her appointment, Milestone stated, is aimed at deepening its presence in the APAC market, advancing cloud and AI-powered security deployments, and driving long-term partner-led expansion in India.

  • India TV tunes into Roy wave to boost outreach and storytelling

    India TV tunes into Roy wave to boost outreach and storytelling

    MUMBAI: India TV has turned up the volume on its brand playbook with the appointment of Mohit Roy Sharma as head, communications & outreach, a move that signals the news network’s intent to strike a sharper chord with audiences across platforms.

    Known for orchestrating some of India’s biggest media IPs, Sharma isn’t just stepping into a new role, he’s bringing nearly three decades of storytelling, strategy and stagecraft with him. From Agenda Aaj Tak to Ideas of India, his portfolio reads like a greatest hits album of Indian news media events.

    In his new gig, Sharma will be instrumental in shaping India TV’s voice as it navigates a rapidly evolving newsscape. The goal? Smarter engagement, stronger visibility, and campaigns that cut through the clutter without losing the signal.

    Previously senior executive editor and head of corporate communications at ABP Network, Sharma spearheaded initiatives that blended editorial gravitas with brand muscle. His tenure saw the rise of marquee properties like The Southern Rising and Roots & Rhythms, earning him a reputation for insight-driven innovation.

    Commenting on the appointment India TV managing director Ritu Dhawan said “We are delighted to onboard Mohit Roy Sharma to the India TV leadership team at a time when the media landscape is undergoing rapid transformation. His well-versed experience in strategic communications & brand outreach, brings immense value to the group. His ability to align communication strategies to create brand visibility through his media relation will strengthen our positioning and will play an essential role in enhancing our presence and relevance across platforms.

    With this move, India TV isn’t just adding a new voice, it’s remixing its outreach game with a seasoned hand on the console.

  • Nitin Bhatnagar rises to VP – programmatic ad ops at Sony Pictures Networks

    Nitin Bhatnagar rises to VP – programmatic ad ops at Sony Pictures Networks

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has dialled up its programmatic firepower with the elevation of Nitin Bhatnagar as vice president – programmatic advertising & digital advertising operations. The move solidifies SPNI’s commitment to sharpening its data-driven advertising game across OTT and digital platforms.

    With over 15 years under his belt, Bhatnagar is no stranger to the fast-changing digital ad terrain. Having joined Sony in 2021, he steadily climbed the ranks—from handling programmatic ops to now helming the entire digital ad stack, including video, analytics, and monetisation models.

    Prior to Sony, he spent six action-packed years at NDTV Digital, managing ad ops and client servicing. His resume reads like a guided tour through India’s digital media evolution—with stints at BBC Worldwide, Sizmek, Starcom, and Aidem Ventures for Microsoft Online Advertising.

    From launching BBC campaigns across APAC to running MSN’s trafficking team pan-India, Bhatnagar’s worked across everything from banner ads to BTL activations, Wap to programmatic pipes, with a sharp eye for optimisation and delivery.

    His style? Quietly methodical. His rep? A fixer who knows his SSPs from his DMPs and can troubleshoot like a pro.

  • John Thangaraj joins Dentsu India as CSO for creative and media

    John Thangaraj joins Dentsu India as CSO for creative and media

    MUMBAI: Dentsu India has snapped up one of the industry’s sharpest minds. John Thangaraj, the veteran planner and brand whisperer, has been appointed as chief strategy officer – creative & media, marking a bold move in the agency’s push for tighter integration across its verticals.

    The appointment, effective May 2025, sees Thangaraj bring two decades of battle-tested experience across advertising, media, consumer research and brand building to the Japanese holding group’s India operations. He moves from Havas India, where he served as CSO for a year.

    Dentsu’s gain is no small scalp. Prior to Havas, Thangaraj was the group CSO at FCB group India, steering strategy across multiple marquee clients, and also held senior roles at Mindshare, MullenLowe Lintas group, Rediffusion Y&R and adidas.

    Known for mixing consumer insight with street-smart cultural acumen, Thangaraj has worked on everything from fizzy drinks (Pepsi) to luxe kicks (adidas originals), search portals (Shine.com) to search-for-meaning campaigns (HT’s “It Is Time”). His career boasts a few Bronze Effies, a cult GSK ‘Innovation Lab,’ and even a side hustle decoding the super affluent Indian for LG.

    Now based in Gurugram, the strategy maven is expected to turbocharge Dentsu’s “one brand” promise with unified thinking that aligns creative sparks with media muscle.

    For an industry constantly torn between the mad men and the math men, Thangaraj’s appointment might just be the best of both worlds.

  • Driving Ad-Vantage, Adcounty and Auto Group shift gears in Asia

    Driving Ad-Vantage, Adcounty and Auto Group shift gears in Asia

    MUMBAI: It’s not every day that adtech and the auto world go full throttle together but this partnership is clearly built for speed. Adcounty Media has teamed up with The Automobile Group in a high-octane alliance aimed at turbocharging automotive advertising across Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

    Targeting high-growth markets like Indonesia, the Philippines, and the UAE, the duo is set to bring a digital pitstop to brands chasing performance-first strategies. Armed with AI-assisted precision and a keen understanding of local market dynamics, they’re not just selling ads they’re rewriting the playbook for how car brands reach revved-up digital consumers.

    “This partnership underscores our commitment to delivering hyper-targeted, brand-safe, and performance-driven solutions specifically designed for the modern automotive consumer,” said Adcounty Media co-founder & chief revenue officer Delphin Varghese.

    The Automobile Group co-founder Yash Vardhan added, “Our vision with The Automobile Group is to build Asia’s most powerful auto-centric performance network. The partnership with AdCounty is a strategic step toward expanding our footprint in Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia and the Philippines markets with immense potential.”

    “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Adcounty, whose expertise and reach will be instrumental in scaling our delivery capabilities in new markets. Together, we aim to redefine how automotive brands connect with their audiences in this region,” said The Automobile Group co-founder, Shwetank Pandit.

    The blueprint? A blend of AdCounty’s programmatic prowess DSPs, contextual targeting, and real-time optimisation with The Automobile Group’s deep-rooted auto domain know-how. Together, they plan to dominate dashboards in high-intent markets where digital media spend is shifting into the fast lane.

    From luxury-obsessed Gulf buyers to EV-curious Southeast Asians, the collaboration promises campaigns that speak the local lingo, respect brand safety lanes, and keep performance metrics in pole position. And as more brands drift toward platforms like Meta, Tiktok and CTV to fuel test drives and showroom visits, this partnership might just be the engine that powers the next era of automotive marketing.

    If digital disruption had a fast car, this duo would be behind the wheel.

  • Rajinikanth checks in to lead sales at Hyatt Regency Dehradun

    Rajinikanth checks in to lead sales at Hyatt Regency Dehradun

    MUMBAI: Dehradun’s getting a new kind of star power this time, in a sharply tailored suit. Hyatt Regency Dehradun Resort and Spa has roped in Rajinikanth Ramadass as its new director of sales & marketing, and he’s bringing nearly 15 years of luxury hospitality muscle to the Himalayan hideaway.

    Fresh off stints at Grand Hyatt Goa and Park Hyatt Chennai, Rajinikanth arrives with a game plan that blends five-star finesse with foot-on-the-ground market savvy. His mission? Turn the serene resort into the crown jewel of destination weddings and the go-to for high-flying corporate retreats.

    With the line between leisure and business now more blurred than a monsoon view, he’s crafting immersive packages that pair boardrooms with birdcalls and mandaps with mountain air. Think luxury meets logistics, with a generous helping of Dehradun’s postcard-perfect charm.

    But this isn’t just about pretty views and Pinterest weddings. Rajinikanth’s strategy hinges on data-led decisions, swish brand collaborations, and digital campaigns designed to lure bookings straight from the source, no middleman, no fuss.

    “I am honored to join Hyatt Regency Dehradun Resort and Spa as director of sales & marketing. This exceptional resort stands at the crossroads of luxury and nature, offering unparalleled experiences for leisure travelers, corporate guests, and wedding celebrations. My goal is to build on the resort’s strong foundation and drive strategic growth through innovative sales and marketing initiatives. I look forward to working with a dynamic team and elevating the guest experience to new heights,” mentioned Rajinikanth Ramadass.

    As Dehradun climbs the charts of India’s luxury map, Rajinikanth’s appointment signals Hyatt’s intent to not just ride the wave but to script the next chapter in Himalayan hospitality.

  • Double feature as IN10 rewrites credits for key content and ops leads

    Double feature as IN10 rewrites credits for key content and ops leads

    MUMBAI: Two’s company, but IN10 Media Network is making it a power duo. In a move straight out of a well-scripted plot twist, the network has handed expanded mandates to two of its leading men Samar Khan and Sourjya Mohanty across its digital platforms Docubay and Epic On.

    Khan, best known for helming Juggernaut Productions, will now don the hat of chief content officer for both platforms. His new gig sees him leading the content charge, shaping the creative direction, and fine-tuning the storytelling voices of the documentary-led DocuBay and the fiction-forward Epic On. Call it a genre-spanning role with a tight narrative brief.

    On the operations front, Mohanty, already the COO at Epic On, will now extend his oversight to Docubay as well becoming the double-barrelled COO tasked with keeping the business engine running smoothly across both arms of the network.

    Speaking on the leadership elevation, IN10 Media Network managing director Aditya Pittie said, “Samar and Sourjya’s expanded roles reflect the confidence we have in their leadership and vision. In today’s rapidly evolving ecosystem, success lies at the intersection of strong content and sound strategy. At IN10 Media Network, we are committed to building a future-ready digital content business, one that is driven as the premium destination of documentaries and other is for the fictional storytelling excellence. This leadership realignment is a key step in advancing that mission and solidifying our position in the digital media landscape.”

    The twin elevation is part of IN10’s broader vision to create a more seamless and strategic content ecosystem. By syncing operations and storytelling, the media group hopes to strengthen both platforms’ positioning as go-to destinations for bold, relevant, and globally resonant content.

  • Saugata Gupta stays at the crease as Marico extends CEO term to 2028

    Saugata Gupta stays at the crease as Marico extends CEO term to 2028

     MUMBAI: Still calling the shots, and how. Saugata Gupta is set for another two-year season at the helm of Marico Limited, with the FMCG major’s board approving his reappointment as managing director and CEO till March 2028.

    Having joined the company back in 2004 as head of marketing, Gupta’s rise has been nothing short of a masterclass in brand leadership. From captaining the India business in 2007 to taking the reins as CEO in 2013 and MD in 2014, he’s led the Parachute-to-Set Wet empire through market winds with a steady hand and sharp instincts.

    The boardroom decision, made on 2 May 2025, and filed with the stock exchanges the same day, means Gupta will notch up nearly 14 years as MD & CEO by the end of this renewed term, an impressive feat in an industry known for its churn.

    Outside of Marico, Gupta also wears several advisory hats, serving as an independent director on the boards of Delhivery, Ashok Leyland, and formerly JSW Paints. His career before Marico included stints with ICICI Prudential and Mondelēz, lending him a marketing pedigree as rich as the brands he’s built.

    With this extension, Marico’s leadership continuity seems sealed and set, as Gupta continues to script the brand’s next chapter in a fast-evolving consumer landscape.