ITV

Category: Media and Advertising

  • Icubeswire launches hyperlocal influencer feature to map India’s 19,000 pin codes

    Icubeswire launches hyperlocal influencer feature to map India’s 19,000 pin codes

    MUMBAI: If the future of marketing is personal, Icubeswire just took it hyperlocal. The Global Martech firm has unveiled a first-of-its-kind pin code–level targeting feature on its influencer marketing platform, opening up precision mapping across 19,000 Indian zip codes.

    The launch marks a major leap in influencer engagement, enabling brands to locate and partner with digital creators based on granular geography—from Mumbai’s buzzing streets to Tamil Nadu’s quiet towns. Armed with over one million influencers mapped across the country, Icubeswire aims to redefine how brands speak to India’s cultural and regional diversity.

    Co-founder & CEO Sahil Chopra said, “Just like Unilever’s CEO Fernando Fernandez highlighted, there is now a strong push to collaborate with influencers across all of India’s 19,000 zip codes. That level of precision demands tools that are not only intelligent but deeply local. And that’s exactly what our team here at Icubeswire is delivering.”

    The company’s consumer insights back the move—65 per cent of Indians prefer influencers who speak their language. With regional creators rising and demand for cultural authenticity growing, Icubeswire’s tool offers a strategic edge in content localisation.

    This tech update not only empowers brands to go hyper-personal with campaigns, it also amplifies the visibility and monetisation potential for micro and nano influencers—those who know their communities best.

    The platform already offers campaign tracking, analytics, and influencer management. The new localisation layer adds teeth to its ecosystem, letting marketers build community-driven narratives rather than one-size-fits-all posts.

    As India’s influencer economy continues to swell, this feature could shift the narrative from mass appeal to micro-impact—one pin code at a time.

  • Zone Media brings on Sahil Bisht as global sales director to turbocharge global sales and scale new market frontiers

    Zone Media brings on Sahil Bisht as global sales director to turbocharge global sales and scale new market frontiers

    MUMBAI: Zone Media has put a new engine in its global growth machine. The adtech and media solutions firm appointed Sahil Bisht as its global sales director, signalling a bold move to supercharge sales across continents.

    Bisht steps into the role with over 12 years of experience that spans aviation, media, and performance marketing. With stints at Lufthansa Airlines, Genpact India, Business Standard, Admitad India, and KIT Global, he brings a toolkit of cross-industry know-how and a reputation for building scalable, results-driven sales ecosystems.

    “From the moment we met Sahil, it was clear he brings more than just experience. He brings vision, integrity, and an intuitive grasp of what it takes to build lasting partnerships in a dynamic global landscape,” said Zone Media co-founder Sumit Gupta.

    Zone Media’s expansion blueprint includes pushing deeper into India, southeast Asia, the GCC/MENA region, Latin America, and Europe. Bisht will lead the charge, overseeing performance strategy, new market penetration, and relationship-building in established regions.

    “Joining Zone Media at such a pivotal moment is truly exciting. My role isn’t just about leading sales; it’s about contributing to something lasting,” said Bisht. “What excites me most is the opportunity to unite people, performance, and purpose on a global scale.”

    As the digital advertising ecosystem grows ever more competitive, Zone Media is betting on leadership with both vision and versatility. With Bisht at the helm, the company aims to cement its presence in the global adtech arena.

  • Trilegal brings in finance ace Giya Diwaan to turbocharge its growth game

    Trilegal brings in finance ace Giya Diwaan to turbocharge its growth game

    MUMBAI: Trilegal has made a sharp legal move—but in finance. The firm announced the appointment of Giya Diwaan as chief financial officer, handing her the reins of its financial strategy during a time of expansion and digital disruption.

    Known for her financial finesse and track record in transformation, Diwaan steps into her new role with over 20 years of experience across M&A, IPOs, fundraising, and global expansion. Most recently, she served as CFO at Dreamfolks, India’s largest travel and lifestyle services aggregator listed on both NSE and BSE.

    “We are delighted to welcome Giya to Trilegal. Her multidisciplinary experience and deep understanding of business strategy, financial systems, and regulatory compliance will be invaluable as we continue to scale and innovate,” said Trilegal partners & management committee members Sridhar Gorthi and Nishant Parikh.

    Diwaan’s resume reads like a who’s who of corporate India: leadership roles at Ebixcash, Times Internet, PwC, Moody’s, RGP, and Musafir.com. She has led key initiatives spanning digital transformation, capital structuring, and international market entry.

    A chartered accountant since 2001 and an alumna of IIM Lucknow’s strategic management programme (2020–21), Diwaan brings academic rigour to her boardroom edge.

    “Joining Trilegal presents an incredible opportunity to help shape the future of a law firm already known for its excellence. I’m excited to build a growth strategy that supports scalable progress and empowers the firm to adapt, lead, and thrive in an evolving legal landscape in an exciting era,” Diwaan said.

    Her appointment signals a deeper push by Trilegal to integrate financial strategy with legal operations—an increasingly essential alignment as the firm eyes sustainable growth amid shifting regulatory terrain.

  • Wit & Chai stirs up a creative storm, ropes in Saurabh S as chief creative head

    Wit & Chai stirs up a creative storm, ropes in Saurabh S as chief creative head

    MUMBAI:  Wit & Chai Group, the funky creative agency known for culture-fuelled campaigns, has brewed a strong cuppa by appointing Saurabh S as its chief creative head. With a rollicking two-decade run across big-name agencies and brands, Saurabh steps in to lead the creative charge—and shake things up.

    Having done the rounds at FCB, Saatchi & Saatchi, DDB, Publicis and even Redder Vietnam, Saurabh  isn’t just another adland veteran. He’s the brain behind award-winning ideas for Volkswagen, MTV, Chupa Chups, Set Max and Virgin Mobile. Add stints at House of Anita Dongre and Nykaa, and you get a CV that blends sizzle with serious strategy.

    Saurabh’s remit at Wit & Chai? 
     

    To dream big, lead louder, and build a culture where risky ideas meet razor-sharp storytelling. He’ll work hand-in-hand with strategy and brand leads to ensure the creative spark translates into business firepower. From nurturing young guns to rolling out integrated campaigns, he’s set to steer the shop’s next big act.

    “As a chief creative head, I see Wit & Chai Group as more than just an agency—it’s a sandbox for fearless thinkers,” says Saurabh. “My vision is to turn up the volume on ideas that are disruptive yet deeply human. We’re building brands that resonate in the real world—work that gets people talking, sharing, and remembering.”

    The man isn’t afraid to take risks either—his creative playbook leans into experimentation, youth insights, and cultural resonance, all while keeping one eye on impact and scale. It’s a move that signals the agency’s intent to stay fresh, edgy, and unmistakably relevant.

    Wit & Chai group co-founder & partner Nihar Kolapkar  shared: “Saurabh’s track record of creative leadership and disruptive storytelling brings incredible value to our team. His ability to merge bold creativity with strategic clarity is exactly what we need to push the boundaries of what we deliver for our clients. We’re excited to see him shape a new era of work at Wit & Chai Group.”

    With Saurabh  now in the mix, Wit & Chai Group looks set to dial up the drama, crank the creativity, and cement its spot as a go-to name for bold, business-savvy storytelling.

  • Colgate’s crown jewel Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi heads to Amazon

    Colgate’s crown jewel Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi heads to Amazon

    MUMBAI: She’s brushed up brand campaigns for over a decade  and a half— now she’s scrubbing into a new gig. After a sparkling 16-year stint at Colgate-Palmolive (she resigned in mid-2024), Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi has moved on to lead Amazon India’s advertising marketing and creative solutions  as head of Amazon India Ads Marketing.

    The Mumbai-based marketing powerhouse, long synonymous with Colgate’s integrated brand experiences, joined Amazon in April 2025. At the ecommerce behemoth, she will helm creative and marketing solutions for its burgeoning ads business — a space heating up as retail media becomes the new battleground for digital dollars.

    At Colgate, Gandhi led from the front as director – integrated brand experience, overseeing everything from media strategy to e-commerce marketing. She commanded advertising spends north of Rs 500 crore annually, driving digital transformation and performance metrics across social, search, video, and influencer platforms. Her remit spanned digital content, shopper campaigns, data strategy and even building a first-party data ecosystem — all of which align seamlessly with Amazon’s ad-tech ambitions.

    Before Colgate, she sharpened her skills at top media shops like Madison, Carat, Starcom, and Enterprise Nexus. Across more than two decades in the trenches, Gandhi’s been a steady force behind brand communication, media efficiency and digital innovation.

    Now, with Amazon turning up the heat in the Indian advertising market, all eyes will be on how Gandhi retools the e-retailer’s pitch to brands and buyers alike — from toothbrushes to tech.

  • Infectious Advertising hires ex-filmmaker Siddharth Kumar as creative director

    Infectious Advertising hires ex-filmmaker Siddharth Kumar as creative director

    MUMBAI: Siddharth Kumar has returned to the ad world—this time with a few reels under his belt and a mission to shake up creative norms. Infectious Advertising has appointed him as its new creative director, adding a splash of film-school flair to its creative stable.

    The Mumbai-based agency announced the appointment on 23 April 2025. Kumar, who briefly swapped ad scripts for screenplays, wrote, directed, and produced four short films that continue to play the global festival circuit.

    But his roots run deep in the agency world. With over 15 years of experience across marquee firms like Ogilvy, McCann, Leo Burnett, VML, and Publicis, Kumar has helped craft campaigns for household names such as Coca-Cola, Unilever, Vodafone, SBI, Airtel, Nestlé, and Mastercard.

    “My goal is to help build a culture where storytelling thrives. I believe my role is to push the envelope, stir things up, and encourage new kinds of madness,” said Kumar.

    Infectious creative chairman & co-founder Ramanuj Shastry had high praise, “Sid has impressed me in the short time that I have known him. He is a solid writer and great human being. I wish him a great innings at Infectious.”

    creative chairman & co-founder Ramanuj Shastry; CCO Akshay Kapnadak

    CCO Akshay Kapnadak echoed the sentiment, “Siddharth is passionate about storytelling, curious about people, enthusiastic about the business and has a great work ethic. I’m looking forward to see what we all can build together.”

    With this move, Infectious seems keen to turn up the creative voltage, bringing together script sensibilities, ad world grit, and a fresh approach to narrative-led campaigns.

  • Miq names Varun Mohan as chief commercial officer to supercharge India’s programmatic play

    Miq names Varun Mohan as chief commercial officer to supercharge India’s programmatic play

    MUMBAI: From crunching numbers to cracking markets, Varun Mohan is now calling the commercial shots at Miq India. The programmatic media powerhouse promoted Mohan to chief commercial officer (CCO) for India, marking a bold step to consolidate its position in the country’s red-hot digital ad space.

    Mohan has spent the last five years as head of growth & revenue, steering Miq through rapid growth phases with a blend of data muscle and business instinct. Under his leadership, Miq India became a magnet for high-performance campaigns and was lauded for industry-first innovations. In 2024, he was named one of India’s Top 35 Growth Visionaries by Indian StartupTimes.

    Now as CCO, Mohan will lead all commercial operations in India, focusing on revenue acceleration, strategic partnerships, and assembling a next-gen programmatic talent pool.

    “Miq has seen exceptional growth in India in recent years, which is one of the most dynamic and fastest-evolving programmatic markets globally,” said Miq co-founder Lee Puri. “Varun has been an instrumental part of driving and leading this growth, and his elevation to CCO is both a recognition of past success and a strategic investment in Miq’s future. Varun’s unmatched leadership abilities, combined with his understanding of Miq’s proprietary technology and deep market insights in the Indian digital marketing ecosystem have transformed how our partner brands and agencies harness the power of programmatic. As we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, we expect Varun to lead the India team to greater success, further cementing our relationships with partners and strengthening Miq’s position as the clear leader in the Indian market.”

    Mohan’s appointment lands at a key inflection point in Indian advertising. Connected TV (CTV) viewership is surging and platforms like Youtube are rewriting performance marketing playbooks—territory where Miq’s CTV capabilities are already making waves.

    “India’s digital advertising landscape is at a critical inflection point, with programmatic adoption accelerating,” said Mohan. “Brands are no longer asking why programmatic, but instead want to know how fast we can scale it. What makes Miq truly differentiated is our ability to blend smart technology with local intelligence. I’m excited to lead our extraordinary team as we pioneer new innovations tailored for India’s diverse audiences and help our clients capitalise on emerging opportunities.”

    Mohan now leads the charge on Miq’s strategic investments in tech, talent, and partnerships. As the adtech race heats up, Miq is banking on Mohan’s playbook to keep them ahead of the curve.

  • Mumbai Indians bring cricketing giants to life at T2 with Arthat Studio’s sculptural tribute

    Mumbai Indians bring cricketing giants to life at T2 with Arthat Studio’s sculptural tribute

    MUMBAI: Cricket and creativity collided at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport this week, as Mumbai Indians unveiled towering 12-foot statues of their star players-Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Surya Kumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah-crafted by Arthat Studio LLP. Installed at the arrival terminal (T2), these lifelike sculptures now welcome travellers to Mumbai with an unmistakable display of sporting pride.

    The installation is part of the franchise’s ongoing #PlayLikeMumbai campaign and marks a striking fusion of public art and fandom. More than just decor, the project positions cricket icons as cultural landmarks-statues not of bronze, but of devotion.

    Arthat Studio has gone beyond surface likeness, sculpting the soul of each athlete: Rohit’s calm authority, Hardik’s aggressive energy, SKY’s creative flourish, and Bumrah’s razor-sharp focus. The realism is uncanny; fans can almost hear the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd.

    “This initiative is a vibrant extension of Mumbai Indians’ ongoing #PlayLikeMumbai campaign, underscoring their commitment to inspiring new generations through the dedication and achievements of their iconic players,” the franchise shared.

    For fans and visitors, these colossal forms deliver more than a photo op—they offer proximity to heroes who symbolise the spirit of Mumbai. The installation transforms the airport terminal into a canvas of celebration, reflecting the city’s deep cricketing pulse.

     

  • Livguard appoints Sameer Nagpal as MD & CEO to power up its next phase of clean energy growth

    Livguard appoints Sameer Nagpal as MD & CEO to power up its next phase of clean energy growth

    MUMBAI: Livguard just hit the power button on a bold new chapter. The energy storage and solar solutions brand under the SAR Group announced the appointment of Sameer Nagpal as its new MD & CEO on 23 April 2025.

    Nagpal, a seasoned business leader with more than 30 years of cross-industry experience, is expected to supercharge Livguard’s growth in the renewable energy sector—a space that’s heating up with India’s push for sustainability and self-reliance.

    Before plugging into Livguard, Nagpal led transformation and growth across firms like Dalmia Bharat, Shalimar Paints, Trane Technologies, Zicom Electronic Security Systems and Carrier Corporation. His CV reads like a blueprint for business turnarounds, and his knack for profit-first strategies and team-led growth makes him well-suited to scale a brand navigating India’s evolving energy landscape.

    “I am excited to join this dynamic and forward-thinking company at a time when the energy industry is undergoing a fundamental shift… My vision for the future of energy solutions is rooted in Livguard’s core values of innovation, reliability, and customer-centricity,” said Nagpal.

    SAR Group founder Rakesh Malhotra added, “Sameer’s exceptional leadership and proven ability to drive transformative growth align perfectly with our vision… His experience and strategic mindset make him an ideal fit to lead Livguard into its next phase of growth.”

    With India’s energy ambitions accelerating, particularly in solar power and lithium-ion storage, Livguard is positioning itself as a front-runner. Under Nagpal’s watch, the company aims to scale across residential, commercial and industrial segments, delivering smart energy solutions without burning out customer wallets.

  • Lenexis Foodworks appoints Milind Mhatre as IT head to spice up tech for pan-India expansion

    Lenexis Foodworks appoints Milind Mhatre as IT head to spice up tech for pan-India expansion

    MUMBAI: India’s QSR scene just got an upgrade. The fast-rising homegrown player in India’s quick service restaurant market, Lenexis Foodworks has brought in seasoned tech boss Milind Yashwant Mhatre to run point on its IT game plan. Appointed as business head of IT, Mhatre joins at a time when the company is cooking up serious expansion plans across metros and emerging cities.

    With over 19 years of experience in IT ops, Mhatre knows his way around everything from SAP S/4HANA rollouts to ERP and POS system overhauls. He’s handled both in-house tech and outsourced projects, led large teams, and built the kind of resilient infrastructure you want behind a growing food chain with national ambition.

    This appointment isn’t just about tech—it’s about scale, speed, and smarts.

    “We are at a pivotal stage of growth and our ability to scale responsibly depends on the strength of our leadership. Milind brings a blend of domain expertise, strategic thinking, and executional agility that aligns perfectly with our ambitions. We are building not just a QSR company, but a high-impact organisation driven by talent and purpose,” said Lenexis Foodworks founder & director Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal.

    Mhatre will also oversee technology operations at Inspira Global, bolstering the digital backbone of the Lenexis ecosystem. His entry reflects the company’s deeper push into operational efficiency and customer-centric innovation, with tech as the enabler.

    As Lenexis moves into its next phase, it isn’t just flipping burgers—it’s flipping the script on what modern Indian QSRs can achieve with the right tech leadership.