ITV

Category: Media and Advertising

  • Routematic steers towards growth with new people and culture chief

    Routematic steers towards growth with new people and culture chief

    MUMBAI: Routematic, have recruited Chidananda Murthy as their new vice president of people and culture. Murthy, a seasoned HR veteran, is tasked with transforming Routematic’s people strategy.

    Murthy’s background spans major firms – Walmart, Nokia, and others. He’s experienced in all aspects of HR, aiming for a less stressful workplace.

    Routematic co-founder and executive director Kavitha Ramachandragowda is clearly chuffed with the appointment. “Murthy’s expertise is like a shot of adrenaline for our growth,” she says. “He’ll ensure we attract the best and brightest, and keep them happy.”

    Murthy’s mission is to cultivate a culture of innovation and inclusivity. “Routematic’s at a pivotal point,” Murthy enthuses. “We’re not just moving people; we’re moving mountains.”

    Routematic, with its recent Hyderabad expansion and EV integration, is clearly on a roll. “We’re aiming for a workplace that doesn’t just tick boxes, but ignites passions,” Murthy concludes. “And hopefully, avoids any HR-related road rage.”

  • Tinder swipes right on quirky love in new Asian campaign

    Tinder swipes right on quirky love in new Asian campaign

    MUMBAI: Tinder is shaking up the Asian dating scene with its new campaign, “Dating, your way,” a saucy celebration of modern romance’s glorious messiness. Tinder’s serving up tales of turtle-tossing exes, chilly-day cola connoisseurs, and olive-obsessed odd couples.

    The campaign, rolling out across digital, social, and real-world shenanigans, features three short films in India, each a cheeky nod to the realities of contemporary dating. “We know young women in Asia want to call the shots in their love lives,” says Tinder VP APAC marketing Daniel Kim “and we’re here to give them the stage.”

    “Move On” tackles the thorny issue of breakups, with a woman liberating herself from a past relationship, one turtle at a time. Tinder’s data claims a new relationship blossoms every three seconds on its platform, and a recent Onepoll survey suggests 57 per cent of young Indian adults have found meaningful connections through dating apps.

    “Double the Chill” celebrates the joy of finding someone who shares your weirdest habits, like necking ice-cold drinks in a blizzard. Tinder’s stats reveal 89 per cent of young Indian singles prioritise shared interests, and 94 per cent won’t budge on the food front.

    Finally, “Love and Hate” dives into the delightful chaos of opposites attracting, proving that even olive-related squabbles can’t kill a spark. A sizeable 65 per cent of young Indian singles are open to unexpected connections, proving that even a pineapple-on-pizza debate, wont stop true love.

    “Whether you’re after a fling or a forever thing, Tinder’s the playground,” quips Kim. “We’re matching the misfits, the oddballs, and everyone in between.”

  • Spykar ditches dosh, dishes out denim for ‘Eidi that always stays with you’

    Spykar ditches dosh, dishes out denim for ‘Eidi that always stays with you’

    MUMBAI: Spykar, is urging a denim revolution this Eid. It’s campaign, “Eidi that always stays with you,” flips the bird to fleeting cash gifts, pushing for presents that pack a punch and last a lifetime.

    “Eid’s about love, innit? Why not gift something that doesn’t just disappear down the pub?” muses a Spykar spokesperson, clearly fed up with the usual monetary malarkey.

    To spearhead this sartorial shake-up, they’ve roped in digital darling Faisal Shaikh, aka Faisu. He’s ditching the dosh and embracing denim, showcasing how a decent pair of jeans outlasts any crumpled note. Faisu’s Instagram is now a denim-drenched delight, showcasing the campaign’s message.

    “We’re talking gifts with guts,” says Spykar CEO Sanjay Vakharia. “Like a good pair of jeans, relationships get better with age. Our denim’s built to last, just like your best mate’s banter.”

    Spykar’s campaign is a cheeky nudge to rethink Eid gifting. Forget the quick quid; invest in something that ages like fine wine, or at least a decent pair of selvedge. This Eid, Spykar is saying: “Give ’em denim, not dross.”

  • Today Group bets big on ‘Happiness Month’ to build brand IP

    Today Group bets big on ‘Happiness Month’ to build brand IP

    MUMBAI: Today group has launched its ‘Happiness Month’, not just a promotional wheeze, but a full-blown attempt to forge a brand IP, it claims. Think of it as a strategic play, a bit like a well-timed shot, designed to lock in customer loyalty and make channel partners feel good. It’s aiming for a ‘Happiness First’ mantra.

    March, that crucial sales window, sees Today Group showering potential customers  with gifts that would make a sultan blush. We’re talking whitegoods, gold coins (always a winner), motorbikes, the obligatory luxury cars, and, for the truly lucky few, international holidays. It’s less a sales drive, more a full-on giveaway.

    But it’s not all about the buyers. The troops – read: employees – are getting a look-in too. Awards, incentives, and ‘happiness letters’ to the families – a touch of the sentimental, perhaps, but effective. The company has even thrown in a Women’s Day movie screening (one hopes the popcorn was top-notch) and a sports day to get everyone’s competitive juices flowing. Staff are encouraged to share their ‘happy moments,’ which could be a delightful exercise in team building, or a cunning way to harvest content for their social media.

    Bhavesh Shah, joint managing director, insists they’re transforming homebuying from a “mere transaction” into a “joyful milestone.” Quite right. No one wants a dreary house purchase; they want a ruddy good show.

    The campaign’s visibility is being cranked up with out-of-home ads, print splashes, and radio bombardment. Today group is aiming for a “memorable home-buying experience,” which, in marketing speak, means “spend your hard-earned cash here, and we’ll make you feel like a million quid.” And in this cut-throat market, a bit of theatricality is hardly a crime.

  • Former Ogilvy client servicing leader Harish Shetty buzzes into Buzzlab

    Former Ogilvy client servicing leader Harish Shetty buzzes into Buzzlab

    MUMBAI: In a delicious corporate pirouette, Harish Shetty—the ad world’s strategic virtuoso—has landed at Buzzlab, Asia’s content-led growth consulting firm, as client services director.

    Shedding his Ogilvy stripes after a 12-year advertising odyssey, Shetty arrives with a portfolio that reads like a who’s who of marketing mavens. His corporate catwalk includes strutting through L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, Famous Innovations, and MullenLowe Lintas Group.

    “I didn’t choose advertising—advertising chose me,” Shetty quipped, channeling equal parts swagger and self-deprecation. “Somewhere along the way, I found my passion for data-driven marketing, and that’s been the driving force behind everything I do. The real thrill comes from seeing how ideas translate into measurable impact. What’s even more exciting is how today’s young agencies are redefining the space—bringing bold, creative thinking backed by real numbers. Brands, too, are evolving; they’re no longer just advertisers, they’re speaking the language of creators—engaging, storytelling, and building communities rather than just selling. And that’s exactly what excites me about Buzzlab. It’s a place where creativity meets strategy, where big ideas don’t just stay ideas—they turn into measurable outcomes. I feel genuinely energised by this shift in the creative and media landscape, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place than Buzzlab to be part of this shift.”

    Buzzlab’s founder &  CEO  Sindhu Biswal  sees Shetty as a disruptive force. “He wants to unlearn everything, challenge playbooks,” he  said — music to the ears of an agency positioning itself as the rebel child of traditional advertising.

    Co-founder Sushant Sadamate hints at Shetty’s real value: not just strategising, but getting his hands dirty. “He’ll inspire clients while delivering standout campaigns,”  Sadamate promised—a bold declaration in an industry often more sizzle than steak.

    For Buzzlab, Shetty represents more than a hire. He’s a statement: creativity must now speak the language of data, community, and measurable impact.

  • BBDO India sweeps ADFEST 2025, loads up on awards for Ariel campaign

    BBDO India sweeps ADFEST 2025, loads up on awards for Ariel campaign

    MUMBAI: BBDO India has added another feather to its creative cap, emerging as the most awarded Indian agency at ADFEST 2025 in Pattaya, Thailand. With a spectacular haul including a prestigious Grande (Grand Prix), two Golds, two Silvers, and five Bronze awards the agency cemented its dominance on the international stage. To top it all off, BBDO India was crowned South Asia Agency of the Year, a testament to its creative prowess.

    The agency’s standout moment came with its impactful ‘Home Teams ShareTheLoad” campaign for P&G Ariel, which clinched the Grande in the Effective Lotus category and a gold in Creative Strategy Lotus for its long-term impact. The campaign also secured two silvers in Creative Strategy and Effective Lotus, along with five Bronze awards across categories such as Film Lotus (Online Film), Sustainable Lotus (Gender Equality), Creative Strategy (Data & Audience Insight), PR Lotus (Integrated Campaign), and Media Lotus (Guerrilla Marketing).

    Adding to its winning streak, BBDO India also bagged a Gold in the Film Craft Lotus category for Whatsapp’s Oye Lucky, recognised for Best Use of Adapted Music.

    Reacting to the wins, BBDO India chairperson and chief creative officer Josy Paul, said, “Being named South Asia Agency of the Year is massive! We’re grateful to the jury for recognising our work for P&G Ariel and Meta’s Whatsapp. These campaigns are all about impact and influence, in line with our global mantra: Do Big Things. This win was only possible thanks to incredible teamwork and the trust of our client partners.”

    With its bold storytelling and strategic brilliance, BBDO India has once again set a high benchmark, proving that creativity with purpose doesn’t just make waves, it cleans up at the awards too.
     

  • Nusummit secures Jayaraman to boost global expansion

    Nusummit secures Jayaraman to boost global expansion

    MUMBAI: Nusummit, has announced the appointment of Srinivasan Jayaraman as its chief strategy & growth officer. Srini will collaborate with the senior management team to develop Nusummit’s growth strategy, aiming to expand its global market presence and solidify its position as a trusted partner for financial institutions navigating technological change.

    Jayaraman brings 25 years of experience in scaling technology consulting and services businesses, focusing on aligning organisational growth with market opportunities. His expertise encompasses refining go-to-market strategies, accelerating revenue streams, and fostering innovation across various sectors. Prior to Nusummit, at Apexon he served as chief revenue officer, a Goldman Sachs portfolio company, overseeing global revenue strategy and profitability. He has also held senior roles at Orion Innovation, Virtusa, Tech Mahindra, and HCL, driving digital transformation programs and client-focused business models.

    Nusummit managing director & group CEO Anantharaman Sreenivasan stated, “Jayaraman’s proven ability to drive strategic growth and build high-performing teams will be instrumental in driving momentum in our growth markets. He brings a unique blend of operational excellence, market insights, and progressive vision that will significantly enhance our ability to empower clients.”

    Jayaraman emphasised his decision to join Nusummit, saying, “Financial institutions are at a critical inflection point juggling the need for operational resilience, regulatory compliance, and AI-driven innovation while mitigating rising cybersecurity threats. Nusummit’s unique ability to blend deep technical expertise with industry-specific insights positions it as a game-changer in this space. I’m excited to contribute to our next phase of growth by strengthening client partnerships, harnessing AI to enhance security and productivity, and unlocking new opportunities in high-potential markets.”

    In his new role, Jayaraman will focus on promoting Nusummit’s integrated portfolio of data, cloud, cybersecurity, and application solutions to financial services clients. He will also develop strategic partnerships to create compelling propositions for enterprise clients.

  • Amitesh Rao’s Leo India celebrates topping Warc’s creative rankings for 2025

    Amitesh Rao’s Leo India celebrates topping Warc’s creative rankings for 2025

    Mumbai, 26 March — Leo India has thundered to the top of the global advertising world, clinching the No creative agency 1 spot on the Warc Effectiveness 100 rankings for 2025 with a creative arsenal that’s part marketing magic, part cultural phenomenon.

    The agency’s P&G Whisper’s “The Missing Chapter”,  PepsiCo Lays “Smart Farm,”  Flipkart’s billion-visit masterstroke, and  Mondelez Oreo’s nostalgia-fuelled “#BringBack2011” have all featured in Warc’s top 100 campaigns of the year!

    CCO Publicis Groupe south Asia & chairman Leo South Asia Rajdeepak Das  and  CEO, Leo South Asia, Amitesh Rao shared their thoughts on this remarkable achievement. 

    “Being recognized as the most effective creative agency in the world is incredible because it underlines our core belief that true creative thinking is a force that can effect change for people, for the planet, and for business,” they said. “This is a testament to the culture at Leo India, the talent that calls Leo home, and our amazing clients who, together with us, continue to believe in the power of creativity to impact a billion.”

    “This underlines our core belief that true creative thinking is a force that can effect change for people, for the planet, and for business,” the agency added in a Linkedin post. 
     

  • Times Internet clicks refresh on M&A strategy with Johney Maheshwari hire

    Times Internet clicks refresh on M&A strategy with Johney Maheshwari hire

    MUMBAI: Times Internet has made a power move in its corporate playbook, appointing Johney Maheshwari as head of corporate development. With a decade-long track record in M&A and investment banking, Maheshwari is set to lead the company’s inorganic growth strategy, strengthening its foothold in India’s dynamic digital landscape.

    Bringing experience from Razorpay, where he orchestrated high-profile acquisitions of Ezetap, Billme, and Curlec, among others, Maheshwari is no stranger to deal-making. His past stints also include investment banking at EY, where he advised financial giants like SBI, ICICI Lombard, and NIIF on M&A and fundraising. Now, at Times Internet, a company that has invested over Rs 1,000 crore in the past decade in brands like Uber, Swiggy, and Ola, his mandate is clear: accelerate strategic investments and expand the company’s digital ecosystem.

    “We are excited to welcome Johney to the Times Internet family,” said Times Internet COO Puneet Gupt. “Strategic investments and M&A have been foundational to our growth story, and with Johney’s exceptional track record and deep industry insights, we’re reinvigorating this crucial aspect of our business.”

    Commenting on his appointment, Johney Maheshwari said, “I am excited to join Times Internet and contribute to its impressive growth journey. The company’s diverse portfolio and ambitious vision present tremendous opportunities for strategic investments and acquisitions. I look forward to working with the talented teams across the organization to identify and execute value-creating opportunities that will accelerate our growth trajectory and expand our digital ecosystem.”

    With Maheshwari at the helm of corporate development, Times Internet is doubling down on its commitment to shaping the future of India’s digital economy, one strategic move at a time.

  • Texmaco Rail & Engineering reshuffles key financial and compliance roles

    Texmaco Rail & Engineering reshuffles key financial and compliance roles

    MUMBAI: Texmaco Rail & Engineering Ltd. has announced significant management changes to enhance its financial oversight and regulatory framework.

    Following a board meeting today, the company approved key appointments based on recommendations from the nomination and remuneration committee.

    From 1 April 2025, Kishor Kumar Rajgaria will take over as chief financial officer (CFO). Previously serving as Joint CFO and company secretary, he has over two decades of experience in business planning, taxation, internal audit, and governance. His contributions have been integral to Texmaco’s financial strategy and compliance framework.

    Additionally, Manaksia, SREI, and Emami veteran Sandeep Kumar Sultania will assume the role of company secretary & compliance officer. A seasoned professional with 27 years of experience, he has held management positions in these companies. As a chartered accountant, company secretary, & cost & management accountant, he brings extensive expertise in strategic finance, auditing, and regulatory compliance.

    Commenting on the changes, vice chairman & executive director Indrajit Mookerjee said, “These management changes mark an exciting phase for Texmaco Rail & Engineering Rajgaria and Sultania’s extensive expertise and proven track records will play a vital role in further enhancing the company’s financial strength and compliance framework. I am confident that under their leadership, Texmaco will continue to achieve milestones in its growth journey.”

    Managing director Sudipta Mukherjee added, “We are delighted to welcome Sultania into the management team and congratulate Rajgaria on his new role. Their appointments reflect our dedication to building a resilient organisation poised to meet evolving industry demands. Both head bring invaluable experience and strategic acumen, which will undoubtedly reinforce Texmaco’s commitment to operational excellence and sustainable growth.”

    These appointments underscore Texmaco Rail’s commitment to strengthening its corporate governance and financial strategy, ensuring a solid foundation for future growth.