Category: People

  • Satdeep Singh appointed as director of publisher partnerships at GreedyGame

    Satdeep Singh appointed as director of publisher partnerships at GreedyGame

    Mumbai: GreedyGame, a leading ad tech company in the mobile advertising industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Satdeep Singh as director of publisher partnerships. In this role, Satdeep will oversee and lead the efforts to establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with publishers, bringing his extensive industry experience and expertise to drive growth and innovation in this domain.

    With a career spanning a decade, Satdeep Singh has navigated the dynamic landscape of the mobile advertising ecosystem, amassing a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record in the industry. He began his professional journey with PubMatic a decade ago, then joined AdForge in Berkeley, California. Prior to joining GreedyGame, he worked with AppBroda where he led the Account Management, Ad Operations, and Yield Optimisation teams.

    As director of publisher partnerships at GreedyGame, Satdeep will leverage his diverse background and deep understanding of the advertising technology landscape to spearhead efforts in establishing strategic partnerships with publishers, further expanding GreedyGame’s reach and influence in the mobile advertising industry.

    Commenting on the appointment, GreedyGame, CEO Arpit Jain said, “We are thrilled to welcome Satdeep to our team as Director of Publisher Partnerships. His unique journey in the advertising industry, spanning startups, entrepreneurship, and established companies, brings a fresh perspective and invaluable expertise to our organization. His presence will help publishers gain more value from our partnerships.”

    Satdeep Singh said, “The mobile advertising landscape is constantly evolving, presenting us with intricate challenges and exciting opportunities. I’m committed to utilizing my expertise to enhance GreedyGame’s position in this dynamic ecosystem, exploring advanced technologies and data-driven strategies to drive growth and innovation in our partnerships.”

    Satdeep Singh’s appointment is a testament to GreedyGame’s commitment to recruiting top-tier talent and its dedication to staying at the forefront of the mobile advertising industry.

  • Satish Nair joins Zappfresh as the senior VP of retail

    Satish Nair joins Zappfresh as the senior VP of retail

    Mumbai: Zappfresh is thrilled to announce the appointment of Satish Nair as the senior vice president of Retail. With a remarkable track record spanning over 25 years in transformative leadership roles, Nair has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to spearhead growth, innovation, and strategic brilliance.

    In his new capacity, Nair will lead the retail division, developing and executing strategies to enhance customer experience, and propelling sustainable growth initiatives. His visionary leadership is poised to play a decisive role in sculpting Zappfresh’s future. His appointment at Zappfresh comes at a pivotal moment for the company, as it continues to expand its reach to the south and is driven to new growth strategies. ZappFresh’s focus for the next six months will be centered around building traction in the Bangalore market. By expanding into new pin codes and delivering on their promise of value, health, and quality, ZappFresh aims to solidify its position and capture the hearts of consumers in the region. They have recently acquired Sukos Foods-owned Dr. Meat. Mr. Nair’s deep industry knowledge and proven ability to drive business transformation will undoubtedly contribute to Zappfresh’s position as a leader in the market.

    On this occasion, Zappfresh founder Deepanshu Manchanda quipped, “We warmly welcome Satish Nair as our Senior Vice President of Retail. His extensive industry experience and visionary leadership perfectly align with Zappfresh’s commitment to providing customers with the freshest, top-quality products. We are confident that his insights and expertise will serve as a cornerstone in our ongoing quest for growth and expansion.”

    Nair in his tenure at Mother Dairy saw substantial expansion and modernisation, while his time at Cadbury and PepsiCo Frito-Lay witnessed ground breaking sales & marketing campaigns and product launches.

    Reflecting on his new journey, Nair expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I am deeply honored to join the Zappfresh family, a company that shares my ardor for excellence. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with the immensely talented Zappfresh team and contributing to the company’s continued triumphs. With my experience, I will be able to bring the expertise that will solidify their success to the next level.”

    With a successful track record spanning over eight years, ZappFresh turned profitable last year and has achieved several milestones. With a customer base of over 300,000 in the NCR region, the company has solidified its position, built a robust supply chain from scratch, and established a reputable brand known for its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

  • Kapture CX appoints Nibha Kothari as VP strategy in the Founder’s Office

    Kapture CX appoints Nibha Kothari as VP strategy in the Founder’s Office

    Mumbai: Kapture CX, the SaaS-based customer experience platform, has appointed Nibha Kothari as VP Strategy in the Founder’s Office, Bangalore.

    Kothari brings experience over 12 years in leading strategic programs across multiple global organisations including Reliance, Viacom18, WNS, and BYJU’S. Most recently, she led the Strategic Projects & Transformation team at BYJU’S. She is also an alumna of IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore.

    Commenting on her appointment, Kapture CX CEO & co-founder Sheshgiri Kamath said, “Vikas and I are delighted to have Nibha onboard. Her vast experience in strategy and new initiatives will play a critical role as we expand globally into new geographies and verticals. Having worked in leading companies we look forward to leveraging her insights and accelerating our growth further. We welcome her onboard the rocketship which is Kapture and look forward to working with her on this exciting phase of growth.”

    Before joining the  Kapture CX, Kothari led multiple initiatives at Viacom18 to drive data based decision making and transform procurement processes. During her career, she has also served as the Chief of Staff to the COO at WNS Global Services. Beyond her professional life, she has a passion for giving back to the community. During her stint in the USA, she redesigned a science program in Title 1 public schools to increase underprivileged community participation. She has also taken multiple engagements to aid special needs children in education, art, and life skills.

    Commenting on the same, Kothari said  “I am thrilled to join the exceptional team at Kapture CX. The unwavering commitment of the founders, Shesh and Vikas, on building Kapture with rapid yet highly sustainable growth is truly inspiring. As Kapture continues its evolution into a global organization, I look forward to contributing to the ongoing success and further enhancing scalable processes.”

  • Impresario elevates Divya Aggarwal to chief growth officer

    Impresario elevates Divya Aggarwal to chief growth officer

    Mumbai: Impresario Entertainment and Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. (Impresario) a renowned name in India’s food services market, is pleased to appoint Divya Aggarwal as its chief growth officer. In the new role, Aggarwal will lead the overall Marketing & Communications and growth efforts for all Impresario’s brands. By harnessing technology and data driven marketing, Aggarwal is instrumental in ensuring Impresario’s house of brands including SOCIAL, antiSOCIAL, Smoke House Deli, BOSS Burger, Lucknowee, Slink & Bardot and Prithvi Café, scale new heights and bolster operations pan-India.

    Aggarwal’s foundational years were spent at IMRB International, later moving on to Nestlé to manage iconic brands like Nescafé, Maggi, and Cerelac. She has also worked with renowned global brands like Disney Star, Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. where she spearheaded the launch of Popeyes in the Indian market, and X (erstwhile Twitter). She has also ventured into entrepreneurship with The Green Snack Co. and Divya has previously worked with Impresario in 2019 as the head of marketing.

    Speaking about her new role, Aggarwal said, “I feel grateful and privileged to lead the role of Chief Growth Officer for Impresario. Some of the brightest minds of India’s food services market work here and are driven towards offering memorable experiences to people. As our audience’s preferences evolve, there’s increased appetite for novel experiences within the sector which requires greater investments and innovation from the ecosystem. I’m excited to be at the confluence of this growth curve and I look forward to learning and shaping the trajectory of India’s culinary, co-working, community, and cultural landscape.”

    Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. managing director Riyaaz Amlani expressed, “Divya has been a leader, a guide, and a force to reckon with in the F&B and hospitality industry. She has been an asset to the Impresario team, helping to grow the brand in new businesses and regions. We are excited to be working with her and see where this leads as we scale new heights for Impresario.”

  • Garage Group elevates Abhishek Misra as AVP instructional design and e-learning

    Garage Group elevates Abhishek Misra as AVP instructional design and e-learning

    Mumbai: Garage Group, a full-service digital creative agency, is pleased to announce the elevation of Abhishek Misra as assistant vice president (AVP) for instructional design and e-learning. Previously heading the operations at Garage Group, Abhishek brings a wealth of experience in developing and implementing market strategies targeting key sectors and managing new businesses.

    Notably, Garage Group has recently ventured into the burgeoning e-learning and instructional design vertical, leveraging its robust capabilities. Abhishek’s expertise will play a pivotal role in driving strategic development, quality assurance, team leadership, performance analysis, stakeholder communication, compliance, and budget management in the innovative education domain. His expertise extends beyond theoretical knowledge in instructional design and e-learning because of his prior experience in the education vertical before he joined Garage; it encompasses a practical understanding of how to leverage technology, pedagogical methods, and learner engagement strategies to deliver meaningful educational outcomes.

    Commenting on his new role, Abhishek Misra said – “I’ve spent nearly six incredible years at Garage Group, which has been the highlight of my career. With Ms. Anjali Chauhan and Mr. Saurabh Gupta as my mentors, I’ve not only grown as a professional but enriched my personal growth. With great pride, I embrace this new role and I’m confident that I can navigate its unique challenges and thrive. My vision is to further elevate our E-Learning and Instructional Design capabilities, delivering innovative and transformative educational experiences that will shape the future of learning.”

    Garage Group co-founder and managing partner Anjali Chauhan said: “Mr Abhishek Misra has been an integral part of the Garage family for over half a decade. His intrapreneurial mindset and commitment have played a pivotal role in shaping Garage’s journey, particularly in pioneering the e-learning and instructional design verticals. Mr. Abhishek’s promotion to the role of AVP in our Instructional Design and E-Learning vertical is a testament to his passion for innovative education solutions that align perfectly with our mission to transform the learning experience.

    As AVP, he will play a pivotal role in driving the organisation’s mission forward, spearheading initiatives that will further revolutionise how we deliver and facilitate learning experiences. We are excited about the journey ahead with Misra leading the way.”

    Garage Group is a full-service creative agency offering services in creative, digital media, social media, video production, OOH, DOOH, ITES, e-learning, and instructional design. The company has expanded into Garage Productions, Garage Media, and Garage Music. Garage Group’s mission is to deliver innovative and effective solutions to its clients while building lasting relationships.

  • Madison Media appoints Rob Norman as advisor to accelerate digital transformation

    Madison Media appoints Rob Norman as advisor to accelerate digital transformation

    Mumbai: Madison Media is delighted to announce that it has appointed Rob Norman as an advisor to accelerate digital transformation at key clients.

    Rob has a wealth of experience in the Digital space – having been global head of Digital at GroupM. He has also been CEO of GroupM, North America. Currently, he is an independent Board member at Piano, MiQ, Simpli.fi, Nova and Hunch and is an advisor to a few other digital first companies.

    Norman will offer advisory services to Madison’s top clients, introduce the agency to new tools, concepts and workflows.

    Madison Media, India’s largest homegrown independent media agency, has recently been ranked as the world’s 4th largest independent media agency by RECMA. Madison Media has also topped RECMA’s qualitative ranking chart and has done so for last 4 consecutive years with a Dominant Score. Madison Media ranks No. 1 in Vitality (based on Comp pitches – new biz wins vs losses and Momentum – awards, agency seniors, industry share)

    Madison World chairman Sam Balsara said, “We are delighted to have Rob join us as a strategic advisor in the digital transformation space and am sure he will add a lot of value to our teams and our clients. The Advertising world has turned Digital. India with a Digital share of Adex at 40% tracks a little behind the Global average of 55% and we hope with Rob’s help to offer world beating thought leadership to our Clients.”

    Madison Media & OOH partner & group CEO Vikram Sakhuja said, “I have had the privilege of working with Rob for many years and his insights, clarity of thought and approach to Clients’ businesses has been inspiring. I’m thrilled to be able to partner with him again in helping build the business of Madison’s Clients.”

    Norman said, “I have known Sam, Vikram and Madison for many years. I am a great admirer of the business and its leadership. Independent, entrepreneurial organizations are well placed to innovate with speed and agility. I am excited to spend more time in India, it’s a country I love and a country rich in opportunity.”

  • Wavemaker India elevates Sairam Ranganathan to chief digital officer

    Wavemaker India elevates Sairam Ranganathan to chief digital officer

    Mumbai: Wavemaker India, the most awarded agency of GroupM, today announced the appointment of Sairam Ranganathan as Chief Digital Officer. In his new role, Sairam or Sai as he is fondly called, will strengthen digital capabilities and lead the newly formed team Wavemaker NorthStar. In his new role, Sai will continue to report to Vishal Jacob (chief transformation officer at Wavemaker India).

    As the head of Wavemaker NorthStar, Sai will work with clients to drive business outcomes. Team Wavemaker NorthStar will bring in the right experts across platforms, commerce, analytics & tech to orchestrate data-led solutions that yield business results. In addition, he will also be responsible for accelerating growth in digital services, integrating and aligning digital initiatives across business units for clients.  

    Sai has been an integral part of GroupM India since 2004. He has worked across multiple categories which include Telecom, FMCG, Consumer durables, Ecommerce, Retail, Lifestyle, Jewellery, Tourism, Technology, BFSI, Media & Entertainment. In the last few years, Sai has played a national role working with multiple teams to build and strengthen digital capabilities for Wavemaker.

    Commenting on Sai’s elevation, Ajay Gupte, CEO  of South Asia said, “At Wavemaker we are constantly evolving and adapting to help our clients grow by enabling better business solutions, build robust data-led experiences and positively provoke growth for them and for us. Sai brings in wealth of expertise and knowledge to deliver innovative customer initiatives across business domains, with a perfect balance of people management skills. I am confident that Sai is best placed to drive the digital-first agenda for us and our partners”.  

    “At Wavemaker our emphasis has always been to push the boundaries on our capabilities and provide our clients with an unmatched advantage through our services. In his new role, Sai will consolidate and grow capabilities on digital media and lead a team called Wavemaker NorthStar that will help clients deliver business outcomes through data-driven solutions. Given Sai’s passion, resilience, and commitment there could be no better person to lead this team and take our solutions to the next level”, expressed Wavemaker India’s chief transformation officer Vishal Jacob.  

    A big Star Wars fan, Sai has also co-authored two books on digital marketing in India – The Curious Digital Marketer and The Curious Digital Marketer 2.0.

    Talking about his new role, Sairam Ranganathan shared, “My journey at GroupM has been incredibly thrilling and enriching. In these last 20 years, I have grown significantly in my professional as well as personal life. I am grateful to Wavemaker for this exciting opportunity and I look forward to leading Wavemaker NorthStar as I start a new chapter in my growth journey to make Wavemaker an even more desirable partner for our clients.”

  • Toaster elevates Ira G & Bhawika Chhabra to CCO & MD, respectively

    Toaster elevates Ira G & Bhawika Chhabra to CCO & MD, respectively

    Mumbai: Toaster, the London-based digital-first full-service creative agency, has announced a significant elevation of its senior leadership in India with Ira G being promoted to chief creative officer (CCO) and Bhawika Chhabra to managing director (MD), effective immediately.

    The India operations of Toaster has witnessed noticeable growth in the past 3 years on the back of delivering award-winning work for Google India and onboarding new clients such as Myntra, Bumble, OYO, Nykaa, and a few more to its roster. The agency has bagged awards like Kyoorius, MMA Smarties (APAC & India), Campaign India DigiCrest Awards, ET Brand Equity DG+, e4m IMA Awards and many more for its campaign work for Google India.

    Ira has written dialogues for Netflix’s Class and Feels Like Ishq and has featured as a jury for YouTube Works Awards & Campaign India Film Crest Awards this year. Chhabra, who helped set up Toaster in India eight years ago, has donned multiple hats from managing new businesses agenda to spearheading large scale campaigns, and growing the company into its new avatar today.

    Toaster co-founder & CEO Tom Dunn said, “Bhawika & Ira have built a formidable partnership and have played instrumental roles in shaping the agency in India, setting a standard as a high performing, multi-award winning team. We’re proud to announce this double promotion and look forward to exciting times for Toaster in the region – building on the highest standards of creativity, continuing to deliver innovative and meaningful work to our clients, and fostering a workplace that people thrive in.”

    Commenting on the announcement, Ira said, “I’m elated with this news. Our endeavour has been to foster an idea-first creative culture within Toaster and I feel that over the last 3 years we’ve successfully transitioned from handling pure digital mandates to now managing full-scale integrated creative campaigns. For the next phase of our growth, we’re keen to induct new & diverse talent and continue to build on the culture we’ve developed that we’re quite proud of.”

    Chhabra added, “I’m quite proud of how far we’ve come. We’ve got a great momentum going and our plan is to further strengthen client partnerships, acquire new businesses, and deliver higher profitability – all this while delivering the best creative work for our clients. A shout out to our client partners at Google India for their trust in us – who are an important chapter of our growth story.”

  • Omnicom elevates Alex Lubar to global CEO of DDB Worldwide

    Omnicom elevates Alex Lubar to global CEO of DDB Worldwide

    Mumbai: Omnicom chairman and CEO John Wren has elevated Alex Lubar as global CEO of DDB Worldwide. Lubar succeeds current global CEO Marty O’Halloran who will continue as chairman. In addition, Glen Lomas currently CEO, DDB EMEA, based in London, becomes global president and chief operating officer in partnership with Alex.

    “We are pleased to announce these changes as DDB has reclaimed its title of being one of the top creative agencies in the world, including 2023 Cannes Network of the Year,” said Omnicom chairman and CEO John Wren. “Marty’s dedication to DDB has made him an integral part of the network’s culture and operations, and we thank him for his strong leadership during the past four years as CEO. With extensive global leadership credentials within the industry, we are confident that Alex, supported by Glen, will continue to elevate the network and build upon its legacy of creative excellence.”

    Lubar was appointed president and chief operating officer of DDB Worldwide last October 2022, following ten years at McCann. He held several regional leadership roles during the course of his time there including President, McCann North America, head of McCann’s Asia Pacific region, and CEO of McCann London.

    Said Lubar about his new role, “Since its inception, DDB has unlocked the power of human emotion to make millions of different people change how they behave, feel, and transact with brands and businesses around the world. We believe that creativity, in all its modern forms, has the power to profoundly transform our clients’ businesses. I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Bill Bernbach’s legacy into the future with such a talented global staff and leadership team who all share the same vision.”

    Lomas has unparalleled international client experience at DDB having been CEO of Europe, Middle East, and Africa, DDB’s largest region and with the network since 1995. Based in London, he is responsible for the EMEA region and has built successful client teams across geographies while creating an environment where creativity and effectiveness flourish across the network.

    Said Lomas about his appointment, “It has always been a privilege to work at DDB and it is a great honor to take on this role. DDB has always been where brilliant, unpretentious people turn up each day to apply their creativity to solving problems. The problems and solutions change, but that culture doesn’t. I love what this network is capable of when it comes together, as demonstrated this year at Cannes, and Alex and I are here to ensure that spirit continues and the network keeps evolving to attract the most ambitious talent and clients.”

    O’Halloran has been a leader within the DDB network for close to four decades and took over the role of global CEO in 2020. Under his leadership, DDB won 2023 Network of the Year at Cannes, Network of the Year for the past 3 years at D&AD, and Network of the Year at Effie US and Latina.

    “It has been my honor to lead DDB over the past four years,” said O’Halloran. “The talent across our regions is incredible and together we’ve been able to produce work that has achieved transformative results for our clients and has been awarded as some of the best creativity in the world. As part of this orchestrated succession plan, there is no doubt in my mind Alex will continue to lead the DDB network to new heights. I look forward to working in a chairman’s capacity with Alex and Glen as they partner in leading the way forward with their global leadership team.”

  • I’m Beside You Welcomes Shubham Gupta as COO, India

    I’m Beside You Welcomes Shubham Gupta as COO, India

    Mumbai: I’m Beside You, a cutting-edge Japanese startup specialising in AI communication intelligence tools, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Shubham Gupta as its chief operating officer (COO), India. Gupta brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise that will play a pivotal role in propelling I’m Beside You’s growth and expansion into new markets, particularly the United States.

    Gupta is a distinguished alumnus of IIT Kanpur and a seasoned entrepreneur with over a decade of invaluable experience in the Indian startup ecosystem. Prior to joining I’m Beside You, Gupta founded ConnectedH, a healthcare startup that garnered significant recognition and was backed by esteemed investors such as Kalaari Capital and Incubate Fund. His journey began at Mitsubishi in Japan, followed by three years as an integral part of the CEO’s team at CarDekho, one of India’s leading automotive tech companies.

    I’m Beside You, founded by Shozo Kamiya, CEO, in collaboration with Yasuhiro Nose and Kotaro Ando, has set the stage for a revolutionary shift in the realm of AI solutions. With deep-rooted expertise in AI from their time at NTT Data, a renowned Japanese company, the founders of I’m Beside You are pioneers in developing multimodal AI analysis tools for the analysis of online communication. These tools are designed to enhance the efficiency of sales and customer success departments, facilitate more effective candidate interviews, ensure psychological safety in online communication and ultimately empower modern companies to thrive in a digitally driven business landscape.

    I’m Beside You has dedicated the past three years to developing its state-of-the-art technology through extensive research partnerships with leading Japanese and Indian universities, including NIMHANS in Bengaluru and IIT Hyderabad. This groundbreaking technology also finds significant application in the mental health space, with plans to seek FDA approval in the near future.

    Gupta’s appointment as COO, India, marks a pivotal moment for I’m Beside You, as the company gears up for expansion into the United States. His strategic leadership and extensive industry knowledge will undoubtedly drive the company’s vision forward, opening up new horizons and opportunities for global growth.

    I’m Beside You is renowned for attracting top talent from India, particularly from prestigious institutions like IIT and IIM. With over 10,000 student applications for internships each year, the company continues to foster a culture of excellence, with top performers seamlessly transitioning to full-time roles.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Shubham Gupta to the I’m Beside You family,” said Kamiya. “His wealth of experience and remarkable track record in the startup ecosystem make him the perfect addition to our leadership team as we embark on our journey to expand into the United States. We look forward to achieving new heights together.”

    As I’m Beside You continues to redefine the future of AI communication intelligence, the addition of Gupta as COO, India, underscores the company’s commitment to innovation, growth, and delivering unparalleled value to its clients.