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Category: People

  • FCB onboards Dheeraj Sinha as group CEO India and South Asia

    FCB onboards Dheeraj Sinha as group CEO India and South Asia

    Mumbai: FCB announced today important leadership succession news for its India and South Asia operations. After eight incredible years leading FCB Group India to historic success, current group chairman & CEO Rohit Ohri is moving into a new global role as FCB global partner. Succeeding him is Dheeraj Sinha, who will join in November as group CEO India & South Asia, reporting directly to FCB global CEO Tyler Turnbull.

    This news comes on the heels of a momentous 2022 for FCB Group India, having been named Adweek’s International Agency of the Year for purpose-driven work that drives business results for clients on a global scale. Over the last six years, the agency has won 32 Cannes Lions and over 100 creative awards globally, launched several high-profile campaigns that have transformed its creative reputation in India and beyond, won many large Indian and global multinational clients, and grown revenue by high double digits year over year. FCB Group India also acquired a majority stake in FCB Kinnect, the region’s leading digital-first creative agency, and recently launched FCB/SIX, its digital media, CX and performance offering, in the market.

    “Since Rohit joined FCB eight years ago, FCB India has seen tremendous success under his leadership. It was time for his next challenge, and while we can’t thank him enough for all that he has done for the agency, I’m excited to have him join our global team to put his valuable experience to work for some important upcoming projects,” said Turnbull. “Together, we have found his successor in Dheeraj — an amazingly talented, creatively focused and driven leader who understands the economic power of creativity.”

    “The last eight years at FCB Group India have been truly amazing. My mandate was to transform the creative reputation of FCB in India. By nurturing culture and cultivating talent, we’ve been able to deliver creative excellence consistently since 2018. I’m enormously grateful to my fabulous India team for the creative and business success we have seen. Our partnership with our clients has been our true strength in this creative transformation journey. Further, with the acquisition of Kinnect and the launch of FCB/SIX in India, I believe we are now uniquely poised to power our creative work with data and technology. I’m delighted to now work on the strategic priorities of our global network with Susan and Tyler as FCB Global Partner,” said Ohri.

    Following an extensive search conducted in partnership with Rohit for his successor, FCB felt Sinha was the right fit to lead the group’s next chapter. Sinha joins the agency from Publicis Groupe, where he currently serves as CEO of Leo Burnett South Asia and chairman of BBH India. While there, he led the business transformation across Leo Burnett, Leo Burnett Orchard, BBH, Publicis Business and Publicis Health. Under his leadership, Leo Burnett transitioned from a mid-tier agency to a leading agency in India and almost doubled its size, with 30 per cent of its revenue driven by new clients such as PepsiCo, IKEA, Airtel, Spotify and many others. Leo Burnett was India’s #1 and Asia’s #2 agency at Cannes Lions 2023. He has also held several other leadership roles throughout his career, including Chief Strategy Officer of South & Southeast Asia at Grey Group, where he fostered a culture of strategy at Grey APAC.

    “Dheeraj is a strong advocate for the power of creativity, with a proven track record of transforming businesses. His experience driving revenue for iconic creative brands and agencies is exactly what we needed to help fuel our next chapter of success in India,” commented Turnbull.

    “I’m delighted to welcome Dheeraj into the FCB family. He is a dynamic leader brimming with new ideas. I believe he has the right capabilities and mindset to take FCB Group India to newer heights,” said Ohri.

    “I am so excited to be leading the next phase of narrative for FCB in India and the region. I believe that with data and technology at its service, creativity is the greatest force of our times. The true power of our industry is in maximizing business opportunities and solving for human problems using creativity. I love the perspective at FCB about creativity as an economic multiplier. The agency has had a great run in the country, with very strong partnerships with the best clients, and has been one of the most respected agency brands. I look forward to working with the global leadership at FCB under Susan and Tyler, to continue to build FCB in India and the region as the most creative company, helping our clients maximize the opportunities and leaving the world a better place at the same time!” remarked Sinha.

    Sinha joins FCB officially in November and will work closely with Ohri to ensure a smooth and seamless transition across the agency’s many offices, people, clients and partners in India.

  • AnyMind Group appoints Arjun Paramhans as India lead of influencer management for AnyTag

    AnyMind Group appoints Arjun Paramhans as India lead of influencer management for AnyTag

    Mumbai: AnyMind Group, a Tokyo-based technology company providing digital marketing, influencer marketing, publisher monetisation, creator monetisation and e-commerce solutions has announced the appointment of Arjun Paramhans as India director – strategy & influencer management for AnyTag, the influencer marketing platform.

    Paramhans brings with him over 13 years of rich experience as a seasoned marketer, having worked across startups, digital agencies and broadcast media giants such as Dentsu Webchutney, BIG FM and Viacom18. He has led award-winning social media initiatives, creative communication, partnerships and influencer marketing campaigns for esteemed brands like Red Bull, Samsung, Royal Enfield, Airtel and more.

    In his previous role at Verse Innovation, Paramhans played a pivotal role in driving the digital revenue, product monetization and creative solutions.

    AnyMind Group country manager – India & MENA Rubeena Singh said, “We are thrilled to welcome Arjun to the AnyMind team. His impressive credentials and expertise in creator growth and brand solutions aligns with our goal of bringing only the best talent towards achieving leadership in influencer marketing in India, like we have successfully done across other markets.”

    Expressing his excitement about joining AnyMind Group, Paramhans said, “It’s amazing to be part of a technology-led organization like AnyMind Group, which has a stellar reputation for being leaders in the influencer marketing space across Southeast Asia and East Asia. I’m excited to be at the forefront of AnyTag’s India growth story as we look to achieve dominance in this market as well.”

    AnyMind Group acquired POKKT, a leading mobile advertising platform in 2020 and entered the Indian market. Through this acquisition, the company expanded its offerings in the Indian market, including its influencer marketing platform, AnyTag.

  • Dheeraj Sinha steps down as Leo Burnett South Asia co-chief executive and BBH India chairman

    Dheeraj Sinha steps down as Leo Burnett South Asia co-chief executive and BBH India chairman

    Mumbai: Publicis Groupe India has announced that Dheeraj Sinha, will be stepping down from his roles of Leo Burnett South Asia co-chief executive and BBH India chairman. After a successful seven years with the Groupe, Sinha is exploring other opportunities. He will be with the Groupe till the end of October and in the coming months, will continue working closely with Rajdeepak Das who leads Leo Burnett India as co-CEO, in addition to holding the position of chair, of the Publicis Groupe South Asia Creative Council.

    Sinha joined the Groupe as chief strategy officer of Leo Burnett India, and has played multiple roles within the Groupe – from leading strategy to leading Leo Burnett as chief executive officer in partnership with Rajdeepak Das. Under their leadership, Leo Burnett India has grown tremendously with some of the best and most reputed clients entrusting the agency with their business. It is also home to some of the best talent, strong culture, and most awards across domestic, regional, and global levels. As chairman of BBH, Sinha has played a pivotal role in strengthening BBH with the new leadership of Himanshu Saxena and Parixit Bhattacharya, a growing roster of top clients, and continuing with the unmatched creative pedigree.

    Publicis Groupe CEO South Asia Anupriya Acharya said, “ Thanks to Dheeraj’s leadership,  Leo Burnett India is one of the most dynamic agencies and at the very top today. It is a powerhouse of creativity, talent, and pathbreaking advertising that solves for clients’ biggest challenges and unlocks growth while BBH India has been refreshed and put on a firm growth trajectory. After seven years with the company, Dheeraj would like to embark on a new challenge. I thank him for his energy and contribution and wish him the very best in his future endeavours. He will be missed! We will build further on the solid foundation that has been put in place.”

    Sinha said, “It’s been a dream run for me at the Publicis Groupe for the last 7 years. Together, we built Leo Burnett to be the No.1 agency in India and No.2 in Asia. I always dreamt of building a large, successful organisation where people came together do the best work of their lifetime. I think we got that feeling on our floors. We won more awards than we could celebrate, we won the biggest pitches, and served the best coffee in town. BBH, Publicis Business and Publicis Health reverbed with the same winning energy. In Raj, I found a partnership that’s forever. Thanks to Anupriya for all her support, my leadership team, all the client partners and everyone in the agencies who walked in everyday to be the best in the world, bar none! I leave with a heavy heart but great confidence that this transformation is forever. I’ll always be cheering for my people who turned me into a leader!”  

    Das said, “In partnership with Dheeraj, we have built iconic agency brands that stand for modern purposeful advertising and taken Leo Burnett to the top position. I have really enjoyed my time with Dheeraj who’s dynamic, enterprising, and full of ideas. I wish him nothing but the best for his future endeavours. And hope to build further on the success of our creative agency brands, continuing our new business momentum and carrying on our rich legacy of inspiring, uplifting, very human creative work.”

  • Manashi Guha appointed L’Oréal consumer products division managing director – UK & Ireland

    Manashi Guha appointed L’Oréal consumer products division managing director – UK & Ireland

    Mumbai: L’Oréal announces a strategic leadership appointment in the consumer products division (CPD), with Manashi Guha nominated to a new assignment as managing director, CPD for L’Oréal UK & Ireland from 1 October. CPD holds a unique brand portfolio including its four iconic global brands of L’Oréal Paris, Maybelline New York, Garnier and NYX Professional Make Up.

    Guha was most recently a founding member of the South Asia Pacific Middle East North Africa (SAPMENA) Zone Management Committee, a new Zone formed in 2021 as a strategic growth region for L’Oréal Groupe. The region, home to 40 per cent of the world’s population, is one of the fastest-growing for L’Oréal worldwide and a global talent hub.  Guha established CPD’s strategic mission for the new zone, tapping into a huge market potential where 50 per cent of the world’s new consumers will come from.  

    Her growth strategy starts with people and she is known for trailblazing new growth paths and transforming with agility. During her tenure, SAPMENA has not only strengthened its iconic global brands, but also transformed L’Oréal’s go-to market in the region and set people foundations for exceptional results across all three years.  

    Guha’s new appointment reflects rising global leadership talent emerging from the SAPMENA region. With her leadership experience in emerging and fast-evolving markets, particularly the dynamic markets of India and Indonesia, Guha will bring to her new assignment in UK & Ireland an entrepreneurial mindset, consumer centricity, agility, passion for innovation and excellence.  

    Commenting on the appointment, Guha said, “It’s been an honor to lead an incredible team of passionate entrepreneurs in the set-up of SAPMENA. South Asia Pacific with the Middle East is leading the beauty revolution and consumer sophistication with diverse beauty ideals and a dynamic digital culture of on-demand, always-connected and hyper social; we can bring a lot to the rest of the world.  I hope to bring that learning into my new role. But more importantly, as an Asian Indian wo(mentor), I believe the world is our oyster – we create our reality by unapologetically being who we are. L’Oréal Groupe is an incredible place to create your own reality where I have been recognized and encouraged for bringing my true self to the table.” 

  • Shirish Agarwal joins Samsung India as director-marketing

    Shirish Agarwal joins Samsung India as director-marketing

    Mumbai: Shirish Agarwal has joined Samsung India as director-marketing. This is Agarwal’s second stint at Samsung. He was earlier deputy general manager marketing at Samsung India from 2009 to 2019.

    Agarwal stepped down as head – marketing communications & brand of Panasonic Life Solutions India at the end of August after a stint of four years. Prior to Panasonic, he was with Hewlett-Packard India and Times Internet.

  • Taboola strengthens its presence in India, onboards Kanika Mittal as country manager

    Taboola strengthens its presence in India, onboards Kanika Mittal as country manager

    Mumbai: Taboola, a global leader in powering recommendations for the open web, helping people discover things they may like, today announced continued growth for Taboola India. Taboola is a market leader in India with partnerships across major publishers in the country, including India Today group, NDTV, Zee Group, The Indian Express, ABP, and Network18. In September, Taboola India celebrates its monumental milestone of 10 years in the market, with a gala event in honor of key publishers and advertisers and strengthening of its leadership team.

    To spearhead and further accelerate Taboola India’s recent momentum, Taboola has appointed Kanika Mittal as the new country manager for Taboola India. With over 19 years of visionary leadership and a demonstrated history spanning digital, tech, e-commerce, retail, and consumer goods, Mittal brings a wealth of experience to her new position, marked by a proven track record to drive growth, and implement strategic initiatives in the digital landscape.

    Assuming her new role as country head for Taboola India, Mittal will shoulder the responsibility for our Indian operations, with a primary objective of propelling revenue growth and solidifying our cherished partnerships. Furthermore, Mittal will take a central role in nurturing and expanding Taboola’s publishing partnerships in India, actively contributing to their trajectory. Her multifaceted responsibilities extend to elevating brand, reputation and culture with a focus on growth to contribute to the organization’s overall success.

    As the former country head at Twitter, she drove revenue growth, cultivated a high-performance culture, and fostered cross-functional collaboration. Her notable achievement includes spearheading the ‘India 5X by 2025’ initiative, propelling India towards exponential revenue and audience growth. Previously, as country marketing director at Reebok (adidas group), she successfully repositioned the brand into a premium fitness label, championed an omni-channel, digital first approach, and pioneered a groundbreaking women’s-first movement with #FitToFight.

    Mittal advocates for purpose-driven brands, founded D.E.A.R. Indiya, curated The Enchanted Festival of Stories, and authored ‘The Adventures of Sugi & the Banshee’. which is now an Amazon Bestseller. She’s received accolades for digital, business and brand leadership, and she was actively involved in mentorship through organizations like the Marketing Society in India and the Vedica Scholars Program for Women.

  • Omnicom Media Group EMEA CEO Guy Marks to succeed Philippa Brown as CEO of PHD Worldwide

    Omnicom Media Group EMEA CEO Guy Marks to succeed Philippa Brown as CEO of PHD Worldwide

    Mumbai: Omnicom Media Group (OMG), the media services division of Omnicom Group Inc. today announced  OMG CEO EMEA  Guy Marks will succeed Philippa Brown as CEO  of PHD Worldwide.  

    “Guy is one of our industry’s most entrepreneurial leaders, with an approach that transformed first OMD’s and subsequently Omnicom Media Group’s offering in EMEA over the past six years,” said OMG global CEO Florian Adamski. “By enabling our agencies to quickly identify, adapt and respond in real time to the challenges of a dramatically changing consumer marketplace, he’s unlocked growth for our clients and made OMG  the #1 media agency group for net new business in the EMEA region  for the year-to-date, according to the most recent COMvergence reporting.  

    Adamski continues, “The fact that –  at the same time –  he was also one of the network’s key people coordinating Omnicom’s boots-on-the-ground Ukrainian relief and rescue efforts tells you everything you need to know about both his character and his leadership skills.”

    Brown, who has served as PHD’s global CEO since 2019, is stepping down following almost four decades in the media industry – including 16 years in leadership positions with OMG – to focus on non-executive advisory roles at both the corporate and advocacy levels.

    Commenting on Brown’s contributions, Adamski said,  “As CEO,  Philippa’s passion for great work that advanced our clients’ business goals was matched by her dedication to helping young talent advance their career goals.  After leading the agency through the Covid crisis, she brought PHD back stronger than ever, earning Media Network of the Year honors at the 2021 Cannes Festival;  winning Diageo, Chanel, Unilever, and most recently, the $300 million Grupo Bimbo account.  She also launched and oversaw OMG’s  Talent Management Community,  an initiative offering professional development across the entire career life cycle.

    “We are deeply grateful for her tireless leadership,  creative vision, and  unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of her clients and her people,  and we wish her all the best as she redirects her  singular energy, experience, and expertise to an exciting  new chapter in her career.”

    In 2022, PHD was ranked #2 globally for net new business gains – second only to sister OMG agency OMD – adding $902 billion in incremental billings in 2022.

    Marks joined OMG in 2014 following Omnicom’s acquisition of Mobile5, the global  UX, design and tech consultancy service that he co-founded.  As CEO of OMG EMEA,  he helped establish  Omnicom’s Transact connected commerce and retail media consultancy in the region; and co-architected the expansion of OMG’s TRKKN analytics and cloud consultancy from five European countries to 20 markets across APAC, EMEA and North America.

    “The thread that can be pulled through all my professional experience is driving growth through transformation,” said Marks. “As the CEO of PHD – an agency that was  born from a transformative concept of media as a strategic tool –  my priority will be assuring that every PHD account team around the world have the talent, tools,  technology and collective commitment to excellence they need to deliver the  transformative ideas, solutions and service that drive growth for our clients, our agency, and our people.”

    Marks, whose appointment is effective 1 October, will be headquartered in London, reporting to Adamski.  His successor as leader of OMG EMEA is expected to be named next week.  

  • AnyMind Group onboards Riddhi Gupta to lead its gaming vertical

    AnyMind Group onboards Riddhi Gupta to lead its gaming vertical

    Mumbai: AnyMind Group, a martech company providing digital marketing, influencer marketing, publisher monetisation, and creator monetisation solutions has announced the appointment of Riddhi Gupta as the lead of its gaming vertical. Leveraging over 12 years of expertise spanning the digital, television, and radio sectors, Gupta is poised to assume responsibility for spearheading the company’s gaming vertical, injecting a novel perspective into its operations.

    Having worked across leading media networks in India, she comes with a proven track record of delivering transformational growth for businesses. Being an expert at maximizing revenues and servicing some of India’s biggest Fantasy and RMG brands, she has worked along with the world’s biggest betting brands with a broad mandate of optimisation through key strategic, cross-functional initiatives to drive end-to-end performance.

    AnyMind Group country manager – India & MENA Rubeena Singh said, “India is the world’s largest mobile gaming market in terms of App downloads and has successfully produced gaming unicorns like Games24x7, Dream11, MPL etc. We believe there are great synergies between these brands and the services AnyMind India offers. Riddhi’s expertise and passion for gaming align perfectly with our commitment to delivering exceptional marketing experiences to these brands. ”

    On her appointment, Gupta said, “I am thrilled to join the team and lead the gaming vertical. I am excited and looking forward to working with the talented team of AnyMind Group and addressing the needs of these brands by providing them with end-to-end solutions on mobile and social platforms.”

    In 2020, AnyMind Group entered the Indian market through the acquisition of POKKT, a leading mobile advertising platform. By 2023, the company achieved a significant milestone by going public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market, marking its commitment to sustained global growth.

  • Shubham Mukherjee appointed as Samsung India’s head corp comm

    Shubham Mukherjee appointed as Samsung India’s head corp comm

    Mumbai: Shubham Mukherjee, with a diverse career spanning journalism and corporate communications, has been appointed as the head of corporate communications and corporate citizenship/CSR at Samsung India.

    Before joining Samsung, Mukherjee held key positions at ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd and Bain & Company, accumulating valuable experience. His extensive journalistic background includes roles as the national business editor at The Times of India and a senior editor at Economic Times, totaling over 15 years in the field.

  • Singapore Tourism Board appoints Lim Kean Bon as area director, India, South Asia, and Africa

    Singapore Tourism Board appoints Lim Kean Bon as area director, India, South Asia, and Africa

    Mumbai: The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced the appointment of Lim Kean Bon as area director, India, South Asia, and Africa on 1 September. He will succeed Raymond Lim as the India market lead based in New Delhi, leading STB’s promotion, and travel trade engagement activities in Northern and Eastern India to sustain and grow affinity for Singapore from leisure travelers. In addition, Kean Bon will be responsible for business development efforts to secure visitorship across India to Singapore in the cruise and meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) segments. He will also lead his team in engaging consumers in other regional markets like Bangladesh and South Africa.  

    Speaking on this appointment for Singapore Tourism Board (STB) regional director, India, Middle East, South Asia & Africa (IMESA) GB Srithar, said, “We extend a hearty welcome to Kean Bon as he joins our dynamic team. I believe Kean Bon’s leadership in driving experience development for a leisure precinct and his past tenure in the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau (SECB) places him in good stead to take on this role in STB New Delhi, particularly in this pivotal moment of anchoring Singapore as the premier lifestyle and business destination for Indian travellers.”

    Kean Bon started his career in the Singapore public service as an urban planner in Singapore’s city planning authority. He joined the STB infrastructure planning and management division in 2015 to drive the planning of MICE infrastructure, and subsequently moved on to the SECB team in 2017, where he managed destination bids and account servicing activities for large-scale business meetings and conventions organised by global associations. Prior to taking on the STB New Delhi leadership role, Kean Bon led STB’s Lifestyle Precinct Development team from 2020 to 2023, where he set direction for various projects to sustain the appeal of Orchard Road, Singapore’s leading lifestyle precinct. “I am excited to join the STB IMESA team and look forward to building on the good work and strong partnerships forged by my predecessor Raymond”, Kean Bon said. “Together with my team in New Delhi, we will continue our efforts to promote Singapore and inspire the Indian audience with the sheer breadth of vibrant experiences the city has to offer for leisure and business travellers.”