ITV

Category: People

  • Elysian Hues appoints Shruti Kaushik as VP, marketing and PR

    Elysian Hues appoints Shruti Kaushik as VP, marketing and PR

    Mumbai: Marketing & PR company Elysian Hues has announced the appointment of Shruti Kaushik as VP – marketing and PR. After gaining substantial work experience as a global marketing and branding consultant, she has now joined hands for multiple ventures with Elysian Hues (EH Communications) founder Deepali Mathur. Kaushik is now the co-founder of House of Mayah and Tiny Tales India.

    Kaushik is a writer, entrepreneur, branding expert by Business Insider and Business World. She is now best known for bringing massive recognition to brands in less time through her organic social selling techniques,” said the company in a statement.

    She has been in the content marketing industry for over nine years and has worked for multiple Indian and international businesses. She has been featured in over 20 media outlets like Yahoo Finance, YourStory, Grazia India, Daily O (India Today), etc. Her content online had earned over seven million readerships and over three million collectively for her clients.
    Kaushik has also assisted the National Informatics Centre (NIC), ministry of skills and entrepreneurship, for their content planning and development. She also published a book “LinkedIn Blackbook” for budding entrepreneurs to use the power of content and LinkedIn & scale their business.
    On asking how LinkedIn helped her grow, Kaushik said, “It’s now, more than ever, that LinkedIn has become a powerful tool as it connects employers to employees, clients to agencies & freelancers. And my experience in LinkedIn branding has worked like a charm for our clients. LinkedIn has been a gold mine for me and my clients. You just have to be consistent and specific there. It is a one trustworthy, business-oriented social platform that has quickly shoved itself into the forefront of CXO’s or decision-makers’ minds for lead generation, talent identification, and community development.”

    Over the next five years, Kaushik is planning to scale her content business by reaching out to businesses around the world and showing them the power of LinkedIn branding. Not merely this, her plan is to redefine luxury with an elite collection of House of Maaya and reach each corner of India, said the statement.

  • IAMAI onboards Ashish Singhal, Sumit Gupta as co-chairs for its crypto council

    IAMAI onboards Ashish Singhal, Sumit Gupta as co-chairs for its crypto council

    Mumbai: The Blockchain and Crypto Assets Council (BACC), a part of the Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), has brought on board CoinSwitch founder and CEO Ashish Singhal and CoinDCX co-founder and CEO Sumit Gupta as its co-chairs.

    Singhal and Gupta will be primarily responsible for driving the adoption and growth of the crypto industry in India, along with creating a consumer-safe environment. Considerably, more than 1.5 crore Indians currently hold crypto assets, IAMAI said in a statement.

    “As cryptocurrencies are getting further mainstreamed in India, the industry is working closely with regulators and policymakers to build a prosperous and secure crypto environment to put India on the global crypto map. We believe that a progressive regulatory framework will foster innovation in financial offerings and bring financial well-being to every Indian,” said Ashish Singhal.

    Echoing similar views, Sumit Gupta stated, “India today ranks second, in the percentage of cryptocurrency ownership across the world. The interest and confidence in the new age asset class will increase as more and more people understand its potential.”

    “The onus is now on the government and the players to create an inclusive ecosystem. The first step in this direction is to build trust around the product by removing misconceptions and providing user-focused education. Second, increase the availability of cryptocurrency transactions through a transparent, safe, and secure platform. And most importantly, the government should take up the steps and form crypto regulations in India to protect the best interests of crypto investors,” he added.

    The IAMAI is a not-for-profit industry body whose mandate is to expand and enhance the online and mobile value-added services sectors. It represents the digital industry to the government, investors, consumers, and other stakeholders.

  • Subhash Kamath re-elected as Asci chairman

    Subhash Kamath re-elected as Asci chairman

    Mumbai: The Advertising Standards Council of India’s (ASCI’s) board has elected Subhash Kamath as chairman for a second consecutive term, here on Thursday.

    August One Partners LLP managing director NS Rajan was re-elected as the vice-chairman of the board. The vote, which followed the 35th annual general meeting, ensures continuity for the several initiatives the advertising self-regulator had kickstarted over the past year, Asci said in a statement.

    “We have flagged off important initiatives in the digital space, such as the influencer guidelines and the monitoring of promotional content. We are becoming future-ready in this ever-changing marketing and media landscape. The second term will allow me to push further with these initiatives, which are showing immense promise. As we expand our presence, we are engaging more with consumers as well to increase awareness of their rights,” said Kamath.

    The Asci board was expanded this year with the inclusion of members such as noted academician and social activist Dr Ranjana Kumari,  educationist Dr Indu Sahani, technology entrepreneur Rajesh Patel, and finance sector expert and former editor Rajrishi Singhal – strengthening governance through partnering with external stakeholders and civil society. 

    In a statement, the industry watchdog said it will continue its digitisation efforts on the complaints management system as well as through a new website and learning tools for the industry. It will also focus on consumer, industry, and student education and thought leadership initiatives through collaborations.

    Under Kamath, Asci has launched several initiatives which included Influencer guidelines for labelling promotional content which helped consumers distinguish paid content from organic, Alliance with French digital service provider Reech for monitoring influencer content using artificial intelligence for paid marketing communication and real-money gaming advertising guidelines introduced in collaboration with the ministry of information and broadcasting made it mandatory to inform consumers of the associated risks.

    Asci also escalated more than 200 potentially misleading advertisements based on the advisory on COVID-related advertising by the ministry of Ayush, while also issuing its own COVID advisory for advertisers in October 2020. The industry body’s ‘Chup Na Baitho’ campaign, encouraging consumers to report ads with misleading claims, reached more than one million social media users, making them aware of their rights and how to file complaints, it added.

  • Onsurity appoints Samar Kagalwalla as head of marketing

    Onsurity appoints Samar Kagalwalla as head of marketing

    Mumbai: Onsurity, the tech-enabled employee healthcare platform has appointed Samar Kagalwalla as head of marketing & growth.

    Kagalwalla joins the platform with over 15 years of marketing experience. In his new role, he will be responsible for strengthening the brand’s communication in the healthcare space through innovative and thoughtful brand strategies, the platform announced on Thursday.

    Prior to Onsurity, Kagalwalla was working with several renowned names like Yes Bank, RBL Bank, AU Small Finance Bank, and HDFC Bank.

    Onsurity founder and CEO Yogesh Agarwal said, “Samar brings in new ideas and industry insights that will add to our existing strength. He will focus his attention on creating innovative brand strategies that will drive growth and bring marketing expertise to enhance the approach and penetration of Onsurity.”

    Talking about his new role, Samar Kagalwalla, said, “It is an interesting juncture for the healthcare sector and particularly one that focuses on employee healthcare and benefits given the pandemic era that we are in. I am excited to take this opportunity to scale, mold, and elevate Onsurity into a trusted employee partner for SMEs, startups, and enterprises.”

  • Maulik Kalamthekar to lead consumer engagement strategy for WolfzHowl

    Maulik Kalamthekar to lead consumer engagement strategy for WolfzHowl

    Mumbai: Brand strategy consultancy Wolfzhowl Strategic Instigation has brought on board Maulik Kalamthekar as the lead of consumer engagement strategy. This is Maulik’s second stint at the behaviour change strategy firm.

    “Strategy is about devising the best plan for winning. The wolves are mavericks in strategy craft. As we create robust strategies, we also want to focus on helping our clients execute our winning strategy with candour and creativity. Super pumped to be returning to do some rainmaking work for brands,” said Kalamthekar who carries over seven years of experience in advertising and digital marketing across functions, agencies, and brands. In his previous brief stint at The Glitch, Kalamthekar was the group head of strategy for the WPP agency and content division – Flux.

    “At Wolfzhowl, we are constantly strengthening our team, bringing in diversity, improving our skill-sets. This time we have Maulik, who joins us back at a crucial juncture in our journey,” Wolfzhowland head of culture, partner Renuka Asnani said. “As a Strategic Consultancy, we are increasingly focusing on providing final mile engagement solutions that bolster our strategy craft that lead to better business outcomes. Maulik’s consumer and culture first thinking along with his expertise in new-age platforms, especially using data, will give us an edge to deliver not just effective strategy but also delightful creative engagement solutions.”

  • GroupM India appoints Ritika Taneja as head of e-commerce

    GroupM India appoints Ritika Taneja as head of e-commerce

    Mumbai: GroupM India has announced the appointment of Ritika Taneja as head of e-commerce. In this role, Taneja will be leading the e-commerce product offerings to clients and will also be responsible for co-creating the e-commerce vision and strategy charter for GroupM India. 

    Taneja will be based out Gurgaon and report to GroupM India president – data, performance and digital products Atique Kazi, and closely work with GroupM APAC head of e-commerce services Toni Ruotanen.

    “There is a growing importance of strengthening e-commerce practices for brands in today’s digital economy and e-commerce has transformed the ways in which businesses are done in India,” said Atique Kazi. “Ritika’s appointment is a part of our continued investment in talent, especially in areas of enormous growth opportunities, like e-commerce. With the kind of extensive knowledge in this vertical that Ritika brings to the table, I am certain that we will continue to make the e-commerce practice a GroupM differentiator for our clients and brands.”

    Taneja comes with a diverse experience in the e-commerce and offline retail space. As a digital business leader, she has experience in engaging with consumer tech companies, said the agency. She joins the GroupM India team with a proven track record of building successful consumer-centric brands and businesses. 

    In a career spanning over 17 years, Taneja has spent a large part working in the online and offline retail space. Her experience also includes working on several international brands managing and growing their brand portfolios.

    “I am ecstatic to be a part of the GroupM family. The e-commerce landscape is evolving massively and there is a need for brands to advance their e-commerce strategies with this changing landscape and consumer behavior. GroupM provides a unique environment for leading the e-commerce sector that is transforming brands and helping the drive new trends in the country. I look forward to closely working with the leadership and help our clients on e-commerce opportunities by creating services and product offerings,” said Ritika Taneja on her new role.

  • Neeraj Sangani takes charge as Hansa Customer Equity CEO

    Neeraj Sangani takes charge as Hansa Customer Equity CEO

    Mumbai: RK Swamy Hansa Group on Wednesday named Neeraj Sangani as chief executive officer of its wholly-owned subsidiary Hansa Customer Equity Pvt Ltd. He will be reporting to group CEO Shekar Swamy and the board of the company, said the statement.

    The RK Swamy Hansa Group commenced Hansa Customer Equity as a start-up 13 years ago and has invested heavily in this technology-driven space. The company has established itself as a leader in the data analytics, CRM, and martech space and is providing exemplary service to its clients. 

    Sangani has been the COO since May 2020 and running the operations of the company for the past 16 months.

    “Neeraj joined the group over two decades ago. He grew up in the world of advertising and branding, and has added valuable experience in analytics and data-driven customer engagement programs. He will be a great partner to clients and our people, and drive the company to the next level,” stated Shekar Swamy.

    Sangani is an alumnus of UCLA Anderson School of Management and a keen proponent of Behavioural Economics. He has completed his professional certifications from the Institute of Data & Marketing, London, and the Rotman School of Management, Toronto. He runs www.cxmlab.com, a blog on tech, data & analytics.

    “It is an honour to lead this exciting company with a great portfolio of clients,” said Sangani. “I look forward to working closely with the group, and consolidating our leadership position in the market.”

  • Vikrant Chowdhary joins CleverTap as chief growth officer

    Vikrant Chowdhary joins CleverTap as chief growth officer

    Mumbai: Global user engagement and retention platform CleverTap on Tuesday added a new dimension to its core leadership team with the appointment of Vikrant Chowdhary as chief growth officer.

    In this role, Chowdhary will lead CleverTap’s integrated go-to-market (GTM) strategy globally across all commercial and enterprise segments.

    Increasingly, business leaders with disruptive mindsets and an eagerness to evolve are imperative for companies to succeed. Chowdhary brings this forward-thinking to CleverTap through 25 years of experience and expertise leading hypergrowth teams, said the company in a statement.

    “We are thrilled to have Vikrant join us as our partner for growth as we scale our business in key global markets and sectors and steer CleverTap to become a global leader in the user retention space for mobile-first digital businesses,” said CleverTap co-founder and CEO Sunil Thomas. “For the first time, we will integrate all of our customer-facing functions — across sales, marketing, solution engineering, and partnerships — to make one CleverTap Growth team under Vikrant’s leadership.”

    Before CleverTap, Chowdhary worked with Salesforce, a CRM company, where he directed India’s finserv vertical and enterprise business units. Previously, he held country leadership roles with SAP— where he powered the growth of the BFSI and telecom business unit, which became one of the best-performing teams in the country—as well as Teradata, IBM, and select startups. 

    “CleverTap has created a unique platform to help growth managers monetize behavioral economics for their real-time digital businesses, and I am truly excited and humbled to become an integral part of the company,” said Chowdhary.  “I am also excited to draw on my experience building growth units in vertical sectors powered by high-performance teams and have the opportunity to bring this capability to CleverTap.” 

  • Xapads Media expands footprint in Indonesia, onboards Edo Fernando as country head

    Xapads Media expands footprint in Indonesia, onboards Edo Fernando as country head

    Mumbai: Homegrown programmatic ad-tech platform Xapads Media has announced the expansion of its offerings, international team, and client base in Indonesia. The company has also brought on board Edo Fernando as country head in Indonesia.

    In this role, Fernando will lead the business in Indonesia and will be responsible for the strategic growth of Xapads Media in the country. He will also be further strengthening the local team, partnerships, and innovation in the industry, said the company in a statement.

    “Edo is a result-oriented person with a strong commitment to the growth of the organisation as he has phenomenal insights about the changing landscape of the digital ad market in the region,” said Xapads Media COO Ramneek Chadha. “Xapads is opening a new chapter of its journey in the region and we see him as a natural fit for driving the company’s growth journey in the Indonesian market and taking the company’s vision forward.”

    Before joining Xapads Media, Fernando served at Appnext & Pokkt as country director. With over 15 years of experience, he has worked with many multinational advertising and ad tech companies in Indonesia and got ample opportunities to work with top global brands along with all partners including OEMs, Publisher, and MMPs.

    “I thank Xapads Media for showcasing their confidence in my abilities,” said Fernando. “With its advanced tech-based advertising solutions, I am sure we will be able to establish Xapads amongst the top ad tech companies in the country. I look forward to working and contributing to the growth of Xapads Media in Indonesia.”

    Xapads’ expansion plan comes into effect after successfully creating a footprint in the Indian digital advertising industry and establishing operational offices in the US, Russia UAE, and Singapore. “The vision with which Xapads was founded was to make this homegrown ad-tech platform a global platform, a true Indian MNC. I feel proud and grateful with this expansion, which brings us one step closer to our goal,” stated Xapads Media CEO Nitin Gupta, on the company’s business expansion.

  • Adloid appoints Amit Sharma as head of digital marketing

    Adloid appoints Amit Sharma as head of digital marketing

    Mumbai: Adloid, a deep tech company with core expertise in Augmented Reality (AR) on Monday announced the appointment of Amit Sharma as head of digital marketing. He will report directly to Adloid’s co-founder and chief revenue officer Prashant Sinha.

    In this role, Sharma will be responsible for strengthening the company’s digital operations and leading creative strategies across the region and overseas, said the statement.

    “We as a company are still at an early stage of adoption and have a lot of room for growth. Strengthening the leadership capabilities, we are happy to onboard Amit and I believe his extensive experience and domain knowledge across verticals will add tremendous value to our organisation. We look forward to extending our support in his journey,” said Prashant Sinha, welcoming Sharma on board.

    Sharma comes with a rich and vast experience of over 14 years of leading performance and portfolio marketing across a deliberate mix of verticals and service lines. While exploring various aspects of the marketing mix, he has planned and executed highly impactful campaigns across North America, Europe, and ASEAN regions. Previously, he has worked with Genpact, IBM, CSC India, and R Systems.

    Talking about his new role, Sharma said, “Augmented Reality is transforming the way customers experience products online and is quickly turning from a novelty to a necessity. Adloid with its advanced technology stack has the perfect solution for the market. I am thrilled to join the team and look forward to a long-standing association with Adloid.”