MUMBAI: There’s trouble brewing at the Facebook group. Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom, the co-founders of the photo-sharing app Instagram which was acquired by the social media site in 2012, have decided to leave the company. The duo have put down their papers and will leave the company in a few weeks, adding to the challenges facing Instagram’s parent company, Facebook.
In a statement issued by Krieger, he informed Instagram’s team about their decision to leave the company. While he did not give a reason for stepping down, he said: “We’re planning on taking some time off to explore our curiosity and creativity again. Building new things requires that we step back, understand what inspires us and match that with what the world needs; that’s what we plan to do.”
Their departure adds to questions about Instagram’s future as concerns about Facebook’s approach to user data and foreign interference begin to take a toll on business.
The resignation of Instagram founders is an echo of the exit of Whatsapp founder Jan Koum who resigned from the company in April after his rising concern about Facebook’s approach to user data.
Facebook acquired Instagram in April 2012 for $1 billion and WhatsApp in 2014 for a steep $19 billion.
Category: People
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Instagram co-founders resign from Facebook
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Uber appoints Satinder Bindra as first director of comm for India, SA
MUMBAI: Uber India has appointed Satinder Bindra as its first director of communications for India and South Asia.
As a key member of Uber’s regional leadership team, Bindra will be responsible for driving Uber’s reputation forward and delivering against the mission of providing reliable transportation everywhere, for everyone; encompassing internal and external communications, stakeholder relations and community outreach efforts.
Announcing his appointment, Uber SVP for policy and communications Jill Hazelbaker said, “I am thrilled for Sat to join Uber and lead our communications efforts across India and South Asia. Sat brings a truly exceptional collection of experiences encompassing more than two decades and spanning over 70 countries. He is a thought leader, a respected development advocate, humanitarian and campaigner; he is also an author, an award winning journalist, documentarian, and a talented brand ambassador. His appointment reinforces our commitment and continued investment to India, as an absolutely critical global market for Uber.”
Bindra joins from Seabed 2030 where, as its founding project director, he led a first-of-its-kind global movement in collaboration with Japan’s Nippon Foundation, international sea floor mapping experts, governments and the maritime community to map the entire ocean floor in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal #14
Previously, Bindra was the principal director of external relations at the Manila-based Asian Development Bank, the communications director for the United Nation’s Development Program in New York City and the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi, Kenya. In addition, he has worked in a variety of senior on air and editorial roles for some of the world’s leading news organisations such as CBS, CNN, CTV, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and The Canadian Press.
Commenting on his appointment, Bindra said, “I’m honoured to work for Uber, a company that is reshaping technology, changing consumer behaviour and promoting sustainability at an unprecedented scale. In India and South Asia, Uber has a formidable track record of creating economic opportunities, improving social mobility, reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality. I look forward to sharing its exciting story with 1.9 billion South Asians.” -
Coca-Cola India appoints Asha Sekhar as VP & chief digital officer
MUMBAI: Coca-Cola India, on Monday, announced the appointment of Asha Sekhar as its vice president and chief digital officer, India and South West Asia.
Prior to this, she worked for over a decade with WPP, Universal McCann, Madison and Mudra, managing media businesses for leading brands. She has developed multi-level engagement with all key segments of the dynamic media landscape ranging from technology platforms to content distributors.
Announcing the elevation, Coca-Cola president India and South West Asia T Krishnakumar said, “Digitalisation is disrupting all industries and redefining the ways companies connect, engage, communicate and do business. Asha’s expertise in delivering consumer-focused digital experience will help in our journey towards becoming more relevant and future ready.”
Sekhar will report to Krishnakumar. In her previous role, as director – media, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia, she was pivotal in setting up a separate media function to efficiently leverage marketing efforts in an increasingly complex media landscape.
In this newly created leadership role, which focuses on the company’s journey towards digital transformation, Asha will build foundations necessary for business growth, drive opportunities and strengthen Coca-Cola India’s digital ecosystem. In addition to her new responsibilities, Asha will continue to lead the media and allied marketing functions.
“This new addition to the leadership team of Coca-Cola in India is designed to address developing business needs and reinforces our commitment towards investing in diversity and talent development,” he added.
As a core part of the marketing function, Asha has been a significant change agent for driving media strategy. Some of her significant achievements include, the inception and later scale-up of Samvaad, an in-house digital experience center for Coca-Cola in India, that delivers consumer centricity for Coca-Cola’s brands, company and customers. She has also delivered some ‘industry-first’ pioneering projects and driven strategic media partnerships. -
Punit Goenka elected President of IAA India Chapter
MUMBAI, September 24, 2018: Punit Goenka, Managing Director & CEO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) was unanimously elected President of the India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) at its AGM held on 24th September 2018 in Mumbai.
Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Media Brands India was elected Vice President. The office bearers would be Pradeep Dwivedi, CEO, Sakal Media Group, Hon. Secretary, Jaideep Gandhi, Founder, Another Idea, Hon. Treasurer, and Ramesh Narayan Immediate Past President.
The Members of the Managing Committee elected include Megha Tata COO BTVI, Janak Sarda Director Deshdhoot Group, M.V.Shreyams Kumar JMD Mathrubhumi Group, I.Venkat Director Eenadu, Abhishek Karnani Director Free Press Journal. The list of members co-opted and invited to the Managing Committee will be shortly announced.
Punit Goenka has just relinquished office after a much-acclaimed term as President of the IBF.
During his tenure as MD & CEO, ZEE has won several awards including the Dun & Bradstreet Corporate Award 2015, IMC Fusion Award 2013 for Excellence in Media, Businessworld Infocom ICT Award 2012 and many more.
Punit Goenka was conferred the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Media’ award at the Managing India Awards hosted by AIMA in 2018. He has also received Business Today ‘Best CEO Award’ in the Media and Entertainment category for 2016, MIPTV’s Médaille d'Honneur Award 2016, Economic Times ‘40 Under Forty’ India’s Hottest Business Leaders Award 2014, the ‘Young CEO Award’ by CEO India magazine in 2015 and the IAA Leadership Award 2014 under the category of ‘Media Person of the Year Award’. Goenka has also been recognized as the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ during the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2014. Punit was felicitated as the ‘IMPACT Person of the Year’ in 2014.
Speaking on his new role as the President of IAA, Mr. Goenka said, “It is an honour for me to take over the mantle of leading the India Chapter of IAA. I am humbled by the faith and trust that my friends and colleagues from the Industry have bestowed on me. It will be my sincere endeavour to work towards strengthening the India Chapter of this prestigious association, taking up initiatives that address key industry concerns and are aimed at enhancing the ecosystem.”
Outgoing President Ramesh Narayan said "I am delighted that Punit Goenka is taking over as President IAA. His well-known leadership skills and the respect he commands in our industry will undoubtedly take the IAA India Chapter to greater heights. Shashi Sinha is a doyen of the advertising industry and a known performer in industry Associations. The combination is unbeatable.”
Srinivasan Swamy, President Elect IAA Global and Chairman, RK Swamy BBDO said "Punit Goenka is wonderful leader to have in the year when India will host the 44th. IAA World Congress in Kochi in February 2019. I am very happy that such a distinguished person has taken over the responsibility of leading IAA. It augurs well for the India Chapter.”
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JWT elevates Tista Sen and Priya Shivakumar
MUMBAI: J Walter Thompson's (JWT) Tista Sen has been elevated as the regional creative director of India with the additional responsibility of JWT Sri Lanka. Sen is currently national creative director (NCD) at the agency.
In addition to this, Priya Shivakumar, currently the executive creative director of JWT Bangalore, has been promoted to NCD. She will now drive creative excellence for clients across Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.
JWT CEO Tarun Rai said; “Both Tista and Priya are exceptional creative professionals and their promotions are richly deserved. They have helped build so many brands and have been true ambassadors of JWT.”
“This is surely the sign of things to come as geography becomes history all over again. Tista and Priya are two of our best creative leaders, now empowered to lead from the front and drive creativity across the country and beyond,” added J Walter Thompson CCO Senthil Kumar.
Sen has been involved in crafting memorable and well-loved campaigns for some of the most iconic brands in India. Her deep understanding of the advertising landscape empowers her to orchestrate integrated communications that build future-ready brands and businesses. Over the years she has served as jury at several advertising festivals in India and abroad.
Shivakumar brings both traditional media and digital media together with her ideas and has led the Bangalore office of JWT successfully for over seven years now as ECD. Her work cuts across categories like fashion, beauty, luxury, travel and technology.
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Garnier Color Naturals announces Taapsee Pannu, Angira Dhar, Neha Sharma as brand ambassadors
MUMBAI: Actresses Taapsee Pannu, Angira Dhar, and Neha Sharma are the new brand ambassadors of Garnier Colour Naturals. The dynamic trio will feature in the new campaign #Openup to Beautiful Browns for the Garnier Colour Naturals hair colour range.
The campaign #Openup to Beautiful Browns highlights Garnier Colour Naturals’ new extension of glamorous brown hair colours, thoughtfully created to complement all kind of Indian skin tones.
In the new campaign, Taapsee Pannu, Angira Dhar, and Neha Sharma are seen sporting different shades of brown hair colours.
Garnier general manager Pankaj Sharma says, “We are delighted to have on board the three extremely talented personalities – Taapsee Pannu, Angira Dhar, and Neha Sharma. All of them have distinctly vibrant and strong individualities which befit our brand persona. We look forward to a beautiful and memorable journey ahead, and we are confident that with them we will set new trends in hair colouring. We have developed the widest range of Browns to choose from with one for every Indian skin tone.”
Taapsee Pannu says, “I have grown up using Garnier products, and it makes me extremely happy endorsing a brand that I believe in. I’m especially excited to be associated with Garnier Colour Naturals, as the brand had put in a lot of thought to create hair colours that suit every skin tone and fashion trend.”
Neha Sharma adds, “Brown has always been my go-to hair colour because it is vibrant and classy. I’m so glad that Garnier Colour Naturals introduced this absolutely stunning brown range, and I’m delighted to be one of their new brand ambassadors.”
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Gaurav Lulla & Pavneet Gakhal get ready to fire on all cylinders
MUMBAI: Viacom18’s Gaurav Lulla has moved on from the network where he was the head of digital media for MTV India and English Cluster including Vh1, Comedy Central and Colors Infinity.
In his new innings, Gaurav has cofounded Loose Cannons Content Studio along with another senior Viacom18 manager Pavneet Gakhal.
Loose Cannons is a boutique content studio that specialises in content creation for media hubs and brands.
Confirming this to Indiantelevision.com, Loose Cannons Content Studio Co-Founder Gaurav Lulla says, “The current content ecosystem is at a tipping point. With the massive influx of content pipes, over and above the traditional ones that existed, the playground has changed dramatically. This has led to two very diverse challenges – content pipes need to collaborate with varied creators to bring engaging stories to their platforms and the current form of advertising needs to alter to reach out to consumers in unique formats applicable to each content consumption touchpoint. To address this alteration, the ecosystem needs an almost disruptive approach by a motley bunch of loose cannons who keep firing and experimenting with varied content initiatives. Pavneet and I identified with this at a very personal level and hence “Loose Cannons Content Studio.”
The studio has a catalogue of content IPs across limited fiction series and non-fiction show formats which are currently being pitched to all and sundry.
Adds Gaurav: “Loose Cannons Content Studio operates in two diverse universes. On the one hand, we partner with various media houses across platforms to enrich their content offering. On the other hand, we aim to solve the imminent communication challenge facing brands to engage audiences beyond awareness scores. The good news is that both of these journeys have the same starting point : a strong story.”
Gakhal has a clear vision where the boutique studio is headed. Says she: “With an aim to establish strategic alliances and collaborations with a bouquet of production houses, talent management outfits and new age technocrats, we aim to create content that enthrals audiences across all screens. We have a catalogue of content IPs across limited fiction series and non-fiction show formats which we are in the process of getting commissioned. We will dabble with all kinds of branded content initiatives all the way from conceptualization of the content, producing it to be relevant across platforms of consumption and finally building a content marketing campaign around it to amplify its reach.”
At Viacom18, Lulla was responsible for all digital content initiatives and monetisation strategy for the cluster and creating a content funnel by working closely with the entire creative ecosystem of content creators, talent managers and production houses.
During his tenure at the network, engagement scores grew by 3X for all brands on social through creation of ancillary digital content for marquee properties such as Roadies, Splitsvilla, India Next Top Model, The Stage and more.
Gaurav joined Viacom18 in 2011 as the head of innovations and client solutions MTV and later took on many roles at the network including as the head of digital media and brand solutions, INS (Integrated Network Solutions) in 2013 and as the head of digital media and brand solutions English Cluster in 2015. He eventually became the head of digital media for MTV India and English Cluster in 2016.
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Rajesh Mani joins McCann as EDC Mumbai biz
MUMBAI: Rajesh Mani has joined McCann Mumbai as executive creative director.
He has close to18 years of work experience in advertising and his last tenure was with Happy Mcgarrybowen, Bangalore.
Mani mentions, “I am excited to come on board as McCann is truly raising the bar in terms of ideas, craft and effectiveness. It will be great to work under the leadership of Prasoon again and partner Abhinav to take things to the next level.”
McCann Worldgroup chairman APAC CEO and chief creative officer Prasoon Joshi says, “I welcome Rajesh Mani back into the McCann family. Rajesh has a wealth of experience and talent. Moreover, he has immense maturity to create and guide great work. I am looking forward to his second innings with us and this time closely working along with Abhinav Tripathi.”
Having worked with agencies like Triton, Ogilvy & Mather, Bangalore and Mumbai, Leo Burnett, Commonwealth, and BBH, he has also worked with clients like Ola, Suzuki Motor Cycles, Jabong, Marico, Magnum ice-creams, Tata Capital, Bajaj, Electrical and Appliances, HDFC Life Insurance, Vodaphone, General Motors, among others.
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Mausumi Kar appointed India MD for Motivator
MUMBAI: Motivator, an integral part of GroupM – world’s largest media investment agency – has appointed Mausumi Kar as its India managing director effective from 1 October 2018.
She will be Motivator’s first woman managing director and will report to GroupM South Asia CEO Sameer Singh.
Mausumi has been associated with GroupM for over 10 years and has handled multiple roles from heading Maxus–North and East, to leading the Google Partnership for GroupM nationally. Before the move, she led the independent SBU that handled the Airtel mandate.
On the announcement Sameer Singh said, “It’s a welcoming change in the organisation. I have seen her work and feel her leadership skills and experience will play a vital role in the firm. I’m looking forward to working with her and wish her all the best for her new role.”
Talking about her new role, Mausumi Kar said, “It has been a rewarding journey at GroupM. I am excited and looking forward to the new assignment. My aim would be to become a trusted advisor to my clients and help them in delivering superior value while delivering the best to our partners . I would like to thank Sam and the leadership team for reposing their faith in me. I am grateful to my team which has made me shine.”
Mausumi has over 25 years of experience in the field of media, entertainment and advertising and excels in Brand Management, Communication Planning, Consumer Insights, Ideation and Execution and Digital Strategy. In her professional tenure, she has held prestigious roles at IPG Group, Havas Group and ESPN-Star Sports.
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FCB Ulka appoints Theresa Ronnie as head of Bangalore office
MUMBAI: FCB Ulka has appointed Theresa Ronnie as the new head of office for Bengaluru.
In her role, Theresa will be responsible for upping the ante for the Bangalore office.
Theresa will report to FCB Ulka CEO Nitin Karkare and will be based out of the Bangalore office.
Theresa is a brand communications specialist with over 16 years in the business of shaping brands. She joins from Publicis, where she was heading the Bengaluru operations. Theresa has worked at agency teams in JWT and Rediffusion in India and with Bates, M&C Saatchi and Leo Burnett in Dubai and Malaysia respectively.
Some of the brands she has shaped in the past include Ford, Citibank, Swatch, MontBlanc, Volkswagen, PETRONAS, Heineken, Amstel, Kingfisher Ultra and Ultra Max.