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Category: People

  • MediaCom appoints Hariharan Vishwanathan as head – South

    MediaCom appoints Hariharan Vishwanathan as head – South

    MUMBAI: MediaCom has named Hariharan Vishwanathan as head – South.

     

    Vishwanathan joins from GroupM, where he was part of the CTG team. He takes over from Sriram Sharma, who was recently appointed as Mindshare leader – South.

     

    Vishwanathan will report to MediaCom India COO Rathi Gangappa.

     

    MediaCom India managing director Debraj Tripathy said, “We are happy to have someone with Vishi’s experience and caliber on board. Our business in the South has seen fantastic growth in the last few years under Sriram’s leadership. I am confident Vishi will bring renewed energy and focus to our business. I wish Sriram all the best in his new role.”

     

    Vishwanathan added, “I am excited to join MediaCom and I look forward to learning and applying their systems thinking approach. Working across agencies and functions in GroupM has been an enriching experience and I am happy that I will continue to do just that at MediaCom.”

  • Vijeeth Shetty to head Tonic Media’s new initiatives portfolio

    Vijeeth Shetty to head Tonic Media’s new initiatives portfolio

    MUMBAI: Tonic Media has roped in Vijeeth Shetty as its new initiatives head. In his new role, Shetty will lead new initiatives at Tonic that includes InvenTonic, a dedicated practice that partners start-ups and venture capital funds to accelerate growth.

     

    Under his aegis, InvenTonic has already commenced its journey by adding three new clients – the first one being digital media duties of the search and discovery platform Xploree, along with Flexiport and BillBachao.

     

    Shetty will also lend his expertise on strengthening the digital research cell, which aims to fill the void of a digitally driven research agency. He comes with a decade of experience in digital media with stints at agencies like GroupM, Pinstorm and a short stint at Angel Broking.

     

    Having worked on several award-winning campaigns, his core areas of expertise include digital media, search, mobile and consumer research.

     

    Shetty said, “It’s an extended adventure for me. I’m quite excited at the prospect of bringing a ‘limitless possibilities’ approach to strategic planning for clients – having traversed the entire spectrum myself. The digital business is undergoing tectonic shifts and the challenge is to master the change for business success. My focus will be on guiding our clients and helm our talent to effectively navigate these changing trends to our advantage.”

     

    Tonic Media co-founder and CEO Chetan Asher added, “I am delighted to welcome Vijeeth to Tonic at this strategic moment in our journey. As our business gets more dynamic and interconnected every day, we are constantly looking for leaders who can guide our new talent and enable a better, more integrated creative digital strategy for our clients. And Vijeeth seems the right person for it.”

  • Vivek Rao joins L&K Saatchi & Saatchi as chief creative officer – North

    Vivek Rao joins L&K Saatchi & Saatchi as chief creative officer – North

    MUMBAI: L&K Saatchi & Saatchi has appointed Vivek Rao as its chief creative officer – North. 

    Rao is armed with 15 years of experience working with global marketing communications companies and driving growth for global and local brands.

     

    L & K Saatchi & Saatchi CEO and managing partner Anil S Nair said, “Vivek is not just a fantastic creative talent but an inspiring leader, who carries his team along with him to glory. He is an absolute team player and therefore a fantastic fit with our culture. We are very excited to have him on board and are looking forward to his positive contribution towards our creative profile and ambition.”

     

    Rao added, “Having worked with stalwarts like Prasoon Joshi, Pops, Agnello Dias, Nitesh Tiwari, Ashish Khazanchi, Prasanna Sankhe & Satbir Singh over the years, I was keen to apply and use all that I’ve learnt in a place that’s growing at a furious pace. Praveen Kenneth, Anil Nair and the core team have done a magnificent job in creating L&K into an incredible force, add Saatchi & Saatchi’s global might to that and you can see why it’s a place that’s hitting top gear right now.”

     

    He further said, “The dynamics of communication has changed and yet, the basics still remain the same. Solid ideas, simplicity of storytelling will always be the way for brands to connect with consumers. The good part is that clients are extremely keen to reach out to consumers in ways that aren’t necessarily from expected quarters. Praveen and Anil have a clear picture about the way ahead and my role will be to ensure that from a creative perspective we hit the right notes for our clients. The canvas is much wider now and the ride is bound to be fast and enjoyable.”

     

    Over the years, Rao has worked with agency networks like McCann Erickson, Leo Burnett, Contract Advertising, Publicis Ambience and Havas Worldwide.

  • The 120 Media Collective appoints Sandeep Naug as VP – biz development

    The 120 Media Collective appoints Sandeep Naug as VP – biz development

    MUMBAI: The 120 Media Collective has appointed Sandeep Naug as vice president – business development.

     

    He will be responsible for driving revenue and integrated new business including branded content and other properties, for the company and its verticals – Jack in the Box Worldwide, Sniper and Sooperfly.

     

    Naug will report to The 120 Media Collective founder & CEO Roopak Saluja and will be based out of both Mumbai and Delhi.

     

    A media professional with over eight years of experience in content solutions, Naug’s specialization lies in branded content and sales, strategy, planning and implementing paid, earned and owned media. He has previously worked with CNBC TV18, Bloomberg UTV and Disney, and most recently with Culture Machine as lead- revenue for North and APAC through digital video content and channel management.

     

    Saluja said, “Entering our ninth year of existence, we’re not just creating content and communications but are now engaging with specific audiences in a strategic manner. Bringing our diverse offerings together to create integrated solutions for brands is therefore paramount. Sandeep’s broad and deep experience in branded content across traditional and digital media, his solutions-oriented approach towards brands and advertisers and his profound understanding of where the industry is headed, make him the perfect fit for this role, which will be pivotal in taking The 120 Media Collective to the next level as an integrated next generation media company.”

     

    “120MC has a very deep understanding of consumer nativeness of new media and it has been proved multiple times be it Kolaveri Di or Be Beautiful. Creating content that the consumer can appreciate and engage with is imperative and 120MC has the capability to create, execute and distribute such content led communication for brands across medium with digital at its core. I am glad to be a part of this team, learn more and do more,” added Naug.

  • Mindshare appoints MediaCom’s Sriram Sharma as leader–south

    Mindshare appoints MediaCom’s Sriram Sharma as leader–south

    MUMBAI: Mindshare has appointed Sriram Sharma as leader – south. In his new role, which iseffective from 1 August 2015, Sharma will be responsible for all the media and digital mandates for the Mindshare clients in the Southern region.

     

    He will be operating out of the Bangalore office and will report to Mindshare CEO South Asia Prasanth Kumar.

     

    Sharma comes to Mindshare with over 18 years of experience, having worked across multiple industries like advertising, mobile marketing and branding. Currently with MediaCom, Sharma looks after the business in the Bangalore and Chennai office.

     

    Kumar said, “We are glad to welcome Sriram into the Mindshare family. His motivation and wealth of experience across industries and markets makes him the right person to assist in driving the growth of the agency. For us, South is a very important market and I am confident he will be able to lead the south division to even greater heights.”

     

    Sharma added, “Mindshare represents a new journey for me – new skills to acquire, new people to meet and new challenges to deal with. Mindshare has always been a forerunner in innovation and the adaptive marketing world, and I look forward to working with the impressive Mindshare client roster and scaling new peaks in both the digital and traditional media spaces.”

  • Bobby Pawar, Partha Sinha elevated to Publicis South Asia MD

    Bobby Pawar, Partha Sinha elevated to Publicis South Asia MD

    MUMBAI: Publicis Worldwide South Asia has promoted Bobby Pawar and Partha Sinha to managing directors.

     

    This move comes as the India agency consolidates following a period of sustained growth that has seen it double its size over the past two years.

     

    In their new roles, Pawar and Sinha will continue to report to Publicis Worldwide South Asia CEO Nakul Chopra as they take on larger responsibilities to partner him in managing all business units in the region. A key focus will be to elevate the agency’s effectiveness in communication that helps lead the change for clients.

     

    As managing director and chief strategy officer, Sinha will lead all strategic development. He will take additional responsibility for the P&L of the consulting, design and digital services in South Asia. 

     

    Pawar, on the other hand, will be managing director and chief creative officer. He will lead creative development and ensure the increasing infusion of digital channels for all Publicis Worldwide entities in the region. 

     

    Chopra said that the promotions were clear recognition of the positive impact and leadership both executives had demonstrated in leading their agency teams and client relationships.

     

    Chopra said, “Both Bobby and Partha have played pivotal roles in delivering the expectations of our clients and in vastly improving our product. They have worked very closely with me and taken the lead in helping Publicis grow at a very rapid rate. These promotions not only recognise their past achievements but also focus on the future where we have high expectations for the continual transformation of our business.”

     

    In a joint statement, Sinha and Pawar added, “Publicis is on a fast growth track and is increasingly becoming a significant power in partnering clients in the new age environment. Our objective is to become the most significant partner available in this market for brands to navigate and lead the change in society, culture and the marketplace. We are on our way there.”

     

    Publicis Worldwide, APAC and emerging markets CEO Loris Nold opined, “Publicis South Asia without doubt has a world-class management team and have achieved great results in the past few years. With Partha and Bobby taking a bigger role, I am very confident that we are best positioned to help our clients in their marketing transformation.”

  • Mindshare expands Emerging Markets Group under Ashutosh Srivastava

    Mindshare expands Emerging Markets Group under Ashutosh Srivastava

    MUMBAI: Mindshare chairman Asia and CEO Emerging Markets Group Ashutosh Srivastava has now been given the added responsibility of the Middle East and Africa.

     

    The change comes as Helen McRae is appointed Mindshare UK CEO, a role she will combine with her responsibility as chair of Mindshare Western Europe, representing Europe on the GroupM Europe board. McRae’s Africa responsibilities will now pass to Srivastava, whose extended remit will cover APAC, Russia, the Middle East and Africa.

     

    Mindshare global CEO Nick Emery said, “Ashutosh continues to broaden his scope and influence as all our best people do. I’m delighted that his influence will now have a direct effect on Asia, Africa and the Middle East. We will be all the richer for it.”

     

    Srivastava added, “The intent of this is to more strongly connect the growth markets together in the same way that many of our clients have organised themselves and so helping them unlock that growth through a strong, joined up network of resources.”

     

    At the same time, Christof Baron will take on the role CEO of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) to drive Mindshare growth in the region and oversee the international development of German based clients. Baron will also continue his role as non-executive chairman of Mindshare Germany.

  • Askme Bazaar ropes in Farhan Akhtar as brand ambassador

    Askme Bazaar ropes in Farhan Akhtar as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: India’s consumer internet company Askme has roped in Bollywood star Farhan Akhtar as brand ambassador for its online marketplace Askmebazaar.com.

    As per the terms of the contract, Akhtar will endorse the company’s products and services through advertising campaigns.

    As the brand ambassador, Akhtar will be featured in a new integrated 360-degree campaign for Askmebazaar.com, which will run across TV, print and online channels from August 2015.

    Askme Group CMO Manav Sethi said, “We are delighted to have multi-talented Farhan Akhtar on board as this association will help build a strong connect between the brand and consumers. Farhan Akhtar who wears different caps of a singer, lyricist, actor and director, truly exemplifies our brand philosophy which is defined by simplicity, great design and ease of use with contemporary Indian features.”

    Akhtar added, “It’s a great feeling to be associated with Askme as the brand resonates fashion, style, and attitude and guarantees every purchase with its unique trust seal.”

  • Rediffusion Y&R appoints Pramod Sharma as executive creative director

    Rediffusion Y&R appoints Pramod Sharma as executive creative director

    MUMBAI: Rediffusion Y&R has appointed Pramod Sharma as executive creative director, which is also his second stint with the company. He joins the agency from Soho Square (Ogilvy).

     

    Sharma said, “I had a great stint working with Jauhari and Wadia in Everest. And given the change that is underway in Rediffusion Y&R, the opportunity was one I didn’t want to miss. Jauhari has been like a mentor to me and this feels like coming home for a second innings.”

     

    Rediffusion Y&R president Dhunji S.Wadia added, “We welcome Sharma’s return to our agency. He understands our clients, brands and our work style. We appreciate his work ethic and calibre. And everyone can expect sparkling creative work.”

     

    Rediffusion Y & R CCO Rahul Jauhari said, “It’s great to have him back in the team. His passion for creativity is very well balanced with his understanding of business issues. Sharma comes as a shot in the arm for the creative team in Rediffusion Y&R Mumbai.”

     

    Sharma comes with over 15 years of work experience across agencies like Ogilvy, Dentsu, Percept-Hakuhodo, Everest and DDB Mudra.

  • O&M makes senior hires; names Alok Sinha as president planning

    O&M makes senior hires; names Alok Sinha as president planning

    MUMBAI: With an aim to strengthen its top brass of management, the Gurgaon office of Ogilvy and Mather has made a number of additions to its senior management team – the prime one being the appointment of Alok Sinha as the president – planning.

     

    “As our business gets more dynamic and interconnected every day, we are constantly looking for leaders who can join the dots effectively and enable a better, more integrated creative product,” said Ogilvy North executive creative director Ajay Gahlaut.

     

    Sinha, who comes with over 20 years of experience across fields like research, advertising, media and digital, finds his new position at Ogilvy’s Gurgaon office as a “homecoming.”

     

    “I’m quite excited at the prospect of bringing a ‘no boundaries’ approach to account planning for clients – having traversed the entire spectrum myself. The communication business is at the confluence of two tectonic forces – content and data. Ogilvy Delhi has some of the most prestigious clients and talent in the country and my job is to try help both our clients and our talent effectively navigate this confluence for business success,” adds Sinha.

     

    Priot to this, Sinha led the strategic digital mandate for Mindshare in South Asia, where his focus was on strengthening Mindshare’s planning product and the strong integration of digital thinking on businesses including futuristic projects like the Loop Room. He has also had extensive experience across South East Asia, in a regional communications planning role at Aegis and subsequently as lead on the P&G businesses at Carat, Philippines.

     

    This move was the first amongst a series of new appointments that Ogilgy and Mather’s Gugaon office has undergone. The other key addition to the team is Chandana Agarwal, who has taken up the role of managing partner of the advertising function. 

     

    Agarwal has been with Soho Square and Ogilvy Gurgaon for over four years now. In her role as managing partner, she will work with Ogilvy Gurgaon branch head Kapil Arora to steward the advertising business of Ogilvy.

     

    This was followed by bringing Namrata Balwani on board as senior vice president and head of OgilvyOne, Gurgaon. Balwani moves in from Media2win, a digital agency she co-founded, where she was CEO.

     

    “I am excited to lead an amazing OgilvyOne team in Gurgaon. Digital platforms and connectivity, especially mobile, are transforming India at a speed never seen before. This is the best time to not only be a part of the transformation but also lead the charge and OgilvyOne is well poised to do that for all its brand partners,” Balwani said.

     

    Speaking on the new appointments, Arora said, “Over the last three years, the office has grown significantly across disciplines and we felt the need to bring in the right talent to help navigate our clients’ businesses through a rapidly changing environment. Between Alok, Chandana and Namrata, we have some of the best talent at hand, to fuel the creative product and to partner our clients in building their businesses.”