ITV

Category: People

  • FCB Ulka Digital appoints Anushree Ghosh as strategic head

    FCB Ulka Digital appoints Anushree Ghosh as strategic head

    MUMBAI: FCB Ulka Digital has appointed Anushree Ghosh as digital strategic head.

    Prior to this, Ghosh was with SapientNitro where she was leading the strategy function. Ghosh has worked on a gamut of brands such as Nestle, eBay, ITC, GSK Horlicks and MTV, among many others in her previous avatars.

    Her expertise lies in decoding the digital consumer behaviour with over 12 years of varied experience and brings with her deep knowledge of digital strategy and brand management, which ensures deep consumer understanding and engagement.

    FCB Ulka Interactive senior VP Satish Ramachandran said, “We have had a great year, we have won quite a few large new business, we have won over 14 prestigious awards. We have been consistently investing in talent and technology to ensure we are ahead of the curve. Anushree’s experience will take FCB Ulka Digital to greater heights.”

    On her new role, Ghosh said, “FCB Ulka Digital has some great accounts and has been doing clutter breaking work. They have consistently won awards over the last two years from IAMAI, Afaqs, Indian Digital Media Awards, DMAi, etc. I feel proud to join a talented team of digital mavens and look forward to adding powerful and impactful insights.”

    FCB Ulka  Digital client list includes Amul, TCS, Tata Chemicals, Abbott Healthcare, Wipro, ITC, Bausch & Lomb, Nerolac, ICICI Bank, World Vision and Tata Housing to name a few.

     

  • Digital L&K Saatchi & Saatchi announces key appointments

    Digital L&K Saatchi & Saatchi announces key appointments

    MUMBAI: Digital L&K Saatchi & Saatchi has announced two senior level appointments. Sandeep Sarma joins the agency as its client servicing digital director while Arunima Singh joins as servicing group head.

    Commenting on the new appointments, Digital L&K Saatchi & Saatchi CEO Anil K Nair said, “Sandeep Sarma brings a healthy mix of traditional brand knowledge and digital planning skill sets to head and consult a few strategic business units at Digital L&K Saatchi & Saatchi. Arunima Singh is an out and out digital native having worked in various aspects of the digital industry. A strong leader, she will be leading and building quite a few cutting edge digital led engagement initiatives for us.”

    He further added, “We are very pleased to have them on board and hope to have a great and sustainable run with them.”

    Sarma has over 10 years of rich experience in digital and has worked with Times Internet, Zapak.com and RKSWAMY BBDO on brands like P&G India, Mars India, Mercedes-Benz India, LIC, Raymond, Pepsi, Axe.

    Elaborating on his outlook to the new role he said, “I am quite excited to be part of a young and vibrant company Digital L&K Saatchi & Saatchi and aim to help create some winning case studies for some of the blue chip brands that we manage.”

    With 12 years of experience, Singh has previously worked with Social Wavelength (JWT) and Sobhagya Advertising Agency on brands such as Magma Fincorp, Dr. Batra’s, Force Motors, Kotak Mahindra, HUL, Skyscape, Apollo Clinics, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Tata Housing, Intel, Piramal, to name a few.

    On joining Digital L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, Singh said “Joining Digital L&K Saatchi & Saatchi has indeed been a broadening of horizon for me as it has shown me a bigger picture of digital advertising. In the short span of time that I’ve worked here, I have got an encouraging glimpse of a very congenial working atmosphere. The bonding in this agency is not only at a professional level but also at personal level which helps build an environment where creativity gets nurtured and nourished.”

     

  • Urban Ladder expands its talent pool, acqui-hires BuynBrag team

    Urban Ladder expands its talent pool, acqui-hires BuynBrag team

    MUMBAI: Urban Ladder, the online furniture company has acqui-hired the BuyNBrag team. BuynBrag co-founder Prithvi Raj Tejavath along with key team members has joined Urban Ladder as VP – home decor in an effort to strengthen and increase the talent pool of the online furniture company.

    Urban Ladder was launched in July 2012 with the vision of making a million Indian homes beautiful. So far, the company has remained focused on the furniture category and its closely curated furniture range has become synonymous with world class designs and impeccable quality.

    “Over the last two years, we have been able to do very interesting work in the furniture space and we are delighted with the feedback we have received from our customers. While we will continue to provide our customers with best in class furniture, we feel now is the right time to add a wider home décor range to our catalogue. We are happy to have Prithvi and the BuynBrag team joining us to work their magic in the home décor category,” said Urban Ladder CEO and co-founder Ashish Goel.

    BuynBrag was launched in 2012 and is known for its contemporary design and extensive decor and furnishings range.

    Tejavath said, “Urban Ladder has made a huge impact in the furniture category and has created a niche for itself. My team from BuynBrag and I look forward to contributing our expertise in the home decor segment for Urban Ladder. The amalgamation of the teams will lead to producing the best in the home décor space in the times to come.”

     

  • 92.7 Big FM elevates Jay Mehta to station head, Mumbai

    92.7 Big FM elevates Jay Mehta to station head, Mumbai

    MUMBAI: 92.7 Big FM has announced the elevation of Jay Mehta as station head, Mumbai. Mehta joined 92.7 Big FM in August 2014 in the position of sales head – Mumbai and has been an ace performer, steadily growing revenues for the station. In his role as station head, Mehta’s primary responsibility will be to manage the P&L of the station, ensuring profitability as the station continues to deliver excellent value to listeners and advertisers alike.

     

    Mehta will report to 92.7 Big FM business head Ashwin Padmanabhan.

     

    Mehta carries with him over a decade’s work experience, with companies like Uninor, Idea Cellular, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications. His key strengths include innovations, strategy formulation and execution, brand launches, brand associations, and sales and distribution. He has to his credit, been a key part of the launch team of two telecom giants in India – Uninor and Idea Cellular and has been instrumental in seeding the brands during its initial periods.

     

    Padmanabhan said, “It is an absolute delight to meet and work with committed employees like Jay. His relationship skills and ability to deep dive and understand the Clients requirements and offer suitable solutions, is phenomenal. We couldn’t have found anymore more apt for this role than Jay and I am confident he will lead the entire team to the next level.”

     

    Mehta added, “I am privileged to be acknowledged so early in my association with BIG FM and thank the management for the same. My clear focus going forward is to make Big FM synonymous with radio, to increase revenue share and to build a strong cohesive team that delivers excellent clutter breaking content to listeners and value to advertisers.”

     

    Jay has a superlative educational record with a distinction in Masters in Management Studies (MMS) – Marketing from Chetana College Mumbai and a Bachelor of Commerce (BCOM) degree with distinction from Narsee Monjee Institute of Commerce and Economics Mumbai.

     

  • Abhishek Razdan promoted to EVP and national business head of Jack in the Box Worldwide

    Abhishek Razdan promoted to EVP and national business head of Jack in the Box Worldwide

    MUMBAI: Abhishek Razdan, who till recently was the senior vice president and Mumbai business head, has now been promoted to executive vice president and national business head of Jack in the Box Worldwide, the digital agency brand of The 120 Media Collective, with immediate effect.

     

    In his new role, Razdan will oversee both, Mumbai and Delhi operations, as well as client relationships in Bangalore.  He will have overall responsibility for driving business growth and profitability as well as for strategic evolution.  Vice president & business head – Delhi Mairu Gupta, will continue to run Delhi operations, reporting to Razdan.

     

    Razdan joined Jack in the Box Worldwide as head of business management in July 2012 and was promoted in 2013 to business head for Jack in the Box Mumbai after helping restructure and give focus and depth to the agency.  He went on to demonstrate deft account management skills and business acumen and was a crucial part of big account wins including Pond’s Men, Vaseline, BeBEAUTIFUL and Nivea, helping create effective and award winning work and building successful client relationships on a consistent basis. Razdan also championed the development of the Louis Philippe relationship, growing it into one of the agency’s most strategically robust, creatively exciting and award-yielding and financially rewarding clients.

     

    “Over the past 24 months, we have evolved into perhaps India’s most strategically rooted agency in the digital space.  The combination of skills and resources we offer our clients is truly unique and it allows us to deliver a longer-term approach that has real business impact.  Having won several large new businesses over the past year, and being well on our way along our strategic roadmap, it became imperative to have singular leadership for the Jack in the Box brand and in the case of Abhishek, it wasn’t an “if” but a “when”.  We have a fairly detailed roadmap outlined for the next 36 months and giving Abhishek more responsibility is a major measure to ensure we achieve our goals”, said The 120 Media Collective founder & chief executive officer Roopak Saluja.

     

    Commenting on the promotion, Razdan said, “I am very excited to take on the new role. The strategy has been to be true Business Partners to our clients by giving them solutions that make tangible differences to their businesses. We have never limited ourselves to just solving communication problems or doing the expected. With a multi-skilled and a highly motivated team behind me, I am pretty confident that our leadership position in Content and Digital Communications will get further cemented in times to come.”

     

     “Abhishek has helped take Jack in the Box Worldwide to new and exciting heights in the past couple of years. His promotion is well deserved and marks exciting times for the company in the immediate and long term future,” added The 120 Media Collective chief talent officer Heather Saville Gupta.

     

    Armed with a Masters in Communications Management from Symbiosis, Pune, Razdan has around 13 years of experience in the communication industry. Prior to joining Jack in the Box Worldwide, he was at BBH, Publicis Ambience, Contract, Ogilvy and Hanmer MS&L, having closely worked with leading brands like Vaseline, Citibank, Shoppers Stop, Diageo, Cadbury’s, to name a few.

     

    Founded in 2006, Jack in the Box Worldwide, in its sixth year, has grown not only in sheer employee strength across both Mumbai and Delhi offices, but has also evolved in terms of its core strategic and creative competency and a stable of leading global brands from across sectors.

    The agency is currently in the process of rolling out its new positioning and identity to reflect its evolution from creative social media and digital agency to a strategic, integrated digital communications brand.  This is reflected in its recently redesigned website and a new logo that is a crisp, minimalist rendition of its comical clown mascot named Jack.  The new identity echoes an evolved, more contemporary and strategic approach towards brand building through the lens of content across multiple platforms and geographies.

     

  • MobiKwik appoints Virender Bisht as CTO

    MobiKwik appoints Virender Bisht as CTO

    MUMBAI: MobiKwik, a mobile wallet with 10 million users, has appointed Virender Bisht as its chief technology officer.

    Earlier as MakeMyTrip.com technology VP, Bisht developed a track record of delivering strong results in the payments and mobile domains. He comes with over 14 years of diverse experience in creating world-class software products at MakeMyTrip, Educomp, Studyplaces.com, TribalFusion, Exponential, and TCS. At MobiKwik, Bisht will oversee all aspects of product research and development, user experience design and tech infrastructure.

    MobiKwik founder CEO Bipin Preet Singh said, “Bringing Virender on board as the CTO is one of our many steps towards constantly enhancing the technology behind our product. We are a product focused startup and we believe that creating wow payment experiences for our consumers will result in strong acceptance of our Digital Wallet. With Virender’s background, we are certain that he will play a critical role in creating a robust engineering team and a culture of excellence at MobiKwik which will further reflect in our product. We are aggressively hiring and plan to double the strength of our technology team of Android engineers, Java engineers, Server engineers, UI frontend engineers, and UX designers.”

    On this appointment, Bisht commented, “I am excited to join MobiKwik at a stage when it is evolving into the next level of growth. My aim is to leverage my experience to develop high quality products for MobiKwik that provide delightful experiences to our customers – every single time. Together, with the rest of my team, we envision building technology solutions that reflect the MobiKwik commitment to quality, speed and reliability in the finest of details as we stand committed to our goal of a Mobile Wallet for every Indian.”   

    Bisht’s appointment comes as part of MobiKwik’s steady wave of expansion. The 90 people wallet company plans to make other strategic appointments in the near future. It has announced plans to hire a CMO, business development and partnerships head and products head over the next 2-3 months.

     

  • MEC Global Solutions doubles its strategy team in one year

    MEC Global Solutions doubles its strategy team in one year

    MUMBAI: MEC Global Solutions, MEC’s international hub based in London, has made a significant investment in talent, hiring three new faces to join its international strategy team in addition to the three senior strategists already in place.

     

    Chris Worrell, Francis Turner and Filippo Giannelli have been headhunted to further strengthen the team, working on the agency’s international clients including Vodafone, SABMiller, Johnson & Johnson, Beiersdorf and Activision Blizzard.

     

    Worrell, Turner and Giannelli join strategy partners Andy Reynolds and Shula Sinclair, creating a group of diversified talent and experience, headed by Global Solutions and EMEA chief strategy officer Stuart Sullivan-Martin.

     

    Commenting on the appointments, Martin said, “MEC has a heritage of excellence in communications planning, and that’s all about A+ people. The team’s remit includes working with our regional and international clients, spreading the insight derived from our industry leading approach to the consumer purchase journey (MEC Momentum), and working alongside the talented strategists in MEC’s local markets on our new operating system for planning: Thrive5. The number of regional and global media relationships we have with clients is only going to increase – so this is an exciting time and we’re gearing for growth.”

     

    Worrell joins as group strategy director, having more than 10 years’ experience working with clients such as McDonalds, Vodafone, Easyjet and Carlsberg. Previously he was insight director with OMD UK and held a European role with Specific Media. Worrell’s work has been covered by BBC, The Daily Mirror, Wall Street Journal and Sky News, and he is a sought after speaker at international industry events such as IAB Engage and DMEXCO.

     

    Turner joins as strategy director with a background in PR. He has experience working with clients such as Mars Food, John Frieda and Group Lactalis, latterly as planning director at Zenith Optimedia. He is also an aspiring stand-up comedian.

     

    Giannelli joins as a strategist. He comes to MEC from TBWA/OMD working with Apple, and previous to that an independent creative agency in Florence, Italy.

    Shula Sinclair joined MEC as strategy partner in September 2013, from DraftFCB where she was regional planning director. After 17 years in the industry, Sinclair has expertise across numerous sectors including FMCG, finance, automotive, travel, and beauty. She has delivered a range of activity across multiple channels from ATL and digital to PR for a host of major brands including Hyundai, Oreo and Nivea. Her work has been recognised with several industry awards.

     Andy Reynolds joined MEC as strategy partner earlier in 2014. He came from OMD where he was the executive director of strategy working as lead strategist on pan-regional clients such as Sony, PepsiCo and Nissan. He has a strong focus on integrated communications – ATL, digital in all its forms, and branded entertainment. Since joining MEC, his work with Paramount has won several industry awards, notably a gold at the recent M&M awards.

    This announcement follows those made by the agency within digital, data and analytics, and cements MEC Global Solutions’ position as the Centre of International Excellence for clients across the EMEA region.

     

  • Weber Shandwick appoints Valerie Pinto to lead India operations

    Weber Shandwick appoints Valerie Pinto to lead India operations

    MUMBAI: Weber Shandwick has roped in Valerie Pinto to the role of chief executive, effective as of 1 January 2015.  Pinto will report to Weber Shandwick, Asia Pacific chairman Tim Sutton.

     
    In her role, Pinto will have overriding responsibility for the firm’s business in India. Her appointment is part of a broader strategy to build on the agency’s best-in-class India team. She will also join Weber Shandwick’s Asia Pacific senior management board.

     
    Vice Chairman, Atul Ahluwalia will continue in his role. Pinto partners Ahluwalia in Weber Shandwick’s India Leadership Council. The Council also includes managing director of client services, Dilip Yadav; deputy managing director, Carolina Bajaj, and executive vice president, operations, Mabel Phoon who will all report to Pinto. Yadav is also Managing Director, India of Weber Shandwick’s second brand, Creation.

     
    Pinto brings over sixteen years’ experience in communications and reputation management, having previously led Perfect Relations, a leading independent public relations consultancy that gained strong momentum under her leadership in India.  During her distinguished career, she has led strategic counsel to a wide range of companies and executives across numerous industries. She has an outstanding track record in business growth and a particular reputation for effective talent management, having mentored many highly motivated and high performing professionals under her leadership.

     
    Sutton said: “In the last few months, I have spoken to very many senior people in India – at agencies and clients, in media and business – for advice on the very best person to take our business in India to the next stage of market leadership. It was quite remarkable how many of them put Valerie at the very top of their ‘recommendation list’.  She is a class act with a legendary reputation.

     
    “She had many other options at this stage of her career, including running her own business, and I am so thrilled that our vision and ambition have persuaded her to join Weber Shandwick.  This appointment signals our absolute determination to become the market leader in India.

     
    “We are already blessed with a wonderful senior management team assembled by vice chairman Atul Ahluwalia.  They have made Weber Shandwick the most awarded agency in India.”

     
    “I am very delighted to welcome Valerie to our team,” said Ahluwalia. “She brings huge experience and stature with her.”

     

  • Keegan Pinto joins DDB Mudra West as group creative director

    Keegan Pinto joins DDB Mudra West as group creative director

    MUMBAI: Adding more zeal to the creative force of DDB Mudra West, the agency has got on board Keegan Pinto as group creative director.

    With more than a decade of experience, Pinto’s previous stints were with Lowe Lintas, Bates 141, Rediffusion Young & Rubicam, O&M Mumbai and Colenso BBDO Auckland, New Zealand. He has been associated with brands including Tata Tea ‘Jaago Re’, Lifebuoy Worldwide, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, Tetley Tea, Videocon d2h, Onida air conditioners, TVS, Domex, Croma, Bajaj Bikes, DNA newspaper, Airtel, Economic Times, HLL – Dove, Lakme, Ponds, P&G – Vicks, Kingfisher Airlines, Zoom TV, Hindustan Pencils, World Gold Council and BBC World to name a few.

    His work has won him accolades in both the international and national circuits including the prestigious New York Festival, D&AD, One Show, Adfest, Cannes Lions, Abbys and Effies.

    The avid Bollywood enthusiast commented on his new role, “I’ve been a fan of Sonal’s work especially the ‘Indian Panga League’ campaign for Virgin Mobile and I really look forward to working with him. Rahul Mathew is a powerhouse too, and now with him leading the way at DDB Mudra West, I see a real reason to join the fight and help take DDB Mudra West to the next level. DDB Mudra Group has always had all it to takes to be a serious influencer in the Indian advertising scene, and I hope to be part of that little push with some fun, ‘junta’ work.”

    DDB Mudra West creative head Rahul Mathew said, “We believe that great work is created by like-minded people with diverse backgrounds and passions. Keegan is yet another step in that direction. He brings a rather unique skill-set to the table. And at the same time is completely aligned and excited by the vision we have for the agency. I am really looking forward to his diversity adding to our body of work.”

     

  • Jyoti Malladi appointed head of Ipsos ASI India business

    Jyoti Malladi appointed head of Ipsos ASI India business

    MUMBAI: Jyoti Malladi has been appointed as executive director and head of Ipsos ASI India business with effect from 3 November 2014. She will be based out of Ipsos Mumbai office and will report to Ipsos Research managing director Amit Adarkar.

     

    Malladi, who has more than 15 years of experience in market research, will take over from Shubhranshu Das who moves to head Ipsos MarketQuest India business.

     

    “Ipsos ASI business in India has done remarkably well under Shubhranshu’s leadership. I am sure with his expertise and business acumen, Shubhranshu will help us take Ipsos MarketQuest business to greater heights,” said Adarkar.

     

    Malladi joins Ipsos from Millward Brown where she was working as client services director. She has previously worked with Etisalat DB Telecom, TNS India, IMRB International, NFO-MBL India and B. E. Billimoria & Co.

     

    “Ipsos ASI offers marketers state-of-the-art advertising research, using measures predictive of in-market performance across the various stages of advertising development and implementation. With Jyoti’s extensive experience in brand and communication research, I am sure she will help us grow the Ipsos ASI business in India manifold,” said Adarkar.

     

    “I am delighted to join Ipsos ASI India business which is the largest provider of advertising pre-testing, advertising tracking and brand equity evaluation services in the world. Ipsos ASI offers a full range of advertising research solutions to help clients make the best decisions at all stages of the advertising development process, and to maximize the return on their advertising investment,” said Malladi.

     

    She addes, “Our commitment is to provide superior insights to advertisers to help in the development, evaluation, and improvement of their advertising efforts and to help clients build stronger brands.”