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  • Global Music Junction appoints Akash Kumar Upadhyay as AVP

    Global Music Junction appoints Akash Kumar Upadhyay as AVP

    Mumbai: Global Music Junction has announced the appointment of Akash Kumar Upadhyay as associate vice president. This strategic move comes on the heels of a major expansion in Warner Music Group’s partnership with JetSynthesys and Global Music Junction, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of digital music engagement.

    Upadhyay renowned for his extensive experience and innovative approach within the music industry, joins Global Music Junction at an exciting time. His appointment is set to amplify the company’s efforts to forge new paths in digital music and entertainment, leveraging his deep expertise to drive the company’s strategic vision forward. Upadhyay will directly report to Global Music Junction’s CEO Rajkumar.

    Global Music Junction’s recent expansion with Warner Music Group underscores its commitment to innovative music solutions. The collaboration, which includes JetSynthesys, aligns with the trend of integrating global music networks to create more connected platforms. This partnership is expected to strengthen Global Music Junction’s ability to connect artists with fans worldwide.

    As associate vice president, Akash Kumar Upadhyay will shape the company’s strategies, focusing on market expansion and leveraging new technologies. He will lead initiatives that bridge artists and audiences, optimise digital experiences, and drive growth in key markets.

    Upadhyay’s background in leadership and industry experience makes him well-suited to support Global Music Junction’s goals. His expertise will be key in navigating the evolving music landscape, especially in utilizing digital platforms and technologies.

    Kumar’s appointment reflects the company’s focus on innovation, aiming to strengthen its position in the global music industry and advance initiatives that engage artists and fans.

    As Global Music Junction embarks on this new chapter with Sulabh Kumar at the helm, the industry watches with anticipation. His vision and leadership are expected to usher in a new era of growth and innovation, positioning Global Music Junction as a key player in the future of global music and entertainment.

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  • Havas Worldwide India strengthens strategy team with three new appointments

    Havas Worldwide India strengthens strategy team with three new appointments

    Mumbai: Havas Worldwide India has strengthened its strategy team by appointing Dhananjoy Ray, Aniruddh Subramanian, and Jahan Nargolwala as associate vice presidents – planning & strategy. All three will report to Havas Creative Network India’s Chief Strategy Officer, John Thangaraj and will be based in Gurgaon.

    John Thangaraj commented, “I am thrilled to welcome Dhananjoy, Aniruddh and Jahan to the Havas family. The world is changing and so are we. Strategy needs to be more business forward, digital first and data driven than ever before and our journey towards creating a more converged, multi-disciplinary team begins now. Each of them brings a deep and divergent level of expertise and experience to the table. Dhananjoy brings a deep passion and excitement for all things tech and auto. Aniruddh’s understanding and experience on the CPG category is second to none. And Jahan’s digital-first expertise across multiple categories nicely rounds out the team. Their hires underscore Havas’ deep commitment to delivering insight & data backed strategic solutions that focus on keeping our clients ahead of the curve. That said, we’ve only just begun – watch this space!”

    With over a decade of experience, Dhananjoy Ray has worked with agencies such as FCB India and Publicis India, contributing to brands like Horlicks, Uber, Pernod Ricard, Vivo, BMW, Google, Maggi, and Nokia. His expertise lies in communication and brand strategy.

    Jahan Nargolwala brings nearly 13 years of experience from agencies including Creativeland Asia, Yaap Digital, and Law & Kenneth. His work spans brands like Pizza Hut, Uniqlo, Godrej, Taj Hotels, Coca-Cola, UPI, and RuPay. Jahan specialises in creative strategy, brand planning, and cross-functional project management.

    Aniruddh Subramanian joins FCB India, with experience at L&K Saatchi & Saatchi and Famous Innovations. He holds a Master’s in Marketing from the University of Cincinnati and has worked across FMCG, FMCD, healthcare, and tech sectors with brands like Horlicks Plus, All Out, Bata, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, and Google Pixel.

  • MiQ bolsters its India commercial leadership team

    MiQ bolsters its India commercial leadership team

    Mumbai: MiQ, a global data-driven programmatic media firm, announced strategic hiring and promotions to spearhead growth, enhance client services, and reinforce its position as a leading programmatic player in India.

    MiQ has announced the appointment of associate vice president, revenue & agency partnerships, Ribhu Mishra with additional focus on driving business operations for the west region. Ribhu brings over a decade of expertise in media and digital advertising, having previously led partnerships and agency development at Amazon for major media agencies across India. His extensive experience at companies like Amazon and Appier will be pivotal in enhancing MiQ’s client relationships and accelerating growth in programmatic, connected TV, and retail media domains.

    Speaking on his new role, Ribhu said, “I am thrilled to join MiQ and embark on this exciting journey. I look forward to driving scalable revenue growth and strengthening partnerships with brands and agencies. Together with the MiQ team, I am eager to create new success stories and achieve new milestones.”

    To deliver greater value and localised support to clients across key regions in India, MiQ has made two key promotions in its regional commercial leadership team. MiQ elevated Meenal Gupta to regional director for the south region and Juhi Lalchandani to regional director for the north region.

    Meenal has been with MiQ for over two years and has over 15 years of experience in business development, client relationship management, and account management in the media and advertising industry with OLX, Hindustan Times, Inmobi, and Yahoo.

    Juhi is a seasoned business professional with over 14 years of experience spanning media, food technology, and manufacturing industries. Having contributed to leading companies such as Zee5 and Uber Eats, Juhi has developed a robust expertise in driving revenue growth and managing high-impact accounts.

    “I am very excited to take on regional leadership responsibilities. My key focus will be to increase revenue across the South region by expanding our geographical reach and building and nurturing relationships with agencies and clients.” said Meenal on her elevation.

    Speaking on her new role, Juhi said, “I firmly believe that the future of digital advertising lies in leveraging data and technology to reach the right users at the right time and place with personalised communication. I am confident that MiQ, with its innovative data and tech DNA and deep customer focus, will set new standards in the industry. I am grateful and thrilled to be a part of this pathbreaking journey.”

    These leadership appointments will be pivotal to MiQ’s growth strategy in India by strengthening its presence in key regions and deepening its understanding of client requirements across diverse markets and industries.

    Speaking on these appointments, MiQ India & South Asia head of growth and revenue, Varun Mohan said, “We are excited to onboard Ribhu to our regional leadership team, along with the well-deserved elevations of Meenal and Juhi. Their combined expertise, strategic vision, and commitment to excellence will be pivotal as we continue our journey of ambitious growth. These appointments underscore our dedication to providing exceptional solutions and unmatched service to our clients and agency partners. MiQ continues to invest heavily in the Indian market with a strong focus on Connected TV (CTV), retail media, and our innovative data solutions, reaffirming our commitment to lead the programmatic industry and make it better.”

  • Kanika Maheshwari joins Concept PR as AVP for brand & lifestyle practice

    Kanika Maheshwari joins Concept PR as AVP for brand & lifestyle practice

    Mumbai: Kanika Maheshwari joins Concept PR as associate vice president for brand & lifestyle. With over 15 years of experience managing PR and communication for global and Indian brands, Kanika has led integrated campaigns that achieved significant media exposure.

    She has successfully mentored multi-cultural, multi-location teams, bringing together diverse skill sets across various age groups. Kanika began her career as an intern, and by the time she left Perfect Relations (now Dentsu), she led the Consumer and Brand team as Director.

    Her leadership style is rooted in empathy, believing that understanding and supporting team members is key to achieving collective goals. Kanika completed her Post Graduation in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Xavier Institute of Communications.

  • FCB Kinnect appoints Nishant Pratap as group executive creative director (South)

    FCB Kinnect appoints Nishant Pratap as group executive creative director (South)

    Mumbai: FCB Kinnect, an exciting creatively led integrated agency, has appointed Nishant Pratap as the group executive creative director (South). This move highlights the agency’s dedication to continuously enhancing its capabilities and talent in a full-funnel manner, reinforcing its role as a comprehensive partner to brands.

    This strategic appointment is part of FCB Kinnect’s commitment to developing top-tier creative departments, aimed at producing innovative and impactful work across all potential media platforms.

    Recently, the agency also appointed Neville Shah as its Chief Creative Officer to transform the agency’s creative culture and exceed global benchmarks.

    Driven by a passion for crafting bold, impactful work, Neville brought Nishant on board to lead creative excellence and accelerate the growth of FCB Kinnect’s Bengaluru office.  

    He moved from Ogilvy India, where he was executive creative director. Nishant has also worked previously with McCann Worldgroup and Lowe Lintas.

    With nearly 19 years of experience, he has been pivotal in launching and building renowned brands such as Tata Sky, Britannia’s Treat and GoodDay, TVS Apache, Mumbai Indians, IDFC Bank, Tata Salt, Tanishq, Titan, Taneira, Fastrack, Park Avenue, Cadbury, and The Live Love Laugh Foundation.

    His legendary body of work comprises the creation of iconic campaigns such as #HeeraHoTum for Tanishq, #YouDoYou for Fastrack, #FindYourJoy for Titan, and #UnityBar for Cadbury. Additionally, Nishant played a pivotal role in launching India’s first awareness campaign on depression for TLLF, featuring Deepika Padukone.

    Nishant’s work for Happy Life Welfare and The Dabbawala Foundation’s ‘Share My Dabba’ campaign has been recognised at the D&AD Awards and the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

    Beyond his professional achievements, he is a published poet, and a spoken word performer, and runs a popular YouTube cooking series called GastroPup.

    Speaking on his appointment, FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India CEO Rohan Mehta said, “I am excited to welcome Nishant to the Kinnect family. His remarkable creative talent and proven track record position us perfectly to deliver impactful and unique solutions. Nishant’s keen eye for detail and deep understanding of branding are exactly what we need to drive creativity as a catalyst for economic growth. I look forward to seeing more innovative and impactful work for our brands in the South.”

    FCB Kinnect CCO Neville Shah added, “Nishant is here to help bring our new vision to life. He brings with him a wealth of experience and a warm approach to leadership. Nishant will strengthen our reputation as a creative powerhouse delivering great value for our clients through great ideas. I’m so very excited to have him come aboard.”

    FCB Kinnect group executive creative director (South) Nishant Pratap said, “I’ve got butterflies, elephants and lions in my tummy at the prospect of joining FCB Kinnect. There’s a lot of good jujus going around this wonderful place and I can’t wait to add to it and work with a brilliant creative team. Can’t wait to create some magic, joy and glory.” 

  • Kedar Lele departs HUL after two decades

    Kedar Lele departs HUL after two decades

    Mumbai: After two decades with Hindustan Unilever, Kedar Lele has moved on from the company, where he most recently served as executive director, head of sales and customer development, South Asia. The announcement was made through a LinkedIn post.

    He initially joined the FMCG giant in April 2004 and returned in November 2010. During his time at HUL, Kedar Lele held multiple leadership positions.

    Lele is a highly experienced business leader, with over 20 years of expertise spanning advertising, internet companies, FMCG marketing, sales and customer development, and general management.

    An alumnus of the Indian School of Business, Lele has also had professional stints with companies like Kimberly Clark Lever, Mudra Communications, and Monster.com, among others.

  • Brand Street Integrated appoints Krishna Mugatkar as business director

    Brand Street Integrated appoints Krishna Mugatkar as business director

    Mumbai: Brand Street Integrated (BSI) has announced its expansion into Pune with the strategic appointment of Krishna Mugatkar as the new business director. This strategic move highlights the agency’s dedication to enhancing its presence and fostering growth in the western region of India with several prominent clients such as HyFun, Provilac amongst others.

    With over 12 years of extensive experience in the marketing industry, Krishna Mugatkar has built a formidable reputation across multiple sectors, including B2B sales, offline marketing, BTL advertising, food and beverage, hospitality, SaaS applications, and real estate. His versatile skill set and strategic mindset have consistently made him a valuable asset in every organization he has contributed to.

    Throughout his career, Krishna has made significant contributions to renowned companies such as Mane Green, 360 Realtors, OYO, Foodpanda, APEEJAY Oxford Bookstores, and BVG India. His expertise in market research and analysis, operational planning, audit processes, and strategic amplification has consistently driven outstanding results. Notably, Krishna’s ability to drive business growth through thoughtful expansion strategies has been particularly impressive.

    Expressing his excitement about joining Brand Street Integrated, Krishna Mugatkar said, “I am honored to join the team at Brand Street Integrated. Pune offers immense opportunities, and I am eager to contribute to the agency’s vision of creating impactful brand experiences that truly resonate with our audience. Together, we will explore new frontiers and deliver exceptional value to our clients.”

    Brand Street Integrated CEO Surendra Singh shared, “Krishna’s extensive industry experience, combined with his innovative approach and strategic mindset, makes him an excellent addition to our leadership team. His appointment underscores our commitment to expanding our operations in Pune and enhancing our service offerings in the region. We look forward to achieving new milestones under his leadership.”

  • Cheil India hires Sudhir Das as senior executive creative director

    Cheil India hires Sudhir Das as senior executive creative director

    Mumbai: Cheil India, an advertising agency has announced the appointment of Sudhir Das as Sr executive creative director. He will be responsible for overseeing the creative output of a segment of Samsung mobile business and Samsung exclusive stores.

    In his current role, Sudhir will be reporting to Cheil India CCO Vikash Chemjong and will be based out of the agency’s Gurgaon office.

    Sudhir has been in advertising for two-plus decades, in agencies like Publicis, McCann, Leo Burnett, and Dentsu WebChutney, winning around 100 national and international awards along the way. His previous role was group executive creative director at Dentsu Creative.

    Sudhir has created advertising for some of India and the world’s most popular brands including Coca Cola, Nestle, Apple, Google, Airtel, LinkedIn, Tanishq, ITC and Uber. Along the way, he has been part of campaigns like ‘Ras-Ras mein India’, ‘Me and Meri Maggi’, ‘Spicejet Democracy’, ‘Cardekho Back-Off’, ‘Airtel 175 Replayed’ and ‘Motorola Deep Connect’ – covering the gamut from large, populist, TV-led campaigns to documentary-style film-making to social and tech innovations.

    A proud geek, he is extremely interested in tech and using it new and interesting ways to create social conversations.

    Cheil India CCO Vikash Chemjong said, “Sudhir when you meet him, seems alike a misfit in advertising. He doesn’t drink! Is not trying to run off to the hills/beach every chance he gets because he hates travelling! And he is a little anti-social, preferring the company of his cats more than the company of most people [but seeing the type of people surrounding us most days, I have begun to see the wisdom in it.

    But dig a little deeper and one begins to see the many reasons for the multi-award winning adman that he is. He is a gamer.  A lover of all things tech. A self-professed nerd. An encyclopedia of advertising trivia. Plus a great cook! Not just in what he whips up in the kitchen but what he manages to concoct every time you sit down with him, for work or otherwise. Be it stories. Strategies. Interesting theories. And of course, great advertising ideas! We’re lucky to have him join the Cheil fold. All set to mesmerize us and our clients with his unique and interesting way of telling the brand story.”

    Commenting about his appointment, Sudhir said, “This is actually my second stint at Cheil. And it took literally a 15-minute conversation with Vikash to decide that I wanted to be back here. What really attracted me was the hunger to really explore the bleeding edge of creativity, and perhaps more importantly, this hunger was married to a scale and depth of integrated talent that actually manages to get things done. I have a feeling I’m really going to enjoy my time here.”

    Cheil SWA group COO Sanjeev Jasani added, “I am happy to welcome Sudhir to Cheil India. He has a much-deserved reputation for being a creative maestro with a penchant for everything that is tech. His repertoire of work is amazing and eclectic in equal measures. I look forward to the unique perspective and ideas that Sudhir brings to the table, which will positively inform our campaigns.”

  • IAS strengthens leadership with key appointments

    IAS strengthens leadership with key appointments

    Mumbai: Integral Ad Science, a global media measurement and optimization platform, has announced the appointment of Marc Grabowski as chief operating officer (COO) and Srishti Gupta as chief product Officer (CPO), effective 16 September 2024.

    Grabowski, previously the global vice president of Oracle Advertising, will oversee the company’s global commercial organization prioritizing customer success, business strategy, and company commercial operations. Gupta, former chief product officer at Rokt, will lead the company’s product strategy, product development, and go-to-market initiatives. Grabowski and Gupta will report directly to IAS CEO Lisa Utzschneider.

    “We are delighted to welcome Marc and Srishti to IAS as they will enhance our senior leadership team, strengthen our customer-first approach, and advance our product development to meet the future needs of our customers and partners,” said IAS CEO Lisa Utzschneider. “Marc and Srishti have a shared focus on innovation and agility which is essential in our fast-paced and dynamic industry. We look forward to their contributions as we continue to enable our customers to maximize performance while safeguarding and scaling their digital media investments.”

    Grabowski brings extensive leadership and experience across the demand and supply sides of the advertising industry. He joins IAS from Oracle Advertising where he led Oracle’s global go-to-market organization for Oracle’s Advertising products, including Moat, Datalogix, BlueKai, and Grapeshot. Previously, Grabowski served as executive vice president of global supply & business development at Criteo; held the CEO role at Persio, a B2B mobile marketing platform that was later acquired by Clutch.com; and spent nearly a decade at Yahoo! in various sales roles.

    “IAS’s focus on data integrity and its trusted AI-backed technology, along with the company’s capabilities in social media, the open web, Connected TV (CTV), and other emerging channels makes this an exciting opportunity,” said Grabowski. “I’m excited to offer my experience in strategy and execution to IAS’s strong bench of talent to drive superior results for our customers and partners.”

    Gupta is a seasoned executive and visionary product leader, with a track record of delivering growth in both B2B and B2C products across various advertising channels, including CTV. Most recently, she served as chief product officer at Rokt, an e-commerce technology company, where she was responsible for delivering a highly relevant and performant experience across billions of e-commerce transactions. Before joining Rokt, Gupta was the director of ads measurement at Amazon where she spearheaded the creation of cross-channel measurement products. Earlier, she held the role of president and general manager for IRI’s digital and media solutions.

    “As marketers look to maximize return on their digital ad investments across channels, IAS has continued to innovate with high velocity and flexibility,” said Gupta. “I look forward to building on this strong foundation, driving customer value through industry-leading products, and furthering IAS’s mission of delivering trust and transparency in digital media quality.”

  • ASCI Board appoints Partha Sinha as new chairman

    ASCI Board appoints Partha Sinha as new chairman

    Mumbai: Post the board meeting held today following the 38th Annual General Meeting, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) appointed Bennett Coleman & Company Ltd chief brand officer & president, Partha Sinha as the chairman of the ASCI Board of Governors for 2024-25. Pidilite Industries Ltd managing director Sudhanshu Vats, was appointed vice-chairman, and Lintas India Private Ltd Group CEO & chief strategy officer-APAC, S. Subramanyeswar was appointed hon. Treasurer.

    Sinha comes with a rich and vast experience with top organisations such as Bennet Coleman, Ogilvy, Publicis, BBH, McCann, and Citibank, along with his stronghold of brand marketing, media, and communications.

    Sinha expressed a compelling vision for ASCI. “Being the chairperson of ASCI is both an honour and a profound responsibility, especially as our industry is under greater scrutiny by our stakeholders. With rapid changes in the digital environment and the emergence of new challenges. ASCI is committed to not just keeping up but to staying ahead. Deploying technology and AI to monitor errant advertising as well as putting our might behind preventive measures will be our focus in the days to come. This will ensure that creativity and responsibility coexist, creating an ecosystem that values consumers and encourages innovation.”

    Reflecting on his term, outgoing chairman Saugata Gupta said, “Leading ASCI through a period that witnessed significant development and change has been a privilege. This year has been marked by historic milestones, including the formation of the ASCI Academy, which has become a cornerstone in promoting responsible and progressive advertising. Our commitment to training and capacity building, creating new direction via our thought leadership work, reflects a culture of responsibility from the ground up.”

    ASCI has made great progress in terms of its achievements and strategic initiatives during the year, reinforcing its commitment to the proactive work since the start of ASCI Academy. The Academy’s expansion is an important aspect of ASCI’s initiatives, and it is quickly becoming an active proponent of industry training and education. Since its inception, the Academy has expanded to encompass over 75 alliances and, through its training and education, successfully impacted 33,300 new and emerging professionals, firmly anchoring ethical principles deeply within the advertising community.

    ASCI has also actively engaged in research and thought leadership through collaborative projects. Notable among these were partnerships with Khaitan & Co. on a white paper on the influence of generative AI on advertising, with the UN Women- led Unstereotype Alliance and lead research agency Kantar on D&I in India, as well as with Lexplosion for an in-depth understanding of privacy and data protection.”

    In the past year, ASCI actively co-hosted and participated in several stakeholder and government consultations to address and discuss issues like dark patterns, green claims, and surrogate advertising.

    ASCI updated and introduced new guidelines on an array of categories this year, including deceptive patterns, charitable cause marketing, and green claims ads, among others. These changes keep the ASCI Code current in the face of the changing industry dynamics and consumer expectations.

    ASCI’s rigorous complaint redressal and monitoring operations this year included processing over 10,000 complaints and reviewing over 8,200 advertisements, affirming its role as a vigilant guardian of the advertising industry.

    ASCI remains dedicated to advancing ethical, inclusive, and transparent advertising.