Category: People

  • Ipsos India hires Shrutika More to lead creative excellence vertical

    Ipsos India hires Shrutika More to lead creative excellence vertical

    Mumbai: Global market research company Ipsos has announced the hiring of Shrutika More as country service line leader for the creative excellence vertical, in India, with immediate effect.

    She moves from Abbott Healthcare, a leading pharma company and will report to Ipsos India group service line leader, brand health tracking (BHT) and creative excellence (CRE) Shalini Sinha.

    With 12 years of rich and diverse work experience, both with leading market research agencies and corporates, her expertise areas include creative, concept and product research and benchmarking studies. And is adept at handling qualitative and quantitative research work across categories for complex and strategic work.  

    Commenting on her new role, Ipsos India country service line, creative excellence Shrutika More stated, “Advertising in India has undergone massive shifts in recent past. In this new age, it becomes essential to adopt newer perspectives to evaluate and enhance the effectiveness of creative strategies. The future of advertising in India necessitates a broadened perspective for the evolving media consumption patterns of its diverse audience.”

    “More’s remit will be on driving the next leg of growth for the Creative Excellence vertical in India; and to achieve this, she will be working closely with the account facing teams across different verticals and offices in Ipsos India; with emphasis on building thought leadership for CRE and consolidating our presence in the domain,”  said Ipsos India group service line leader, BHT & CRE Shalini Sinha.

    “Creative Excellence encapsulates the entire creative development process, from ideation to assessment, storyboard, monitoring the impact of campaigns and communications, and More’s extensive experience will be an asset to our prestigious roster of clients,”  Sinha added.

    “Creativity requires excellence and it all starts with a spark. Shrutika More is joining us at a time when we have a whole new arsenal of digital and AI products for clients, to address their constant need for spiffier and more agile tools for faster decision making,” said Ipsos India CEO Amit Adarkar.

    More holds a post grad management degree (PGDM) from Indian Education Society’s Management College, Mumbai. Further, she has bachelor’s degree in microbiology & industrial biotechnology, and a diploma in food production & processing, both from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s College, Mumbai.

  • Rishi Kishnani joins Numb3r Impact Agency as co-founder & partner

    Rishi Kishnani joins Numb3r Impact Agency as co-founder & partner

    Mumbai – In a strategic move that marks a significant milestone for both Rishi Kishnani and Numb3r Impact Agency, Rishi has officially taken on the role of co-founder and partner at the cutting-edge agency. A stalwart in the media industry, he brings a wealth of experience and innovation to his new position.

    During his tenure as the national content director at Red FM, Rishi played a pivotal role in steering the station towards numerous accolades for its creative campaigns. Notably, he spearheaded the unconventional and bold “Malishka ko matt sunn” campaign, which garnered widespread acclaim. Additionally, his podcast, “The Last Journey from Pakistan,” earned him a prestigious award for its unique and compelling content.

    Numb3r Impact Agency founder-partner Tanmay Bahulekar expressed his enthusiasm about Rishi’s addition to the team, stating, “Rishi Kishnani has officially joined the Numb3r story! His extensive leadership and foresight are exactly what tether us to a shared vision, ready to push boundaries and push forth new age content-led advertising solutions.”

    Reflecting on his move to the agency, Rishi said, “It’s extremely exciting to be a partner at ‘Numb3r.’ So many ideas, so many possibilities, and a lot of great content is yet to come. It’s a great time to be in the digital space at a time like this. We are at the cusp of a digital revolution in the media space. Building creative teams and coming up with impactful ideas has been my forte, and that is exactly what I plan to do. We have a ‘Numb3r’ of plans which will be announced in the days to come.”

    Known for his previous roles as creative director at Radio One, and contributions to Hit FM and Radio City, Rishi’s move to Numb3r is anticipated to bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the forefront of the digital media landscape.

     

  • Coto appointed Shefali Anurag as VP of the marketing

    Coto appointed Shefali Anurag as VP of the marketing

    Mumbai: coto, the social community platform, by women, for women has appointed Shefali Anurag as vice president of marketing. Shefali will lead and execute the marketing strategy for the organisation. coto to accelerate the platform ‘enhancement its presence in the dynamic landscape of technology, information, and the internet.

    As a seasoned expert she has good experience in digital marketing, social networking, and global relations verticals. Shefali’s industry experience will be significant in strengthening the brand’s positioning as a niche platform for women, offering them opportunities for growth, connection, and empowerment in the digital world.

    She has worked predominantly in the tech, e-commerce, and fashion space, and spearheaded transformative marketing initiatives before. With a wealth of experience in some of the innovative tech companies including Amazon, Twitter (Zipdial), Booking.com (Agoda), and Pomelo Fashion, Shefali has managed multiple media launches, announcing funding rounds, acquisitions, product launches, and KOL campaigns across six Asian markets – India, Bangkok, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, and Singapore.

    Welcoming Shefali to the team, coto co-founder Aparna Acharekar said, “We’re delighted to have Shefali lead the marketing team at coto. Her rewarding industry experience and strategic vision speak volumes about her knowledge, expertise, and leadership. We’re confident that Shefali’s acumen in the digital world will help the platform build a safe and secure online environment for women.”

    Speaking about her new role to the media Shefali Anurag said, “Today, women make up 49.6 per cent of the world’s population; we are finally at the point where we can be equals and take the lead on the global scale. However, given how much time we spend in the digital space, we must stay ahead of the Web3 curve to thrive – coto serves as the perfect medium for this. coto’s team, its vision, and goals inspire me greatly and I’m looking forward to an incredible journey together.”

  • IndiaMART’s Dinesh Gulati joins DigiBoxx India’s board of directors

    IndiaMART’s Dinesh Gulati joins DigiBoxx India’s board of directors

    Mumbai: DigiBoxx, a made-in-India storage-as-a-service platform, is pleased to announce that Dinesh Gulati, chief operating officer at IndiaMART, has been appointed to serve on the company’s board of directors (the “Board”), effective 1 January  2024.

    Dinesh is an established business leader who has played a pivotal role in transforming the telecom and online commerce businesses in the country. With his vision to make doing business easy, Dinesh has been one of the key leaders in the industry, involved in continuous innovation and digital transformation for businesses. His disruptive outlook and astute decision-making have not only made IndiaMART a one-stop expert solution, serving more than 100 million customers but has also unlocked huge value for all the stakeholders.

    Before joining IndiaMART, Dinesh served as the group president at Indian Express, managing the entire operations and revenue streams. With a vast entrepreneurship experience spanning over 22 years, he has also worked with leading brands like Airtel, Reliance Communications, and Eastman Kodak in key roles.

    “Dinesh is an exceptional industry leader, intrapreneur, and an investor and we are excited to welcome him to the Board,” said DigiBoxx founder and CEO Arnab Mitra. “Dinesh’s insights and experience will be an additional force to serve the Company well as we continue advancing our footprint as a world-class IT platform for both our enterprise and individual users, offering exceptional, frictionless, and seamless experiences while increasing efficiencies. We look forward to leaning on Dinesh’s experience in our journey to reshape and reimagine the way we provide services to our clients.”

    “I’m excited to join DigiBoxx as a director at this juncture of their growth and to have the opportunity to work with a talented group of thought leaders,” said Dinesh. “I look forward to serving on the board of DigiBoxx and helping to take it to the next level of its digital and transformational journey.”

    A management postgraduate from FMS Delhi with a bachelor’s degree in technology from HBTI Kanpur, Dinesh’s interests include reading, travelling and trekking.

  • HiveMinds appoints Neha Pandey as VP-growth

    HiveMinds appoints Neha Pandey as VP-growth

    Mumbai: HiveMinds, a forefront digital marketing agency, part of the Madison Group, announces the appointment of Neha Pandey as vice president – growth. Neha, a seasoned strategist in media and telecom, arrives with an impressive résumé of over a decade in nurturing strategic partnerships and scripting success narratives. Her role at HiveMinds is set to be the business expansion in India, UAE, and the USA.

    With a professional journey spanning 13 years across pivotal sectors like mobile, e-commerce, telecom, and the internet, Neha Pandey is a veteran in strategic alliances, business development, marketing, account management, and team leadership. Her tenure as business head at AdLift India and business partner – corporate at BIG FM is marked by significant achievements in client consultancy, sales strategy, and business planning.

    Expressing her vision on joining HiveMinds, Neha remarked, “HiveMinds’ swift ascent as one of the top digital marketing agencies in India along with its visionary leadership drew me to this role. I am happy to be part of this vibrant team. I think I have joined at a great time when my expertise and aspirations are in line with the HiveMinds growth plans and I look forward to delivering robust growth in the years to come”.

    HiveMinds chief strategy officer Deepti Bhadauria commented, “Neha Pandey’s inclusion in our leadership cadre is an important initiative towards our growth. We have added some of the most prestigious brands in India to our client list, in the past few years. Now is the time to consolidate our position and focus on delivering the same expertise to international clients. We are sure Neha will lead this charter with aplomb and add to Hivemind’s success”.

  • IAS accelerates APAC expansion with multiple market launches & senior appointments

    IAS accelerates APAC expansion with multiple market launches & senior appointments

    Mumbai: Integral Ad Science, a leading global media measurement and optimisation platform, has announced business expansion in four key APAC markets- Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam along with senior leadership appointments to accelerate AI-driven measurement and optimisation solutions for both local and global advertisers and publishers.

    “APAC presents a prime opportunity for IAS to expand its global footprint and connect with a dynamic customer base for long-term growth and market leadership,” said chief commercial officer Yannis Dosios. “We’re doubling down on agility and local relevance by building strong, regional teams that understand the nuances of each market, which is key to tailoring our solutions and creating lasting relationships with international and local brands in the region.”

    Appointments include Sowarose Charuwatpaiboon as the country head of Thailand, Thanh Nguyen as the country head of Vietnam, Melvin Wong as the region head of Hong Kong & Taiwan and Arfitrianto Zulnaini, sales director of Indonesia, who will be stepping up as the country head of Indonesia and Malaysia.  

    Country head, Thailand – Sowarose Charuwatpaiboon: Brings over a decade of experience in the digital advertising industry with a proven track record of success in sales, account management, and business development at companies including Adcolony, Taboola and Innity. Charuwatpaiboon joined IAS in 2023 as Sales Director to expand operations in Thailand, and now, as the Country Head will lead the team to drive continued growth.

    “I am excited to bring IAS’s world-class media measurement and optimisation solutions to advertisers and publishers in Thailand,” said Sowarose Charuwatpaiboon. “IAS’s commitment to providing effective and transparent advertising environments for brands and media owners alike will resonate with brands seeking to navigate the complexities of the digital advertising ecosystem and driving efficiencies.”

    Country head, Vietnam – Thanh Nguyen : A veteran of the digital advertising industry with over 25 years of experience in the Vietnamese media and advertising landscape, Thanh brings a wealth of experience from companies like JOYY Inc, Vietcetera Media and TikTok Vietnam. She has a deep understanding of the local market dynamics and her extensive relationships with prominent advertisers, publishers, and industry stakeholders will help drive IAS’s growth and solidify its position as a trusted partner in Vietnam’s flourishing digital advertising ecosystem.

    “I am thrilled to join IAS and help expand its presence in Vietnam,” said Thanh Nguyen. “Brands in Vietnam are investing significant budgets across digital media, and there’s a growing adoption of measurement and optimisation solutions among advertisers and publishers. With its superior solutions and dedicated teams, IAS empowers Vietnamese brands and media owners to navigate the evolving digital landscape and unlock their full potential.”

    Region head, Hong Kong & Taiwan – Melvin Wong: With global experience across Hong Kong, New York and Toronto, Wong spent over a decade in sales and business development roles at companies including Teads and TripleLift. He joins IAS to propel growth and expansion in Hong Kong and Taiwan and will leverage his extensive global experience and strategic acumen to establish IAS as a trusted partner for brands and agencies within this vibrant digital landscape.

    “Joining IAS amidst their remarkable growth in programmatic is an absolute privilege,” said Wong. “Having witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by top brands and agencies, I deeply understand the crucial role efficiency and ROI play in our partnerships. I’m committed to working with brands and agencies to drive widespread adoption of IAS’s industry-leading measurement and optimisation solutions to drive superior business results for advertisers and publishers.”

    Country head, Malaysia and Indonesia – Arfitrianto Zulnaini: As an industry veteran with over 24 years of sales and leadership experience in digital media at companies including Yahoo, Carat, and Mindshare, Zulnaini joined IAS in 2020 as the sales director of Indonesia. He drove programmatic adoption and incremental revenue growth for IAS in Indonesia and will now focus on growing IAS’s measurement and optimisation adoption in both Indonesia and Malaysia.

    “I am honoured to take on the additional responsibility of leading IAS’s Malaysia business and keen to build further on the solid foundation developed over the years in the market,” said Zulnaini. “Malaysia, much like Indonesia, is an evolving digital media market with high growth potential, so it’s no surprise that it has become a strategic focus. I look forward to advancing the company’s superior media quality solutions in these markets.”

    “We are delighted to announce the expansion of IAS’s footprint in multiple regional markets and excited to have a team of very experienced Country Heads leading these operations,” said IAS Sr VP of APAC Laura Quigley.“This investment will benefit regional and global brands, agencies and publishers seeking the highest quality digital ad impressions. Our cutting-edge technology, transformative AI solutions, a keen understanding of local client’s needs, and deep integration with client tech stacks make IAS the media quality partner of choice in the APAC region.”

    IAS’s APAC in-market operations now include Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

  • Ogilvy welcomes Kalyani Srivastava as associate president

    Ogilvy welcomes Kalyani Srivastava as associate president

    Mumbai: Kalyani Srivastava has recently assumed the role of associate president at Ogilvy India, stationed in Mumbai. In her new position, she will be reporting directly to Hirol Gandhi, who serves as the president of Ogilvy India for Mumbai and Kolkata.

    Srivastava brings with her a wealth of experience, having spent 12 years at Rediffusion, where she initially joined as assistant vice president and chief of staff at the chairman’s office. Over the years, she progressed to the position of executive vice president and head.

    With a professional journey spanning 25 years, Srivastava has made significant contributions to various organizations, including Mafoi Management Consultants, Marriott Global Sales Organisation, and The Leela Palaces and Resorts.

     

  • Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to VP and country head – US

    Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to VP and country head – US

    Mumbai: Audio series platform Pocket FM has announced that the company has elevated Lalit Gangwar to VP and country head – US and lead the company’s content operations and revenue growth for the US market.

    An IIT-Madras alumni, Lalit is a founding member of Pocket FM and has been a driving force behind Pocket FM’s success in establishing its presence across multiple geographies, including India and US. His strategic vision and commitment have played an integral role in the platform’s transformation into a global entertainment powerhouse.

    Lalit Gangwar, the newly appointed US country head, expressed his excitement about the journey ahead. He shared, “Pocket FM’s success underscores the impact of engaging storytelling. In the dynamic US entertainment industry, audio series are becoming more popular as a mainstream platform, fuelled by the emergence of widespread audio entertainment. Aligned with this evolution, we aim to deliver compelling storytelling that contributes to the growth of the audio series category in the US. It is my privilege and honor to have the opportunity to contribute to continue Pocket FM’s growth journey in US and take it to the next leap”

    Lalit has been a partner to Pocket FM’s journey since its early days. Prior to joining Pocket FM, he has worked with startups like Healthkart, Zomato and Dineout.

    Commenting on the elevation, Pocket FM CEO & co-founder Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit’s contributions have been nothing short of extraordinary. He has been a driving force in our journey towards achieving profitable growth. In this elevated role, we believe Pocket FM will continue to thrive and keep expanding into newer territories and emerge as a global leader in the audio entertainment space,”

    In 2022, the company announced its entry into the US market when it surpassed a US$25 million annualized revenue run rate (ARR). It remains bullish towards innovation and growth and aims to leverage its proven success to build a mainstream entertainment hub for a global audience.

  • Ramana Babu appointed as director of marketing by DoT

    Ramana Babu appointed as director of marketing by DoT

    Mumbai – According to the latest notification circular of DoT ( Department of Telecommunications), Ramana Babu appointed as director ( marketing) at ITI Ltd with immediate effect from 16 January 2024.

    Earlier he served as principal general manager at BSNL. Earlier Ramana Babu was appointed as Director (Marketing) of ITI Limited, a PSU under the Department of Telecommunications ( DoT).

  • Singer India appoints Shalini Gupta Vachher & Suresh Jangra, strengthening leadership team

    Singer India appoints Shalini Gupta Vachher & Suresh Jangra, strengthening leadership team

    Mumbai: Singer India Ltd, a 170-year-old company and a leading manufacturer of sewing machines and home appliances has announced the appointment of two senior leaders Shalini Gupta Vachher who joins as head of marketing and communications, and Suresh Jangra, who joins as VP of engineering excellence.

    The appointments demonstrate Singer India’s commitment to strengthening its people strategy to support the company’s growth plans. Singer India plans to bring in new products, which will appeal to the new age consumer and is focusing on strengthening its market share with other new launches in the Sewing Machine category.

    Singer India vice chairman & MD Rakesh Khanna said,” We welcome the new and experienced talent, who have joined the company at a time when we are shifting gears and working to create a new chapter in our journey, which is marked with growth, innovation and launching an exciting line up of new products. Shalini’s and Suresh’s onboarding is a step in partnering with talent which believes in our values, growth and lineage and is confident of creating a stronger and a better tomorrow with their vast experience in their respective domains.”

    Shalini, who joins as head of marketing and communications, comes with more than two decades of experience in the communications industry, counselling and executing impactful campaigns.  In her new role, Shalini will work closely with all stakeholders to redesign Singer India’s marketing and communication efforts to create a meaningful impact by focusing on digital marketing and strengthening the company’s communication across all platforms. She will be responsible for developing and executing innovative marketing campaigns that resonate with the new age customers and drive business growth.

    Head of marketing and communication Shalini Gupta Vachher said, ” I am excited to be part of a brand which exists in most of the Indian households and one which evokes strong memories. I am looking forward to playing my part in Singer India’s journey of growth and success and I am confident that with a two-decade experience in building strong corporate reputation programs for clients, I will be able to add value to the new chapter, that is being written.”

    Suresh Jangra, an accomplished engineer comes with over two decades of international and national experience having worked in companies such as Orient Electric, Carrier India, Metalfrio Solutions, Brazil. Suresh brings with him a deep understanding of product development, quality control, and manufacturing process. In his new role, he will be leading the engineering team, ensuring operational excellence, and driving innovation across Singer India’s product portfolio.

    “I am pleased to join Singer India and together with its talented team of engineers, we will aspire to offer customer centric innovation to help Singer India achieve new heights of efficiency and excellence” added Engineering Excellence VP Suresh Jangra.