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Category: People

  • TBWA India names Rohit Mukherjee executive creative director in Gurgaon

    TBWA India names Rohit Mukherjee executive creative director in Gurgaon

    MUMBAI: TBWA India has hired Rohit Mukherjee as executive creative director at its Gurgaon office, tasking him with sharpening the agency’s disruption philosophy and raising the creative bar for clients.

    Mukherjee, who brings close to 20 years in advertising, joins from Dentsu Creative Isobar where he rose to group executive creative director, leading integrated, digital-first campaigns for major Indian brands. He began his career with an internship at Rediffusion Y&R and went on to stints at Publicis, Mccann, DDB Mudra and Bates, shaping campaigns for Airtel, Nestlé, Colgate-Palmolive, Dabur, Diageo and Kia Motors. Among his best-known works is Colgate’s “Kya aapke toothpaste mein namak hai?” platform.

    TBWA India, chief creative experience officer, Russell Barrett called Mukherjee “an accomplished creative individual with a great pedigree of ideas and executions,” adding that he was “just the right kind of pirate to lead and inspire the office forward.”

    For his part, Mukherjee said he relished the agency’s disruption credo. “To create in any field, you need to disrupt. The very fact that for tbwa, disruption is its raison d’être is provocation enough for any creative,” he noted.

    Mukherjee’s work has earned recognition at Cannes Lions, Spikes, Kyoorius, Abbys, Effies, New York Festival, Adfest and the Clios. Off duty, he is a collector of stories, whether through photography, trivia or conversations with strangers.
     

  • Priyadarshan Garg takes charge as IDPL’s chief business officer

    Priyadarshan Garg takes charge as IDPL’s chief business officer

    MUMBAI: From print to pixels, Priyadarshan Garg knows how to make headlines. The seasoned media executive has now stepped into a new chapter as chief business officer at Indiadotcom Digital Private Limited (IDPL), the digital arm of Zee Media Corporation Limited.

    The move is more than just a leadership shuffle. It signals IDPL’s ambitions to scale up its digital-first strategy, sharpen its editorial edge and build content ecosystems that attract both audiences and advertisers.

    Garg brings more than 25 years of industry experience, with stints at Zee5, Alibaba, Dainik Bhaskar and TV Today. Known for combining newsroom instincts with business smarts, he has already made waves at IDPL since joining in April by driving the successful launch of Pinewz, one of the company’s fastest-growing digital-first ventures.

    In his new role, he will steer editorial direction, unlock revenue opportunities and strengthen IDPL’s position as a digital powerhouse. As he put it, “Digital is not just about content delivery. It is about creating immersive and trustworthy ecosystems where audiences feel engaged and empowered. At IDPL, I see huge potential to harness data, technology and creativity to fuel growth while maintaining the highest standards of journalism.”

    Zee Media Corporation Limited, ceo, Karan Abhishek Singh welcomed him on board and said, “Priyadarshan’s leadership comes at a crucial time when IDPL is scaling new heights in digital reach and influence. His industry insight and ability to deliver transformative strategies will play a vital role in shaping IDPL’s future.”

    For IDPL, the appointment is a step towards reimagining digital journalism in India. With Garg at the helm, the focus will be on truth-driven storytelling, innovative formats and building long-term value for users and partners alike.
     

  • Dentsu Creative names John Mescall global chief creative partner

    Dentsu Creative names John Mescall global chief creative partner

    MUMBAI: Dentsu Creative has appointed John Mescall as its global chief creative partner, a move designed to sharpen the agency’s creative edge and align standards across markets.

    Based in New York, Mescall will work closely with Yasu Sasaki, Dentsu’s global chief creative officer, to strengthen creative craft, foster collaboration and integrate emerging technologies like AI into workflows. He will also focus on talent development across the network.

    “What drew me to Dentsu Creative is its deep belief in the power of creativity to drive meaningful impact,” said Mescall. “It’s rare to find a global organisation so aligned in purpose yet so attuned to the strengths of its local teams.”

    Mescall is one of advertising’s most decorated creative leaders. At Mccann Worldgroup, where he served as global executive creative director and president of its global creative council, he helped steer the network to Cannes Lions and Effie global network of the year titles. His career haul includes more than 100 Cannes Lions, eight of them Grand Prix, along with top honours at D&AD, One Show, Clio and beyond. Adweek has named him to its creativity 50, while Business Insider ranked him among the world’s top 10 most creative people in advertising.

    Dentsu Creative, global president, Abbey Klaassen said Mescall’s “ability to unite teams around a shared vision” will be key to scaling the agency’s creative impact. Sasaki added that his appointment reflects the network’s “commitment to transformative creativity that delivers cultural and business impact.”

     

  • Sony tunes into new voice with Gaurav Laghate as comms head

    Sony tunes into new voice with Gaurav Laghate as comms head

    MUMBAI: When the newsroom meets the boardroom, sparks are bound to fly. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has tapped journalist-turned-communications strategist Gaurav Laghate as its new head of PR and corporate communications, effective September 2025.

    Reporting directly to Gaurav Banerjee, MD & CEO of SPNI, Laghate will be tasked with steering the company’s communications blueprint shaping narratives, sharpening reputation, and strengthening engagement with stakeholders across its diverse media businesses.

    Armed with 17 years of newsroom experience, Laghate is no stranger to storytelling at scale. Until recently, he was senior editor and head of the consumer bureau at Mint, where he became one of India’s most authoritative voices on the media and entertainment sector. His portfolio spanned linear TV, OTT platforms, advertising, and regulatory affairs, making him a familiar face across the industry’s power corridors.

    From tracking the rise of streaming wars to decoding regulatory shake-ups, Laghate built a reputation for analytical accuracy, deep domain knowledge, and sharp editorial instincts.  He began his career at indiantelevision.com and is prized for analytical rigour and a contact book that spans studios, regulators and agencies. Now, he crosses over to the corporate side, bringing with him the credibility of journalism and the strategic perspective needed to shape SPNI’s narrative in a fast-evolving media landscape.

    For SPNI, the appointment underscores a renewed push to build authentic storytelling and stakeholder trust as it eyes its next growth chapter in India’s hyper-competitive content market.

    Welcoming him onboard, Gaurav Banerjee said: “Gaurav’s deep domain knowledge and strategic perspective make him a valuable addition to our leadership team. His transition from a journalist to a communications leader will bring a unique perspective on how we shape our narrative and engage with multiple stakeholders. We are excited to have him onboard as we aim to strengthen our position as a leading content powerhouse.”

    With the shift from penning headlines to making them, Laghate now faces the challenge of ensuring Sony’s stories resonate not just with viewers, but with every corner of the media and entertainment ecosystem. And if his track record is any indicator, this will be one headline worth watching.

  • Savills appoints Emily Fell to lead Asia Pacific strategy in living sectors

    Savills appoints Emily Fell to lead Asia Pacific strategy in living sectors

    MUMBAI: Savills isn’t just raising the roof, it’s reshaping the very idea of home in Asia Pacific. The global property giant has appointed Emily Fell as senior director in its capital markets team, a move that signals its deepening bet on the fast-growing Living Sectors.

    Fell’s new mandate covers everything from multifamily housing and co-living to student digs, senior living, and even hotels sectors increasingly drawing the gaze of institutional investors hungry for stable returns. In fact, over 90 per cent of institutional investors in the 2025 ANREV Investment Intentions Survey flagged residential as their top pick in Asia Pacific.

    No stranger to the living game, Fell cut her teeth in UK student housing in 2011 before moving to Singapore in 2015. Since then, she’s helped close transactions worth 4 billion dollars across Australia, Japan, South Korea and beyond, including steering a landmark equity raise for an Australian co-living portfolio.

    Her appointment plugs the Asia Pacific team directly into Savills’ powerhouse Operational Capital Markets platform in Europe, which has shifted more than 25 billion dollars in living assets over the past 24 months. That cross-border pipeline is designed to help investors surf the rising wave of alternative real estate.

    “India, in particular, is at the cusp of a transformation,” said Savills India CEO Anurag Mathur pointing to the growing appetite for student housing, senior living and data centres. “Emily’s global experience will connect Indian opportunities with international capital and operating models.”

    For Fell, the attraction is clear: “On a risk-adjusted basis, these assets deliver the durable income streams institutions want. We’re seeing strong demand across Japan, Australia and South Korea, and I’m excited to connect clients with opportunities through Savills’ global platform.”

    With its latest hire, Savills is sending a signal: living assets aren’t just an alternative play anymore, they’re becoming the main stage.

  • Goodera names Sumit Agarwal as chief financial officer to fuel global growth

    Goodera names Sumit Agarwal as chief financial officer to fuel global growth

    MUMBAI: Goodera has roped in Sumit Agarwal as its new chief financial officer, bolstering its leadership team as the employee volunteering platform prepares for its next phase of global expansion.

    A chartered accountant and all-India rank holder, Agarwal brings over two decades of experience across fintech, e-commerce, payments and technology. He most recently headed Tripmoney at Makemytrip–Goibibo, where he rolled out digital financial products. His earlier stints include cfo roles at Zovi.com and NGPAY (acquired by Flipkart), as well as leadership positions at Wipro technologies.

    At Goodera, he will oversee fundraising, investor relations, financial planning, M&A and strategic growth. “Goodera has built a global platform that powers volunteering while creating community impact. I am excited to shape its financial strategy for the next level of growth,” Agarwal noted.

     

  • Kunal Gaur takes the leap from JioStar to launch his own digital venture

    Kunal Gaur takes the leap from JioStar to launch his own digital venture

    MUMBAI: From streaming giants to star power, Kunal Gaur has played the numbers game across India’s biggest media houses – and now, he’s ready to bet on himself. The seasoned executive has stepped down from his role as Business Commercial Lead at JioStar to launch his own digital marketing enterprise.

    Armed with over 20 years of experience across media, entertainment, and finance, Gaur’s career reads like a who’s who of the industry. At Viacom18, he spent four years as Chief Commercial Officer, steering spends for channels like Colors, MTV, Sports18, Cineplex, and OTT platform JioCinema. Before that, he was Netflix India’s Director of Production Finance, working on 17 series, 14 films, and 20 development projects, from Sacred Games to Extraction.

    Nearly a decade at Star India and Hotstar saw him negotiating content deals, licensing formats, and even leading commercial talks for Star Sports’ sprawling 12-studio project. His early years at PwC sharpened the financial rigour that has since underpinned his media journey.

    At JioStar, Gaur oversaw commercials across Digital, Creator, Marketing, Talent, and Technology driving efficiencies and shaping strategic partnerships. Now, with his new venture, he’s blending that financial expertise with media know-how to build a future-focused digital marketing company designed for India’s evolving landscape.

    “Finance may have been my foundation, but creativity and innovation are my growth engines,” Gaur quipped while announcing his entrepreneurial leap.

    As the industry braces for another wave of digital disruption, all eyes will be on whether Gaur can turn his decades of boardroom wins into startup success.
     

  • Saif turns up the cool as brand face of Thermocool’s appliance portfolio

    Saif turns up the cool as brand face of Thermocool’s appliance portfolio

    MUMBAI: Bollywood’s Nawab of charm is now king of cool. Saif Ali Khan has been signed on as the brand ambassador for Thermocool Home Appliances, stepping into the spotlight to endorse the company’s cooler division, which includes desert air coolers, room coolers, and portable units.

    The tie-up, spanning two years, will see Saif front high-profile activations, interactive digital campaigns, and a string of consumer promotions designed to give the trusted homegrown brand a stylish new edge just in time for India’s scorching summers.

    Calling the association a “strategic milestone,” Thermocool MD Rajeev Kumar Gupta said Khan represents the perfect blend of “utility and style,” aligning with Thermocool’s push for high-performance yet aspirational products.

    Adding to that, Thermocool director of operations Tushar Gupta highlighted that Saif’s versatility and credibility would cement Thermocool’s place as a preferred choice in a crowded market. Meanwhile Thermocool director of sales & marketing Tanuj Gupta, called him “the embodiment of style meeting substance,” noting his multi-generational appeal.

    For decades, Thermocool has enjoyed a special place in Indian households, trusted for innovation and reliability. Now, with Saif lending his star power, the brand aims to refresh its connect with younger, design-conscious buyers while continuing to deliver quality cooling solutions to millions across the country.

    The rollout will span media platforms nationwide, promising consumers not just effective cooling tech but also a dash of stardom with every campaign. After all, when it comes to beating the heat, Thermocool is banking on Saif to keep things effortlessly chilled.

  • Huella makes its ad move, ropes in Prabhvir Sahmey as strategy advisor

    Huella makes its ad move, ropes in Prabhvir Sahmey as strategy advisor

    MUMBAI: When an adtech player wants to make a statement, it brings in a strategist who’s seen the script unfold for decades. Huella, one of India’s fastest-growing independent adtech companies, has appointed Prabhvir Sahmey as strategic advisor, a move designed to sharpen its market narrative and fuel its next growth chapter. Sahmey isn’t new to the spotlight. With 25 years of experience across digital, media, and adtech, he has played pivotal roles in shaping India’s advertising ecosystem. His most recent stint was as senior director, ad sales at Samsung Ads, where he drove innovation in connected TV and programmatic solutions.

    For Huella, which is rapidly scaling from being a challenger brand to a market mover, Sahmey’s addition is about more than just marquee credentials. Based out of Delhi/NCR, he will guide the company’s efforts to strengthen its product portfolio, refine internal structures, and amplify its external presence.

    “Huella has always been about building something larger than a company, it’s an ecosystem where creativity, technology, and credibility meet,” said Huella co-founder & CEO Prrincey Roy. “Bringing Prabhvir on board is a deliberate step to ensure we scale this vision with discipline and ambition.”

    For his part, Sahmey called the appointment “an exciting opportunity to work with a transformational leadership team that’s building a future-ready adtech ecosystem.” He added that Huella’s clarity of vision makes it a fertile ground for meaningful impact.

    As the adtech sector in India prepares for a period of consolidation and innovation, Huella’s latest move signals that it wants to play in the big leagues not just chasing growth, but writing the next chapter of the country’s digital advertising playbook.

  • Humsa Dhir signs off from Sony after a decade of scripting its story

    Humsa Dhir signs off from Sony after a decade of scripting its story

     MUMBAI: Every great story needs a strong narrator and for Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), that voice has been Humsa Dhir for the last 10 years. Now, after an extraordinary decade as Senior vice president and head of corporate communications, she is bidding farewell to the network she helped define.

    Joining SPNI in 2015, Dhir steered the company’s reputation through broadcast, digital, and sports ventures, shaping how the brand was seen and understood. From deft crisis management to bold corporate storytelling, her tenure became the playbook for communications done with both strategy and sensitivity.

    Her influence stretched far beyond press releases. She chaired the organisation’s Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee for two terms, established social media governance frameworks, and championed initiatives such as the award-winning Go-Beyond Podcast, which won praise for reinventing corporate storytelling.

    Across media, energy, manufacturing, and automotive sectors, Dhir’s broader career has seen her advise CXOs and boards across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East on trust, change, and long-term value creation. At Sony, those skills translated into campaigns that resonated, and a reputation that endured.

    “Humsa has been an exceptional custodian of SPNI’s reputation and values,” said SPNI CHRO Manu Wadhwa hailing her ability to craft compelling narratives while building trust with stakeholders. “We will truly miss her insight, her partnership, and the calm confidence she always brought to the table.”

    Reflecting on her own journey, Dhir called the role “a privilege” and “a decade of growth,” noting that it gave her opportunities to blend strategy with sensitivity while building a trusted communications function. “As I close this chapter, I do so with deep gratitude and a clear sense of readiness to take this experience into new environments,” she said, hinting at broader mandates ahead.

    As she steps away, Sony loses its voice behind the curtain, the calm strategist who ensured its stories found the right tone at the right time. But for Dhir, the next chapter promises new audiences, bigger stages, and fresh scripts waiting to be written.