ITV

Category: MAM

  • Hindustan Unilever appoints Priya Nair as new CEO & MD

    Hindustan Unilever appoints Priya Nair as new CEO & MD

    Mumbai: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has announced the appointment of Priya Nair as its new chief executive officer & managing director, effective 1 August 2025. She will also join the HUL board and remain a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive.

    Nair brings nearly 30 years of experience with Unilever, having held various sales and marketing roles across home care, beauty & wellbeing, and personal care. Her previous roles include executive director, home care, HUL (2014-2020), executive director, beauty & personal care, HUL (2020-2022), and global chief marketing officer, beauty & wellbeing at Unilever. Since 2023, she has served as president of beauty & wellbeing, one of Unilever’s fastest-growing divisions.. She is credited with consistently delivering business transformation through brand building, premiumisation, digital commerce, and purpose-led innovation.

    Rohit Jawa will step down as CEO and MD on 31 July 2025, to pursue new personal and professional endeavours.  Jawa assumed the role in 2023, and during his tenure of over two years, HUL achieved volume-led competitive growth. He also introduced the ‘aspire’ strategy, aimed at transforming the portfolio and channels towards high-growth demand spaces. HUL chairman Nitin Paranjpe thanked  Jawa for his leadership in navigating challenging market conditions and strengthening the company’s foundations.

    The appointment of Nair is subject to shareholder and other necessary statutory approvals. The board meeting to approve these changes commenced at 5:30 pm IST and concluded at 6:25 pm IST on Thursday, 10 July 2025.

  • Wealth of Experience as Debasish Mohanty Joins The Wealth Company

    Wealth of Experience as Debasish Mohanty Joins The Wealth Company

    MUMBAI: They say knowledge compounds like interest and The Wealth Company just made a high-return hire. The Wealth Company has appointed Debasish Mohanty as Chief Strategy Officer for its Asset Management Arm, tapping into his 30-plus years of deep domain expertise in India’s mutual fund industry. Known among peers as a walking encyclopaedia of financial strategy, Mohanty’s arrival marks a pivotal chapter for the organisation as it aims to scale with innovation and insight.

    Mohanty’s illustrious career includes leadership roles at UTI AMC, where he served as president and national head of sales, while also overseeing policy research, business transformation, corporate communication, and marketing functions. His name is also familiar in policy circles, having played an active role on various AMFI committees including those on operations & compliance, ARN, and common platform.

    Currently serving as an independent director at LIC Pension Funds Ltd., regulated by PFRDA, Mohanty brings not just experience but a rare combination of academic rigour and practical strategy. A postgraduate and M.Phil in Economics from JNU, he also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in securities law, and wears many certified hats: CFP, CWM, and CAIIB. His executive education portfolio spans Kellogg School of Management, ISB Hyderabad, and IIM Ahmedabad.

    In his new role, Mohanty will steer growth, innovation, and long-term value creation at The Wealth Company’s asset management operations. “My focus will be on strategic initiatives that elevate the company’s position in the market,” he said, underscoring plans to work closely with leadership on risk mitigation, opportunity identification, and stakeholder returns.

    The Wealth Company MD & CEO Madhu Lunawat described Mohanty as “the encyclopedia of the mutual fund industry,” lauding his ability to operate seamlessly across public, private, and foreign fund categories.

    With this appointment, The Wealth Company signals its intention to play the long game backed by a strategist who knows the terrain better than most.

  • Ad to the Future Google revs up AI to rewrite the rules of marketing

    Ad to the Future Google revs up AI to rewrite the rules of marketing

    MUMBAI: Who needs a crystal ball when your ads can now predict, create and convert, all thanks to AI? At its annual Google Marketing Live event, Google rolled out a wave of AI-powered advertising tools designed to flip the marketing playbook from reactive to proactive. From smarter bidding and creative generation to shoppable TV and AI-driven search ads, the tech giant is giving Indian marketers a suite of tools to anticipate consumer behaviour, not just respond to it.

    “The purchase journey isn’t a straight line anymore, it’s a maze of swipes, scrolls and searches,” said Google India MD for digital first businesses Roma Datta Chobey. “Our new launches help brands cut through the chaos, scale creativity, and reach the right people at the right time with precision and impact.”

    Here’s what’s turning heads:
    Smarter Shopping, Streamlined Selling

    ●    Shoppable CTV lets users buy products right from their smart TVs using QR codes or “send to phone” options.

    ●    Youtube Masthead is now shoppable on mobile, giving brands high-visibility, click-to-cart impact.

    ●    Ads in AI Overviews will soon roll out in India, inserting Search and Shopping ads directly within AI-generated search summaries.

    AI-Powered Creativity with “Generated for You”

    ●    Set to launch in Product Studio later this year, this tool will generate images and videos based on product catalogues, trends, and brand identity no design skills required.

    Performance Max Retention Only Mode

    ●    In beta in India, this lets brands focus solely on re-engaging existing users. Swiggy tested it and saw a two-thirds reduction in cost for bringing users back to the app.

    AI Max for Search

    ●    Now live in India, it’s a one-click booster that learns from your site and existing keywords to serve smarter, more relevant ads. Cashify reported a 15 per cent conversion bump in early trials.

    Smart Bidding, Smarter Insights

    ●    A major bidding update now helps brands uncover less obvious conversion paths, with testers reporting an 18 per cent increase in new query categories that convert.

    Meridian Gets an Upgrade

    ●    Google’s open-source Marketing Mix Model (MMM) will now include a dynamic scenario planner and more frequent access to key reach/frequency data via API.

    AI Agents in Ads & Analytics

    ●    New “agentic” AI tools will soon help with campaign setup, keyword strategy, and performance reporting inside Google Ads and Analytics, using conversational prompts and visuals.

    For early adopters like Swiggy, the tools have already shown impact across the funnel from creative acceleration to better cost efficiency and growth in new user cohorts.

    As marketers juggle non-linear journeys across screens, platforms and attention spans, Google’s AI arsenal aims to give them not just tools, but an edge where insights spark action, and creativity scales without compromise.

    In the race for attention, Google isn’t just offering ads. It’s offering answers.

  • Fenesta cracks open a leaky laugh this monsoon with its new film

    Fenesta cracks open a leaky laugh this monsoon with its new film

    MUMBAI: Fenesta is bringing humour to the downpour with a new campaign that finds comedy in a common monsoon catastrophe, a leaky window.

    Titled ‘Keep the Rain Out with Fenesta Windows & Doors’, the film is the latest instalment of the brand’s ongoing ‘Fine. Finer. Fenesta’ campaign. Conceptualised and directed by Titus Upputuru, the spot captures a hilariously relatable moment, a man returns home to a puddle on the floor, blames the family dog for an indoor accident, only to discover the real culprit is a dodgy old window.

    Cue punchline: “Windows leaking again? Time to switch to Fenesta.”

    Delivered with deadpan wit and monsoon flair, the ad makes a splash while spotlighting Fenesta’s engineered-for-India windows built to keep water, noise and dust out with advanced multi-chamber profiles and airtight seals.

    Speaking of the campaign, Fenesta head of marketing, Susmita Nag said, “This campaign takes a playful spin on a very real seasonal concern. At Fenesta, we believe the rains should be a joy, not a hassle. ‘Fine. Finer. Fenesta’ isn’t just about showcasing our windows; it’s about highlighting the assurance they bring. Our precision-engineered uPVC and aluminium systems are built for Indian homes and Indian monsoons with multi-chambered profiles and advanced sealing that guard against water seepage, noise, and dust. It’s where cutting-edge engineering meets everyday comfort, keeping your home dry, peaceful, and elegant, rain or shine.”

    Director Titus Upputuru added, “I absolutely love the rains—they bring romance, chai, and pakoras. But without good windows and doors, they can cause havoc indoors. That’s where Fenesta comes in, ensuring rains stay beautiful. It was a joy directing this film— From directing Charlie to showing how maids are enjoying a whole new power and attitude in urban households. A super fun shoot all around!”

    With rising consumer demand for durable, design-forward home solutions that hold up in every season, Fenesta’s film lands as both a reminder and a nudge if your window leaks more than your roof, it might be time to call in the experts.

    Now live across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, the campaign marries brand wit with seasonal insight, proving once again that sometimes, the best way to fix a leak is with a laugh.

  • OPPO India launches second edition of LUMO photography awards

    OPPO India launches second edition of LUMO photography awards

    MUMBAI: Oppo India is back with its click-worthy competition — the second edition of the ‘Photography Awards’ powered by Lumo, a rebranded version of the company’s “Imagine IF” platform. And this year, things just got culturally cooler with a brand-new category: ‘Super Culture Moment’, in collaboration with Discovery Channel.

    Under the theme ‘Super Every Moment’, the contest calls on budding photographers to capture life’s everyday brilliance through the lens of an Oppo smartphone. From street snaps to cultural moments, the awards aim to blend storytelling with shutter speed, powered by Oppo’s cutting-edge imaging tech.

    Oppo India head of product & digital marketing Sushant Vashistha said, “Lumo is our ode to creativity — a platform where every image tells a story, and every story becomes a moment of magic. The first edition, Imagine iF, received thousands of stunning submissions from across India. It laid the foundation for this year’s competition, powered by Lumo. This season, we aim to celebrate not just the outcome but the creative journey behind every powerful visual, powered by Oppo’s imaging technology.”

    Joining the jury bench are Joseph Radhik, ace wedding photographer, and Vikram Channa, vice president of Warner Bros. Discovery, ensuring every frame is judged with both artistic depth and cultural nuance.

    Nine categories including Super Snap, Youth, Me, Live, Vibe, Story, Connection, Environs and the newly added Culture, offer participants plenty of room to play. Round 1 will shortlist 50 finalists, who’ll then go head-to-head in Round 2 using the Oppo Find X8 Pro for a real-world creative challenge.

    Following seven lakh entries globally in 2023 and 34,000 entries from India in 2024, the 2025 edition is shaping up to be a blockbuster. Entries are now open for Indian citizens aged 18 and above. All you need is a keen eye, a great story, and an Oppo in hand. Visit lumo.oppo.com/in to get in the frame.

  • Ram Madhvani takes a virtual leap of faith with India’s first mythological AI-VR universe

    Ram Madhvani takes a virtual leap of faith with India’s first mythological AI-VR universe

    MUMBAI: Ram Madhvani, the maverick behind Neerja and Aarya, is swapping film reels for headsets with the launch of Equinox Virtual — India’s first AI-powered spiritual and mythological VR content universe. Kicking things off is a jaw-dropping AI-driven adaptation of the Bhagavad Gita, already in private preview and promising to teleport audiences straight into the heart of the Kurukshetra battlefield, all without leaving their living room.

    But this is no one-off experiment. With 24 more films in the pipeline and an audacious target of 100 VR titles by 2028, Madhvani is building what could be the most ambitious fusion of technology, tradition, and theology ever attempted in Indian entertainment.

    “In theatres, we experience magic. At home, we have scale and comfort. But in personal viewing, we are often watching stories on split screens, sharing attention with emails, calls, or messages,” said Equinox Virtual co-founder Ram Madhvani. “With VR, especially powered by AI, we have a chance to restore the sanctity of immersive storytelling—even in a solitary experience. And what better canvas than our own epics that have lived through centuries—spiritual texts that remain culturally resonant to this day?”

    The Equinox slate isn’t just myth for myth’s sake, it’s a meditative deep-dive into spirituality, devotion, and Indian culture, designed for the headset generation. Think cosmic narratives, AI-built temples, immersive meditations, and Gita verses wrapped in digital wonder.

    Known for his Cannes Lions, National Awards, and a knack for turning ideas into impact, Madhvani is now scripting what may be his boldest chapter yet, one where Ram meets RAM, and dharma goes digital.

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  • Maybelline drops Teddy Tint bomb in Mumbai with CGI-powered Dabbawala

    Maybelline drops Teddy Tint bomb in Mumbai with CGI-powered Dabbawala

    MUMBAI: Maybelline New York and Posterscope India have painted Mumbai nude — literally and virtually — with the launch of Super Stay Teddy Tint – Nude Drop, a plush 11-shade lip tint collection that just got a larger-than-life debut with hyperreal CGI billboards.

    The campaign, brought to life by dentsu’s OOH specialist Posterscope, delivered a digital-first spectacle by fusing cutting-edge CGI with the warm nostalgia of Mumbai’s iconic Dabbawalas. These everyday heroes became the unexpected — and loveable — ambassadors of soft glam, starring in a seven-day CGI production that transformed the city’s skyline into a moving makeup marvel.

    Designed to tug at the heart and scroll-stopping enough to trend, the visual narrative reimagined the Teddy Tint’s soft-but-bold vibe through the lens of Mumbai’s cultural pride, marrying beauty with believability in a way that felt rooted yet global.

    Posterscope India CEO Imtiyaz Vilatra said, “This campaign was built on insight-led storytelling that connects emotionally and visually. CGI gave us the flexibility to craft an experience that felt both imaginative and rooted in local emotion. Bringing together a global beauty icon and an everyday Mumbai symbol allowed us to tell a story that was personal, timely, and unforgettable.”

    With a mix of emotional storytelling and tech swagger, Maybelline’s campaign wasn’t just lipstick on a billboard, it was a CGI glow-up for the Indian beauty playbook.

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  • WPP names Microsoft executive Cindy Rose as new chief executive

    WPP names Microsoft executive Cindy Rose as new chief executive

    MUMBAI: WPP  today announced a significant leadership change, appointing Cindy Rose as its new chief executive officer, effective 1 September 2025. She will succeed Mark Read, who steps down on the same date after a 30-year tenure with the company, including seven years as CEO.  Read will assist  Rose with the transition until the end of the year.

    Rose brings extensive experience from the technology, telecommunications, media, entertainment, and creative industries. For the past nine years, she has held senior leadership roles at Microsoft, most recently as chief operating officer, global enterprise, where she focused on leveraging digital technology and AI for business transformation. Before this, she served as president of Microsoft Western Europe and CEO of Microsoft UK.

    Her impressive career also includes leadership positions at Vodafone (managing director, UK consumer 
    business) and Virgin Media (executive director, digital entertainment and media sales). She spent 15 years at The Walt Disney Co, culminating as senior vice president and managing director of Disney Interactive Media Group, EMEA.

    Rose has been a non-executive director on the WPP board since 2019, giving her an intimate understanding of the company’s operations. An alumna of Columbia University and New York Law School, she also serves as an advisory board member at Imperial College Business School and McLaren Racing. Holding both British and American citizenship, she will split her time between London and New York. In recognition of her services to UK technology, she was awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year Honours.

    WPP chair Philip Jansen said:
    “Cindy is an outstanding and inspirational business leader with extensive experience at some of the world’s most recognised companies and a track record of growing large-scale businesses. She has led multi-billion-dollar operations across the UK, EMEA and globally, built enduring client relationships and delivered growth in both enterprise and consumer environments. 

    “Cindy has supported the digital transformation of large enterprises around the world – including embracing AI to create new customer experiences, business models and revenue streams. Her expertise in this landscape will be hugely valuable to WPP as the industry navigates fundamental changes and macroeconomic uncertainty. Cindy’s appointment follows a thorough selection process that considered both internal and external candidates. As an existing Board member she understands our business and the needs of our clients, and we look forward to working with her in her new role as CEO.

    “As he hands over to Cindy, I would like to reiterate my sincere thanks to Mark for his tireless commitment during more than 30 years with WPP and in particular the progress he has made to modernise, simplify and transform the company over the last seven years as CEO. On behalf of the Board and the company as a whole I wish him all the very best for the future.”

    Rose expressed her excitement about returning to the creative industries.  

    She said: “WPP is a company I know and love – not only from my six years on the Board but as a client and partner for many years before that – and I couldn’t be happier or more excited to be appointed as CEO. I began my career in the creative industries and this feels like coming home. 

    “There are so many opportunities ahead for WPP. We have and continue to build market-leading AI capabilities, alongside an unrivalled reputation for creative excellence and a preeminent client list. WPP has the most brilliant, talented, creative people and I can’t wait to write the company’s next chapter together.

    “I am grateful to Mark for his many contributions to the business over the years and I look forward to working together to ensure a smooth handover.”

    Mark Read said:

    “Having worked closely with Cindy for the last six years, I am delighted to see her appointed as CEO of WPP. From her time on the Board, she has real insight into our business and knows many of our clients, people and partners around the world. 

    “She brings deep experience of technology and AI and its transformational impact on business, and has successfully run large global organisations with talent at their core. After seven years as CEO, I know that I am leaving WPP in excellent hands.”

  • Consumr.ai ropes in Jaishree Agrawal to power its AI Twins play

    Consumr.ai ropes in Jaishree Agrawal to power its AI Twins play

    MUMBAI: Consumr.ai, the fast-rising consumer intelligence disruptor, has appointed Jaishree Agrawal as commercial lead – consumer insights to supercharge adoption of its flagship product, AI Twins — digital replicas of consumer behaviour that simulate decisions and fast-track brand growth.

    A veteran with over 16 years in market research, Jaishree joins from NielsenIQ BASES, where she was celebrated for commercial excellence and aligning insights to real-world business wins for Indian and global brands.

    At Consumr.ai, she will lead commercial strategy and client partnerships, helping brands ditch dated surveys in favour of real-time, always-on, AI-powered intelligence. The platform’s AI Twins offer marketers the ability to simulate purchase decisions, test creatives, optimise media, and validate innovations, all before going to market.

    “We’re thrilled to welcome Jaishree to the Consumr.ai family,” said Consumr.ai co-founder Vivek Bhargava. “Her depth of experience and consultative approach is a perfect fit as we build a platform that serves as a real-time, always-on research engine for brands. Jaishree will be instrumental in helping marketers unlock the full potential of AI Twins across business functions.”

    After debuting in the US, the platform has expanded into India, the Middle East, and Australia, with an eye on becoming the global benchmark in AI-native decision intelligence.

    Jaishree’s appointment marks a bold step in Consumr.ai’s mission to marry insight with innovation and replace traditional research with tools that think (and react) as fast as the consumer.

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