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Category: MAM

  • Indulekha enters serum space with Ayurvedic boost to scalp care

    Indulekha enters serum space with Ayurvedic boost to scalp care

     MUMBAI: Goodbye greasy hair days, hello Ayurvedic innovation. Indulekha, the beloved Ayurvedic haircare brand known for its iconic oils, is switching gears and swapping textures with the launch of two all-new, non-oily, clinically proven scalp serums designed to treat hair fall and dandruff with precision, potency and a whole lot of heritage.

    The two launches, Indulekha Bringha Hair Growth Treatment Scalp Serum and Indulekha Svetakutaja Dandruff Treatment Scalp Serum mark the brand’s first foray into the serum space, a bold move that blends ancient Ayurvedic science with the ease and elegance of modern-day skincare formats.

    According to a 2024 independent clinical study, the Bringha Hair Growth Treatment Scalp Serum helps grow 11,000 new hairs in just three months. Packed with a 4.6 per cent Bringha+ complex featuring Brahmi, Amla, Aloe, Pudina and more, this serum tackles oxidative stress and thinning hair by nourishing the scalp at its roots using traditional Arka and Kashayam Vidhi techniques.

    Not to be outdone, the Svetakutaja Dandruff Treatment Scalp Serum is proven to tackle recurring dandruff within just two weeks, according to a 2023 clinical study. Its 1.7 per cent Svetakutaja+ complex includes Lemongrass, Orange, Pudhina and Neem all formulated to banish flakes, soothe itchiness, and restore scalp barrier health.

    “This isn’t just a format shift, it’s a mindset shift,” said Hindustan Unilever VP hair care Sairam Subramanian. “While Indulekha Oil continues to be a go-to for millions, serums offer a compelling new way for our consumers to experience everyday Ayurvedic efficacy without the mess.”

    Visually too, the brand is shaking things up. The new serums arrive in sleek, premium packaging, a sign that Indulekha’s moving confidently into its next chapter. Still rooted in Ayurvedic authenticity, the bottles are all business on the outside, and all botanicals on the inside.

    Available on Amazon, Myntra and Nykaa, Indulekha’s serums signal a fresh era in Ayurvedic haircare, one that’s lighter on texture, but heavy on results.

  • Havas Media India shakes up leadership ranks with bold new moves

    Havas Media India shakes up leadership ranks with bold new moves

    MUMBAI: Havas Media India is mixing things up at the top, elevating a clutch of seasoned insiders in a bid to fuel its growth spurt and flex its media muscle.

    Ramsai Panchapakesan, a media maven with 28 years under his belt, has been bumped up to president – investments & partnerships. Since joining the agency in July 2024, Ramsai has been steering the ship on integrated investment strategy and scaling up client alliances across the board.

    Meanwhile, managing partner – investments & buying is now the new badge for Binu Thomas. A Havas veteran of nearly two decades, Binu’s got a sharp nose for investment strategy and a track record of wrangling performance-driven outcomes across sectors.

    Also stepping into the limelight is Manish Sharma, who takes over as president – Arena India, the specialised arm under Havas Media Network India. Over the past nine years, Manish has built a reputation for crafting content-first client engagement strategies, driving growth for big-ticket names like Kia, Bumble, Realme, Zupee, and Kajaria Tiles.

    Commenting on the development, Havas Media Network India CEO Mohit Joshi said, “Ramsai, Binu, and Manish have been instrumental in driving our investment and business strategy, unlocking consistent growth for our clients and the network. Their expertise, leadership, and commitment to innovation continue to shape the success story of Havas Media. I am confident that in their new roles, they will further accelerate our progress and deepen our market leadership.”

    Havas Media India COO Uday Mohan added, “These well-deserved elevations reflect the strength and depth of our leadership team. Ramsai and Binu have been the backbone of our investment function, while Manish has led Arena India with great vision and execution. Their contributions embody the Havas ethos of Meaningful Media, and I look forward to collaborating closely with them as we steer the next phase of growth.”

    The elevations are in line with Havas Media’s continued focus on empowering internal talent and scaling leadership across core and emerging verticals.

  • The Ultimate Father’s Day Gift Guide for 2025

    The Ultimate Father’s Day Gift Guide for 2025

    Father’s Day is around the corner and if you’ve been waiting to surprise your dear Dad, now is the time to come up with the best gift ideas that he’ll love. There are plenty of options available online if you’re looking for an amazing Father’s Day gift and all you need to do is choose as per what your Dad will connect with. Sounds difficult? It’s easier than you think! Let’s look at some of the top gifting choices for the occasion below.

    Best Father’s Day Gifts Worth Choosing

    Your Father’s Day gifts doesn’t always have to be expensive or super-premium. Even a thoughtful and simple gesture will successfully convey your love and warmth to him with ease. On that note, here’s a look at some of the best gifts that you can choose to surprise your Dad on this special day.

    Personalized Photo Frame

    Delight him with a customized photo frame exclusively designed for Father’s Day. You can choose your preferred frame and the photograph it showcases. Choose a special memory or an iconic photograph of you two that your Dad will treasure. It will definitely occupy pride of place on his study or work desk for sure!

    Custom LED Night Lamp

    Light up your Dad’s bedside or his favorite corner of the home with this incredibly useful yet appealing night lamp. You can customize it with a photograph or special memory that he will cherish for a lifetime. It is undoubtedly one of the most heart-warming presents that you can select for the occasion.

    Personalized Mug

    This can also be a cute and endearing Father’s Day gift, especially if your Dad loves his daily cup of tea or coffee. Personalize the cup with a picture, slogan, quote, or even his favorite football/cricket team logo- the sky is the limit! He will certainly look forward to his everyday cuppa with this present for company.

    Potted Plants

    Is your Dad into gardening and wellness? Does he love plants and greenery? Delight him with an adorable potted plant in a cute planter or pot that you can choose online. There are several plants available, right from air purifying plants to Sansevieria, Lucky Bamboo, and Carnations. Infuse a touch of green into your Dad’s life and watch him smile!

    Perfume Sets

    If your Dad is passionate about fragrances, surprise him with a delightful perfume set that he will treasure! You can take your pick from multiple options online, including sets that contain diverse fragrances that he’ll love experimenting with. It can be a thoughtful yet sweet gift for Father’s Day indeed.

    Custom Organizer

    Make your Dad’s workplace more inviting with a custom organizer that showcases a lovely photograph or memory, while coming with slots to house his pens, notes, and other stationery. It will be a useful present with a personal touch- just what you need to surprise a practical Dad!

    Make Father’s Day Memorable with Unique Gifts

    Father’s Day gives you an opportunity to express your love and affection for your dear Dad. He’s always been a pillar of support in your life and a never-ending source of inspiration, love, and warmth. It’s time you make him feel special with a thoughtful and heartfelt Father’s Day gift. Add your personal touch, choosing from the options listed above and add your unique touch to the celebrations. Of course, choose your presents from a reliable online gifting platform to create a fabulous surprise for your Dad without any hassles. 

    So, here’s to a whole lot of love, fun, and special memories this Father’s Day, with the right gifts to match!  
     

  • Aashirvaad adds ‘masala’ to selfies with AI posters starring Nani

    Aashirvaad adds ‘masala’ to selfies with AI posters starring Nani

    MUMBAI: From spice rack to star track, Nani joins fans in masala movie moments. In a deliciously cinematic twist, Aashirvaad Masalas has turned the humble kitchen into a movie set. Following the blockbuster launch of Telugu star Nani as its brand ambassador in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, ITC’s masala brand is now blending AI with AP cinema fandom serving up movie-style posters that put the homemaker centre stage.

    The interactive campaign lets users co-star with “Natural Star” Nani by generating personalised movie posters via a Whatsapp bot. And the plot twist? You only need a selfie, some genre flair action, romance, thriller or comedy and a dash of confidence.

    Branded under the tagline “Dammu Meede, Star Meere” (You’ve got the dum, you’re the star), the initiative celebrates the unsung heroes of the kitchen those who bring fiery flavour and boldness to the everyday meal. Now, they also get their own reel-life moment, courtesy of AI-generated poster magic.

    To jump into the action, users can scan the QR code on the Aashirvaad Chilli Powder pack or click a link via Aashirvaad Masala’s Telugu social handles. Once connected to the bot, they simply choose their preferred language, genre, and character setting before uploading a selfie. Within seconds, they receive a film poster starring themselves alongside Nani cinema-style drama, sans studio.

    As if starring opposite Nani weren’t enough, select participants might just find their faces up in lights on real billboards or snag movie tickets as part of the promotion.

    Blending the region’s deep love for cinema with a love for spice, this campaign is more than digital wizardry, it’s a slice of pop culture that makes the consumer feel like the superstar they truly are.

    So whether you’re perfecting your biryani or clicking the perfect selfie, Aashirvaad Masalas invites you to spice things up one poster at a time.
     

  • Lexar snaps up No.1 spot in India’s camera memory card market

    Lexar snaps up No.1 spot in India’s camera memory card market

    MUMBAI: Lexar zooms into top frame with India’s No.1 camera card crown. If memory serves you right make it Lexar. The global memory and storage brand has just captured the No.1 position in India’s camera memory card market, according to the latest CMR Consumer Storage Flash Devices Report (Q1 CY2025).

    The numbers speak volumes: Lexar holds a whopping 69 per cent share in the high-performance CFexpress category and 36 per cent market share by value in SD cards, making it the overall leader in the segment. Cfexpress cards, known for lightning-fast speeds, are the go-to choice for professionals working with 4K and 8K content and Lexar seems to have won the confidence of India’s digital creators by a landslide.

    “Securing the No.1 position in India’s camera memory card market is a significant milestone,” said Lexar general manager of India Middle East and Africa Fissal Oubida. “This latest CMR report is a testament to our focused strategy, product innovation, and growing trust among professionals and enthusiasts alike.”

    Lexar’s rise has been powered by a portfolio that ticks all the right boxes: breakneck read/write speeds, rugged reliability, and storage options that range from compact gigabytes to hefty terabytes. Whether it’s a wedding in the monsoon or wildlife in the Thar, Lexar’s weather-sealed, shockproof cards are built to take the shot and survive it.

    The company’s professional-grade offerings include Cfexpress, SDXC, microSD, card readers, and portable SSDs, all geared toward creators who need storage that keeps up with their vision.

    Lexar’s Indian distribution muscle via Redington Ltd., Creative Newtech Ltd., and Supertron Electronics Pvt Ltd has also helped the brand stay close to the country’s fast-expanding imaging and content creation ecosystem.

    As digital storytelling and creator-led content continue to boom in India, Lexar’s ability to blend speed, safety, and scale has positioned it as a brand not just capturing data but capturing the moment.

  • Pulp Strategy launches NeuroRank to crack the AI search code

    Pulp Strategy launches NeuroRank to crack the AI search code

    MUMBAI: In a sharp pivot from traditional SEO playbooks, Pulp Strategy has unveiled NeuroRank, India’s first end-to-end LLM SEO solution designed to help brands dominate AI-powered search platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity.

    Forget keywords and backlinks – NeuroRank focuses on a brand’s inclusion in AI-generated answers, not just its rank on a results page. With over 44 billion searches now happening on LLM platforms, this is SEO reimagined for a world where algorithms shape awareness, not just clicks.

    “With over 44 billion searches now happening on LLM platforms and 72 per cent of B2B buyers relying on AI for early brand discovery, waiting is not an option,” said Pulp Strategy founder & chief strategist  Ambika Sharma. “This is not traditional SEO. It’s not about backlinks or page speed. LLM SEO is about training the algorithms that are already shaping customer intent.”

    What makes NeuroRank a smart bet?

    .  LLM signal mapping: Tracks whether a brand is cited or invisible in current AI responses

    .   Semantic layer engineering: Rewrites content into machine-optimised formats — Q&As, explainer blocks, schema-rich text

     .  Source priority indexing: Seeds brand presence into model-trusted platforms like Reddit, Quora, and Medium

     .  Knowledge graph stitching: Builds brand-topic-author clusters to boost citation probability

     .   Live model conditioning: Continuously tests and tweaks prompt performance across major LLMs

    “If your brand isn’t part of the model’s learned memory, you’re not in the conversation. And if you’re not in the conversation, your competitor already is,” Sharma added.

    In one standout case, a mid-market SaaS firm cut its cost-per-MQL by 22 per cent in just eight weeks using NeuroRank’s full deployment suite — a strong signal of performance meeting potential.

  • Collective Artists Network hits the road with India’s first bilingual AI travel influencer

    Collective Artists Network hits the road with India’s first bilingual AI travel influencer

    MUMBAI: Collective Artists Network has unveiled Radhika Subramaniam, India’s first AI-powered travel influencer fluent in both English and Tamil, and the latest entrant in the firm’s expanding world of virtual creators.

    Unlike her glossier predecessor Kavya — who leans into luxe aesthetics — Radhika is your girl-next-door meets globetrotter. A Gen Z solo traveller with a backstory that reads like a millennial quit-notice, Radhika ditched her corporate job to chase culture, conversations and chai at roadside stalls across India.

    “Radhika feels like someone we all know — that one friend who took the leap and actually went on the trip. She’s thoughtful, independent, and interested in the world around her. With her, we wanted to build more than just a new kind of influencer — we wanted to create someone who could tell stories with heart, and make people feel seen,” said Collective Artists Network founder & group CEO Vijay Subramaniam.

    What sets Radhika apart isn’t just her synthetic pixels — it’s her human nuance. From local folklore to hidden cafés, she dives into places and perspectives often left behind by mainstream tourism content. And her bilingual voice allows her to bridge geographies, resonating deeply with both urban metros and regional markets.

    “There’s a warmth to Radhika that’s hard to fake. She’s not just spitting out trends or trying to be viral — she actually gets the context,” said Collective Artists Network chief revenue officer and CEO of Big Bang Social CEO Sudeep Subhash. “For brands, that’s gold. You get someone who’s always on, always in sync with your voice — but also genuinely engaging for the audience. That kind of storytelling at scale is really exciting.”

    As AI-powered influence evolves from novelty to nuance, Radhika signals a bold step forward — where connection trumps curation, and virtual creators feel less like code and more like companions.

  • DriveX shifts gears with Vipin Yadav as head of marketing

    DriveX shifts gears with Vipin Yadav as head of marketing

    MUMBAI: Marketing in the fast lane, DriveX puts Vipin Yadav in the driver’s seat. DriveX Mobility, the TVS Motor Company–backed disruptor in India’s booming pre-owned two-wheeler market, has turbocharged its leadership by appointing Vipin Yadav as Vice President and head of marketing. With over 17 years of experience building consumer brands, Yadav’s arrival signals a clear intent: to take the DriveX brand from showroom to stardom.

    In his new role, Yadav will spearhead omnichannel marketing, brand strategy, digital innovation and customer engagement key ingredients in DriveX’s vision to scale up to 500 outlets by 2027.

    Before hitching a ride with DriveX, Yadav was the marketing director at Hisense India and head of marketing at Toshiba TV. But his longest and perhaps most high-octane stint was with OPPO India, where he played a pivotal role in building the brand’s identity and accelerating market share during its growth sprint.

    “This is more than marketing. It’s about reimagining trust in a segment that’s ripe for disruption,” said Yadav. “DriveX isn’t just selling refurbished two-wheelers. It’s crafting a bold new mobility experience and I’m here to make sure India hears that story.”

    Known for balancing creativity with data, Yadav has contributed to marketing forums and jury panels, while also sharing his insights at institutions like IIT Delhi and Symbiosis Pune. He holds dual MBAs in Marketing from International Management Institute (Europe) and the Indian Institute of Planning & Management, alongside a Bachelor’s in Commerce from the University of Delhi.

    Welcoming him aboard, DriveX founder & director Narain Karthikeyan said, “Vipin understands the pulse of Indian consumers and knows how to convert insight into impact. His leadership will be crucial as we scale operations and deepen our connect with riders across the country.”

    With the Indian mobility space revving up, Yadav’s entry at DriveX feels less like a pitstop and more like a high-speed overtaking manoeuvre one that’s aimed squarely at pole position.
     

  • Machaxi aces $1.5m fund raise from Padukone and Nithin Kamath’s Rainmatter

    Machaxi aces $1.5m fund raise from Padukone and Nithin Kamath’s Rainmatter

    BENGALURU:  Machaxi, a Bengaluru-based grassroots sports-tech startup, has netted $1.5 million in fresh funding to power its AI-driven badminton coaching revolution. The round was led by Rainmatter, the investment arm of Nithin Kamath’s Zerodha, and featured a rousing smash from Indian badminton legend Prakash Padukone himself.

    The funding will fuel Machaxi’s expansion into Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai, while laying the groundwork for over 1,000 tech-enabled coaching centres over the next four years, in partnership with the Padukone School of Badminton. At the heart of this initiative: an AI-led training system built to bring consistency, performance tracking and scalability to India’s fractured coaching landscape.

    “I’ve always believed the future of Indian badminton lies in structured grassroots development,” said Padukone. “Machaxi’s AI vision ensures quality without compromise — no matter where you’re from.”

    The startup’s tech doesn’t aim to replace human coaches but to empower them — standardising training methods, flagging performance gaps, and ensuring even remote centres can tap into world-class insights.

    Machaxi co-founder Pratish Raj said, “This partnership is a big step forward in our mission to make quality sports coaching accessible to everyone in India. With the support of Rainmatter and the visionary backing of Padukone, we’re working toward a future where every aspiring athlete no matter where they come from can train with consistency, purpose, and access to world-class infrastructure. Our AI powered model is built to ensure that potential is discovered and nurtured, not overlooked. We’re proud to be at the forefront of this shift in grassroots sports.”

    The playbook is timely. According to MarketsandMarkets, the global AI-in-sports market is set to grow from $1.03 billion in 2024 to $2.61 billion by 2030. Machaxi aims to ride that wave straight into India’s heartland, transforming courts and communities alike.

    Founded in 2022, Machaxi has made a name blending on-ground grit with digital smarts — and now, it’s game on for India’s next gen of champions.

    (Pictured Above (L-R)-Nithin Kamath,  Ashish Anand, Tushar Raj, Prakash Padukone, Pratish Raj, and Dilip Kumar)

  • Siddhartha Vachaspati resigns as sales leader from P&G

    Siddhartha Vachaspati resigns as sales leader from P&G

    MUMBAI: Siddhartha Vachaspati, one of Procter & Gamble’s most seasoned sales leaders, is set to exit the company on 30 June 2025, drawing curtains on a 21-year tenure that saw him helm P&G’s Rs 1,200 crore health care business and lead a 1,000-strong sales force across India.

    Known for his deep command over FMCG, OTC, and pharma markets, Vachaspati’s career has been a masterclass in commercial leadership – spanning P&L ownership, trade marketing, GTM strategies, and post-M&A transitions for global giants like P&G, Unilever, Henkel Spic, and Gillette.

    With a résumé that criss-crosses India, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, he’s navigated everything from general trade to e-commerce, pharmacy to military channels, and key accounts to B2B.

    The company confirmed his resignation to the Bombay stock exchange through a regulatory filing, adding that Vachaspati will be moving on to pursue interests outside P&G. As he signs off, he leaves behind a legacy of scale, strategy, and shopper smarts – a sales playbook few can rival.