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Category: MAM

  • Elephants on parade: Kyoorius Creative Awards 2025 honour 166 Blue, 514 Baby, three Purple winners

    Elephants on parade: Kyoorius Creative Awards 2025 honour 166 Blue, 514 Baby, three Purple winners

    MUMBAI: The only thing louder than the applause was the creativity. The 2025 Kyoorius Creative Awards, presented by Zee, lit up the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai with an evening that celebrated the sheer power of ideas. Over 1,500 professionals from India’s marketing and communications industry witnessed a no-politics, all-passion showcase of creative firepower.

    While the elusive Black Elephant remained just that—elusive—seven campaigns earned the revered Baby Black Elephant. The shortlist, dubbed the ‘Black Elephant Nominees’, featured standout work from Grey Bangladesh, DDB Mudra Group, Mccann Worldgroup, Studio Eeksaurus, Talented, Famous Innovations and Loudmouth Film.

    The top individual honour of the night went to none other than Piyush Pandey, who received the Master of Creativity award. The legendary adman was recognised for reshaping India’s advertising ethos with his distinct ability to blend culture, humour, and simplicity.

    Kyoorius received a record 4,000+ entries from over 500 organisations this year, its highest ever. From that pool, 1,124 entries made it to the First List. A total of 514 campaigns were awarded Baby Elephants, representing 60 unique agencies, 177 campaigns, and 116 brands.

    Of the 514 Baby Elephants, 166 were upgraded to Blue Elephants—marking top-tier excellence. Brands like Amazon, Samsung, Britannia, Coca-Cola, Swiggy, Dream11, Zivame, Kit Kat, Mcdonald’s, and Ceat were among those honoured. Full winners list is available at kca.kyoorius.com.

    Three campaigns received the Purple Elephant as part of the Zee Equality Award, acknowledging work that pushed boundaries for representation and inclusion.

    “Massive congratulations to all the winners!… That’s the soul of the Elephants”, said Kyoorius founder & CEO Rajesh Kejriwal.

    In trademark fashion, the awards ditched the traditional metal hierarchy—no golds, silvers, or bronzes.

    Just Elephants.

    Supported by Glenmorangie, The Hindu, Tribes Group, and Indian Creative Women, the night underscored that pure creativity—unranked, unfiltered—still has a stage, and a spotlight.

  • Swiss grooming brand Tailor’s trims its way into India with a sharp luxury lineup

    Swiss grooming brand Tailor’s trims its way into India with a sharp luxury lineup

    MUMBAI: In a country where grooming aisles have long favoured the no-frills, all-purpose approach, Swiss brand Tailor’s has landed with a sharper edge. The premium men’s grooming label officially debuted in India this week, bringing with it a slick blend of Swiss science and old-school barbering heritage.

    Available exclusively at Looks Salon outlets nationwide, the launch includes a curated range of high-performance essentials for modern men. The collection features the Tea Tree Wash—a scalp-purifying hair cleanser powered by organic tea tree oil and peppermint; Tailor’s Clay—an easy-texture styling clay with bamboo extract; Beard Balm for taming beards and frizz; and Post Shave—a soothing aftershave balm that tackles redness and itching.

    Each product boasts purpose-built ingredients like beeswax, bamboo extract, and tea tree oil, aiming to balance function with self-care. “Men’s grooming has quietly evolved in recent years, both globally and in India”, said a spokesperson for Tailor’s Grooming. “Today’s man seeks more than just functional care—he wants products that reflect his lifestyle, his values, and his individuality”.

    Tailor’s, founded in Switzerland, has gained global traction by blending premium formulations with minimalist packaging and a sustainability-first ethos. Its India entry comes at a time when the male grooming market is seeing a sharp uptrend—fuelled by rising disposable incomes, social media influence, and a new wave of self-aware consumers.

    Committed to conscious beauty, the brand uses ethically sourced ingredients and recyclable packaging throughout its range. With grooming now considered an extension of identity, Tailor’s is betting on Indian men to upgrade their bathroom shelf with products that marry style and substance.

    The brand’s entire collection is also available online at www.tailorsgrooming.in.

  • MiQ ropes in Vikas Khanchandani as strategic advisor to fuel India growth and scale up advanced TV strategy

    MiQ ropes in Vikas Khanchandani as strategic advisor to fuel India growth and scale up advanced TV strategy

    MUMBAI: In a market where programmatic media is rewriting the advertising playbook, MiQ has pulled in one of the industry’s seasoned players. Vikas Khanchandani has been appointed strategic advisor for MiQ India Commercial, the company announced today.

    With over 25 years of experience across media, advertising, and digital transformation, Vikas is expected to guide MiQ’s growth strategy, sharpen its media operations, and ramp up its advanced TV capabilities. The appointment signals MiQ’s deeper push into India’s high-potential adtech landscape.

    “We are delighted to welcome Vikas to the MiQ India leadership journey”, said MiQ India CCO Varun Mohan. “His experience, wisdom, and industry influence align perfectly with our mission to deliver market-leading innovation and value to our clients”.

    Khanchandani, who has worked across legacy media houses and new-age platforms, will focus on bolstering MiQ’s partnerships and helping it unlock new revenue avenues. His mandate includes navigating the increasingly complex media-tech stack and enhancing data-driven ad solutions.

    “I’m thrilled to be part of MiQ at such an exciting inflection point”, said Khanchandani. “MiQ’s commitment to innovation, client-centricity, and future-ready media solutions truly stands out. I look forward to contributing to its momentum—helping build stronger partnerships, unlocking new growth avenues, and shaping the evolution of data-driven advertising in India”.

    MiQ, a global programmatic media partner, has been steadily expanding its Indian footprint. Khanchandani’ appointment underscores its intent to stay ahead of the curve with both talent and technology.

  • Olympic icon Neeraj Chopra joins Audi India as brand partner in performance-first drive

    Olympic icon Neeraj Chopra joins Audi India as brand partner in performance-first drive

    MUMBAI: In a move as sharp as his throws, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has joined hands with Audi India, aligning world-class athleticism with German engineering finesse. The partnership, announced on 26 May 2025 by JSW Sports, brings together the double Olympic medalist and the iconic luxury carmaker in a collaboration driven by shared values of performance, precision, and progress.

    The tie-up follows Chopra’s remarkable journey from a history-making gold at the Tokyo Olympics to a silver medal finish at the Paris 2024 Games, alongside podium wins at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Championships. Audi, known for its relentless innovation and engineering craft, sees Chopra as the embodiment of its brand ethos.

    “At Audi, we stand for those who push boundaries… Neeraj Chopra is the embodiment of that spirit”, said Audi India head Balbir Singh Dhillon. “Determined and iconic, his journey from ambition to achievement mirrors Audi’s progressive DNA”.

    The collaboration reflects not just a brand endorsement but a philosophical alignment. Chopra’s laser focus on precision and relentless pursuit of betterment mirrors Audi’s design discipline and technological edge. The athlete’s admiration for the brand adds another layer of authenticity to the partnership.

    “I’ve always admired Audi – not just for the cars, but for what the brand stands for. The pursuit of excellence never stops. I’m excited to join the Audi family”, said Chopra, speaking on the association.

    JSW Sports, which manages Chopra’s commercial interests, facilitated the tie-up. JSW Sports CCO Karan Yadav described the partnership as a landmark for Indian sport and brand synergy. “Audi is a car manufacturer Neeraj really admires, and one whose vision aligns with his as an athlete. The potential of this partnership is limitless”.

    This collaboration signals Audi’s deeper engagement with Indian sport and its commitment to aligning with icons who personify evolution, resilience, and excellence.

  • Fortune Whole Wheat launches first TVC campaign to bake trust into every grain

    Fortune Whole Wheat launches first TVC campaign to bake trust into every grain

    MUMBAI: Fortune Whole Wheat, the packaged whole wheat brand from AWL Agri Business Ltd. (formerly Adani Wilmar Ltd.), has hit the screens with its maiden television campaign titled ‘Shuddhata Ki Sahi Parakh’. Launched on 26 May 2025, the campaign aims to set Fortune apart in India’s fragmented whole wheat segment by leaning on trust, purity, and provenance.

    The TVC, airing in Maharashtra and Gujarat, unfolds in a classic kirana store where a young girl questions the quality of the wheat her family buys. Her curiosity drives home the key differentiators of Fortune Whole Wheat: uniform grain size, colour, strength, and trusted sourcing. The visual storytelling nudges consumers to ditch loose wheat in favour of Fortune’s branded, batch-tested assurance.

    “This campaign is more than just a product message — it’s a heartfelt tribute to the Indian farmer and the informed consumer. Through these TVCs, we invite viewers on a journey to the source of real quality”, said AWL Agri Business Ltd SVP & business head – sales & marketing Mukesh Mishra.

    Fortune Whole Wheat entered the market in May 2023 and quickly positioned itself as India’s only national player in the branded whole wheat category. The brand guarantees access to the purest wheat seeds across varieties like Sharbati, Poorna 1544, Lokwan, Premium Grade 1, and MP Grade 1. These grains are sun-ripened, harvested with precision, and procured from select Indian farms.

    Every batch undergoes stringent quality checks to ensure nutritional value and consistent texture. The campaign underlines this disciplined sourcing and testing, offering consumers confidence that every grain delivers on both taste and health.

    The Marathi and Gujarati TVCs are currently live across television, digital, cinema, and regional platforms, underscoring AWL Agri Business’s strategy to deepen consumer connect in high-priority wheat markets.

  • Nestlé picks up a minority bone in Drools as India’s pet food unicorn gets global tailwind

    Nestlé picks up a minority bone in Drools as India’s pet food unicorn gets global tailwind

    MUMBAI: India’s pet care sector just got a global paw of approval. Nestlé S.A., the Swiss consumer goods giant and parent of Nestlé India, has picked up a minority stake in Drools Pet Food Pvt. Ltd., the country’s first home-grown pet food brand. The investment, confirmed on 26 May, does not alter Drools’ operational independence.

    The move follows a 2023 investment from L Catterton, a global consumer-focussed private equity firm, which also holds a minority share. With both heavyweights now backing it, Drools appears well-fed for global expansion.

    Founded in 2010, Drools has built a robust presence across 40,000 Indian retail outlets and exports to 22 countries. Its recent entry into India’s unicorn club only underscores its appetite for growth.

    “This is a testament to the love and trust of millions of pet parents and to our unwavering commitment to quality”, said Drools founder Fahim Sultan. “Backed by a strong focus on science-based nutrition, Drools continues to drive innovation and build meaningful engagement with the evolving demographic of Indian pet parents, positioning itself at the forefront of the country’s pet care industry”.

    The company runs six manufacturing units and operates out of a 16-lakh sq. ft. warehousing footprint. With a workforce of 3,400 employees, including 1,800 sales professionals, Drools currently offers over 650 SKUs spanning high-protein, prescription, and value-for-money diets. It also maintains a stronghold in the cat food category and leads pet food sales on platforms like Amazon.

    “Drools has achieved significant growth since we invested in the company two years ago”, said L Catterton partner & head of India Anjana Sasidharan. “We are thrilled that Nestlé, that has such a renowned position in the global pet care and consumer brands space, joins as a minority partner”.

  • Pawtrait mode on as tattoos go furry and feel-good

    Pawtrait mode on as tattoos go furry and feel-good

    MUMBAI: A tattoo might fade a little over time, but a paw print on the soul? That one’s permanent. In a bold blend of ink and emotion, Aliens Tattoo has launched Part of You, India’s first national tattoo movement celebrating the bond between people and their pets, and quietly channelling it into purpose.

    The initiative offers more than just body art. It’s a full-blown movement turning wagging tails and whiskered memories into legacy pieces, paw prints, pet portraits, or soulful abstract strokes that carry stories of companionship, loss, healing, and joy. And with 1 per cent of campaign revenues pledged to animal welfare groups across India, the tattoos are doing more than just sitting pretty on skin.

    “This isn’t just a tattoo. It’s a legacy,” said Aliens Tattoo founder and chief visionary artist Sunny Bhanushali. “When someone loses a pet, or even wants to celebrate the little joys of companionship, we believe that story deserves more than a memory. It deserves permanence. And with ‘Part of You’, we’re making sure that permanence helps more lives not just honours one.”

    The numbers already speak in barks and tail wags. The campaign has notched over 7 million organic impressions online, with pet-themed tattoo bookings surging by 43 per cent across Aliens studios in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. The stories are heartbreakingly beautiful like the woman in Pune who inked her late dog’s paw to mark 15 years of unconditional love, or the man from Assam who flew to Mumbai to get his cat’s eyes immortalised in ink.

    But Part of You goes beyond the studio chair. A video storytelling series captures the raw emotions behind each tattoo, why people choose permanence, and how the ink becomes therapy, tribute, and identity all at once. There’s also a microsite that guides pet parents through their own tribute journey, with curated design options and artist collaborations that simplify translating feelings into form.

    What makes this more than a marketing masterstroke is its structure: Part of You is stitched together like a cultural movement. Aliens Tattoo has looped in animal welfare partners like People for Animals, Pedigree, and Heads Up For Tail alongside tattoo artists and pet parents, making this the first large-scale, brand-led initiative in India to formalise emotional tattooing in a thoughtful, scalable way.
     

    Globally, emotional ink is growing from ashes-infused tattoos in the West to soundwave tributes and pet noseprints. But in India, Part of You is a pioneering howl, giving grieving pet parents not only a safe space but a meaningful ritual.

    In an age where tattoos are no longer rebellion but reflection, Part of You reminds us that sometimes, the deepest connections don’t speak, they purr, they nuzzle, and when they’re gone, they leave behind more than memories. They leave a story worth etching forever.

  • Preeti Jain joins Adani-GCC as CPO to shape talent and transform HR playbook

    Preeti Jain joins Adani-GCC as CPO to shape talent and transform HR playbook

    MUMBAI: After nearly thirty years of HR firefighting, boardroom negotiations, and decoding what ‘synergy’ really means, Preeti Jain has waltzed into her latest gig—chief people officer at Adani-GCC. She officially grabbed the role in March 2025 but decided to let Linkedin in on the secret just yesterday. From her new HQ perch in Ahmedabad, she’s already rolling up her sleeves to rewire the group’s talent machinery.

    As CPO, Jain is steering Adani-GCC’s strategic HR vision to build a world-class global capability centre grounded in process rigour, innovation, and internal talent hubs. “As the CPO driving the strategic initiative of the group of building a world class GCC focused on processes, innovation and a talent hub internally”, Jain stated.

    Before joining Adani-GCC, she served as vice president of human resources at Airtel for over three years, based in Gurugram. Her tenure was marked by efforts in strategic human resources leadership, career development, and organisational transformation.

    Jain’s earlier roles included CHRO at Droom (Feb–Oct 2021) and director of HR at Huawei Consumer Business Group for over 11 years, where she led manpower transitions, audits, certifications, and policy execution across functions. She has also held senior HR positions at Conexant and HFCL.

    From managing startups to overseeing multinational transitions, Jain brings deep operational insight into people development, executive coaching, stakeholder engagement, and performance frameworks. Her journey reflects a consistent push towards aligning HR with core business goals.

    In her current capacity, she is expected to anchor Adani-GCC’s long-term talent pipeline, craft scalable L&D frameworks, and implement people-first initiatives while balancing the pressures of scale.

  • Double act as Verma and Barjatya take charge in exhibition industry

    Double act as Verma and Barjatya take charge in exhibition industry

    MUMBAI: In a week that felt more like a blockbuster premiere than a boardroom shuffle, the exhibition industry welcomed two new leading men to its executive cast. Gautam Verma announced his new role as chief digital officer at a prominent exhibition firm, bringing with him a wealth of experience in digital transformation and strategic planning. Verma’s appointment signals a push towards integrating cutting-edge technology into exhibition experiences, aiming to enhance engagement and reach.

    Meanwhile, Sanjay Barjatya has been promoted to chief executive officer at Roongta Cinemas, a division of Roongta Entertainment Limited. With over 19 years in the entertainment sector, Barjatya’s ascent reflects his deep understanding of cinema operations and audience preferences. His leadership is expected to drive Roongta Cinemas into a new era of innovation and expansion.

    For Verma, who officially assumed his new role in May 2025, this marks a sharp pivot from healthtech to travel. Prior to joining Travelwings, he was a founding member and marketing lead at Eka.care, where he spent over four years building integrated marketing strategies in the healthcare space. Before that, he co-founded Adapts Media and held marketing roles at DAMAC Properties in the UAE, gaining strong experience in business strategy, SEO, and international campaigns.

    Meanwhile, Barjatya’s journey through the exhibition sector reads like a manual in operations mastery. Starting out at PVR in 2004, he steadily climbed the industry ladder with stints at M2K Cinemas, Cinemax India, OSR Cinemas, Miraj Entertainment, and now Roongta. From managing two-screen properties to overseeing regional operations and business development across India, his portfolio boasts multi-theatre P&L management, developer relations, and expansion strategy. He served as VP of Roongta before being named CEO in September 2024.

    In an industry where the spotlight is often on the show, it’s the strategic minds behind the scenes that set the stage for success.

  • Nisha Didwania steps up as senior vice president at Zenith

    Nisha Didwania steps up as senior vice president at Zenith

    MUMBAI:Nisha Didwania has levelled up at Zenith, taking charge as senior vice president in April 2025. After steadily climbing the ranks at the agency, this move marks the next big chapter in her 18-year journey through India’s media maze.

    From dissecting brand briefs to decoding media trends, Nisha’s expertise lies in crafting integrated strategies that don’t just meet KPIs but knock them out of the park. At Zenith, she leads one of the region’s largest accounts, driving seamless planning, activation, and future-facing AOPs. Her track record includes everything from pushing digital transformation to rallying high-performance teams and orchestrating cross-functional magic.

    Before this, Nisha held leadership roles at Motivator, Carat, Accenture, and Maxus—where she’s practically done it all: new biz wins, media efficiency hunts, stakeholder tangoes, and even flipping traditional mindsets to integrated powerhouses.

    Known for her no-fuss, all-focus style and ability to build future-ready teams, Nisha isn’t just riding the media wave—she’s steering it.