ITV

Category: MAM

  • Ashim Gupta’s role at Salesforce’s expanded

    Ashim Gupta’s role at Salesforce’s expanded

    MUMBAI: Ashim Gupta, a seasoned communications strategist, has expanded his remit at Salesforce, now overseeing communications for South Asia and South East Asia, after a successful tenure as vice president communications-India. This promotion underscores Gupta’s proven track record in building brand narratives across diverse sectors.

    Gupta, who joined Salesforce in January 2024, has swiftly ascended the ranks, joining the India leadership team and now extending his influence across a wider region. His career spans over two decades, featuring prominent roles at Uber, Samsung Electronics, Volvo group trucks operations, General Motors, The Economic Times, Max India and Healthcare, Spark Minda, and Tetra Tech.

    His achievements are notable: at Volvo, he boosted the company’s media share of voice, secured multiple media awards, and pioneered social media strategies. At General Motors, he earned a President’s Award and led the company’s social media foray in India’s automotive sector. At The Economic Times, he led an award winning brand communication team. At Max India he created strong brand equity. At Spark Minda, he initiated internal communication audits and innovative publications.

    Gupta’s experience extends beyond corporate communications. He founded Good Living, a trade journal, and launched the Solitaire brand of interior exhibitions. His expertise in media relations, social media management, and strategic communications positions him to amplify Salesforce’s brand presence in the dynamic markets of South and South East Asia.

  • Dabur names new healthcare head, bids farewell to veteran

    Dabur names new healthcare head, bids farewell to veteran

    MUMBAI:  Dabur India has announced the appointment of Sriram Padmanabhan as its new head of healthcare business, effective immediately.This move comes as the company prepares to bid farewell to Philipe Joseph Hlaydon, the current healthcare head, who will retire on 1 July 2025.

    The decision was ratified by the board of directors. Hlaydon, a long-serving executive, will step down at the close of business on  1 July  2025, marking the end of his tenure. The transition, disclosed in accordance with regulation 30 of the listing regulations and SEBI directives, ensures a smooth handover.

    Dabur, known for its ayurvedic and consumer healthcare products, is positioning Padmanabhan to lead its healthcare division into a new phase

  • Lloyd launches Luxuria collection, expands manufacturing capacity

    Lloyd launches Luxuria collection, expands manufacturing capacity

    MUMBAI:  Lloyd, a consumer durables brand from Havells India, has launched its Luxuria collection, a new line of premium air conditioners and smart home appliances. To address increasing consumer demand, Lloyd has expanded its manufacturing capacity to 3 million AC units annually across its Ghiloth and Sri City plants.

    The Luxuria collection includes the StunnAir air conditioner, alongside enhancements to the Stellar and Stylus models. These products feature advanced technologies such as AI-powered cooling, voice command functionality, and customisable design elements.

    Said Havells India executive director  Yogesh Kumar Gupta: “Lloyd has always been at the forefront of innovation, and last year’s lineup was received exceptionally well, really solidifying our position in the premium AC market. Launching the Luxuria collection is our way of building on that success and responding to the increasing demand for thoughtfully curated cooling solutions. The StunnAir, with its features like AI-powered cooling and voice commands, sets our portfolio apart. The move toward luxury in air conditioning isn’t just about adding high-end features; it’s about creating a complete experience. With the StunnAir, Stellar and Stylus, we are reshaping what comfort means. Expanding our manufacturing capacity at Sri City reflects our confidence in this vision and our commitment to delivering outstanding value, all the while staying true to our high standards of quality.” 

    Lloyd executive vice president Alok Tickoo stated, “The launch of the Lloyd Luxuria Collection is a big moment for us. With the addition of the StunnAir to our lineup, which already includes the Stellar & Stylus models, we’re raising the bar in the premium air conditioning market. What really excites us is how these units not only perform exceptionally well but also fit beautifully into modern homes. The Luxuria Collection is part of our larger effort to enhance the way our customers live, creating environments where comfort and style can coexist.”

    The collection also features the Kolor refrigerator, Mini LED TVs, and the Novante washing machine. The Kolor refrigerator offers features like auto-defrost and express freeze, while the Mini LED TVs provide enhanced picture and sound quality. The Novante washing machine includes an in-built heater and IoT connectivity.
    The StunnAir air conditioner includes features like “Indri” technology, which differentiates between human and non-human presence, and voice command functionality. The Stylus model offers customizable fascia panels.

    “At Havells, we believe great appliances should do more than just perform—they should enhance the way we live. The Kolor Refrigerator, Mini LED TV, and Novante washing machine blends convenience, efficiency, and style to meet the evolving needs of modern homes. From immersive  entertainment to smarter laundry care, every product is designed to make daily life easier and more enjoyable. Thoughtfully crafted with a focus on real-world utility, the appliances bring together innovation and elegance in a way that truly matters. By continuously raising the bar in home solutions, we remain committed to delivering quality, reliability, and a reliable user experience,” said Havells India sales head & executive vice president Rajesh Rathi.

  • McKinsey pro makes atomic leap into venture capital

    McKinsey pro makes atomic leap into venture capital

    MUMBAI: Manish Jain has joined Atomic Capital as partner, swapping spreadsheets for seed rounds after nearly a decade at McKinsey & Co. The former associate partner at the blue-chip consulting firm will now hunt for high-conviction investments across India’s burgeoning startup landscape.

    At McKinsey Jain spent nearly four years as associate partner, following stints as engagement manager and associate. During his consultancy career, he advised leading conglomerates and high-growth businesses across logistics, e-commerce, industrials and technology sectors—experience that should prove valuable in his new venture capital role.

    Before donning the consultant’s hat, Jain cut his teeth at ITC, where he gained operational experience as assistant manager at the company’s second-largest food factory. There, he led a team of five functional heads managing a workforce of over 1,200 employees—reportedly becoming the firm’s youngest plant head.

    His relationship with ITC began during a summer internship in 2009, where he designed custom automation solutions that increased workforce productivity by 20 per cent at the company’s “ready-to-eat” food plant. The project impressed enough to secure him a pre-placement job offer.

    At Atomic Capital, Jain joins a firm that prides itself on backing founders “not just with capital—but with conviction, clarity, and company-building muscle.”

  • McCann Worldgroup appoints marketing veteran

    McCann Worldgroup appoints marketing veteran

    MUMBAI: Snehsikt Anand has been appointed business head at McCann Worldgroup, marking a return to agency life after a year of freelance consultancy. The seasoned marketing professional brings over 18 years of through-the-line marketing experience to one of advertising’s most established networks.

    Anand joins McCann after working as an independent marketing consultant, where he provided brand and communication advice to emerging agencies and production houses. Before his freelance period, he served as business head for west and HUL (rural) at Dentsu, where he managed Hindustan Unilever’s house-to-house business across India.

    At Dentsu, Anand’s client relationship skills helped create opportunities for business growth through territory expansion and cross-selling initiatives. Prior to joining Dentsu, Anand co-founded BrandBall, where as head of strategy he increased annual turnover fourfold and expanded the client roster tenfold over four years. 
    His experience includes positions at several prominent agencies including L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy, Triton Communications, and Civilisation Communications. He also gained client-side experience as assistant manager-marketing at ICICI Prudential AMC Ltd.

    At McCann, Anand will likely apply his RoI-driven approach to marketing communications, leveraging his expertise in advertising, integrated marketing and team management as he takes on this new leadership role.

  • Nokia ropes in Hitesh Chhabra as sales director

    Nokia ropes in Hitesh Chhabra as sales director

    MUMBAI: Hitesh Chhabra, a veteran of the ICT world with over 23 years of experience, has jumped ship from Chinese tech giant Huawei to join Nokia as sales director this month. The move marks the end of a nearly 14-year run at Huawei, where he most recently served as director of enterprise solution sales and chief technology officer for the company’s enterprise business group in India.

    During his tenure at Huawei, Chhabra led solution sales operations across India, with responsibilities ranging from yearly business planning and pre-sales team management to strategic consulting and C-level engagement. His role involved extensive customer interaction and sales team leadership focused on technology strategy execution.

    Prior to his Huawei chapter, Chhabra cut his teeth at several tech heavyweights, including a two-year stint at Alcatel-Lucent (now part of Nokia), where he worked as a solution manager at the IP Transformation Centre. His CV also includes nearly four years at UTstarcom, where he served as senior network specialist and assistant manager at the Global Escalation Centre, and shorter tenures at Tata Consultancy Services and Cisco’s Technical Assistance Centre.

    Known for his team-oriented approach and customer relationship development skills, Chhabra brings to Nokia his expertise in ICT solution sales, campus and enterprise networks, and strategic leadership—precisely the toolkit the Finnish firm will be keen to deploy as it battles for market share in the enterprise space.

  • Canon shoots its shot with ‘Deep Dive’ masterclass for budding storytellers

    Canon shoots its shot with ‘Deep Dive’ masterclass for budding storytellers

    MUMBAI: Lights, camera, level up! Canon India is stepping out from behind the camera and into the classroom with Deep Dive, an ambitious, first-of-its-kind masterclass series designed to empower the next wave of photographers, videographers, and filmmakers. But don’t expect a slideshow and a swag bag. This is Canon going full throttle into the creator economy lens-first.

    Launched in collaboration with IFP, a global creator-first community, Deep Dive is Canon’s answer to an evolving creative landscape where storytellers need more than just inspiration. They need a complete toolkit: creative, technical, and professional. And that’s exactly what this masterclass promises a crash course in the entire visual workflow, from pre-shoot vision to post-production precision.

    But what really gives Deep Dive its edge is its who’s who of mentors. Canon’s North Star Alliance has brought together industry powerhouses like Ravi K Chandran, Santosh Sivan, Anand Rathi, Sudeep Chatterjee, G Venket, and Siddharth Sharma names that carry weight not just in Indian cinema, but across international storytelling circles. Their mission? To share more than tips to pass on a legacy of craftsmanship in a world increasingly reliant on speed and surface.

    The series aims to do away with the ‘point and shoot’ mindset and usher in a ‘plan and produce’ approach. Participants won’t just fiddle with Canon’s latest tech they’ll deep-dive into real-world workflows, exploring everything from camera setup and lighting design to colour grading, audio layering and final delivery. With Canon’s partners Aperture, Eizo, and Sennheiser backing the experience, there’s no corner of the production puzzle left untouched.

    Each session is designed as a full-fledged, city-specific experiential journey, with experts from the wedding, cinema, and fashion industries leading live demonstrations. In Gurgaon, the first city on the map, Canon ambassador Siddharth Sharma kick-started the series with a session that blended insight with intensity and left participants clamouring for more.

    Canon India president and CEO Toshiaki Nomura said, “At Canon, we deeply value creators and believe in their limitless creative potential. We recognize that to truly excel, creators need more than just inspiration—they need the right knowledge, cutting-edge technology, and hands-on experience to push their boundaries. They must evolve beyond being mere visual storytellers to mastering the entire workflow, from capturing the perfect shot to delivering a polished final product. With Deep Dive, Canon is proud to create an experiential platform where young, talented filmmakers and photographers can gain real-world expertise, engage with industry leaders, and experience the transformative power of Canon’s advanced imaging technology. Through initiatives like these, Canon is proud to be facilitating the growth of the entire ecosystem, empowering the next generation of creative visionaries.”

    And it’s not just about upping individual skills Canon sees Deep Dive as part of a broader mission to nurture and elevate India’s creator ecosystem. It’s a signal that the brand isn’t just focused on selling cameras, but on investing in what comes after the shutter clicks: storytelling, innovation, and community.

    In a world flooded with content, standing out requires more than just talent, it needs technique, tools, and trust in one’s creative voice. Deep Dive is Canon’s attempt to offer all three, wrapped in a format that’s immersive, inspiring and packed with substance.

    With more cities queued up and interest already peaking, Deep Dive is shaping up to be more than just a masterclass. It’s a movement. And for the creators ready to stop shooting in the dark and start crafting with intention, Canon just lit the way.

  • Media stocks hold the mic as markets crash in Trump tariff meltdown

    Media stocks hold the mic as markets crash in Trump tariff meltdown

    MUMBAI: Even as the Bombay stock exchange tanked five plus per cent  in the morning on Trump tariff meltdown Monday, Indian media and entertainment stocks shed just one to three per cent of their values at the time of trading at 3:30 pm. Sun TV was trading at Rs 638  a gain 0.83 per cent over  its previous weekend closing of Rs 632.75. TV Today network was up 1.65 per cent toto trade at Rs 160.40. On the flip side, a few media players were caught in the downward spiral. Entertainment Network India – the operator of Radio Mirchi – cut 2.06 per cent to stand at Rs 132.80. GTPL Hathway declined 3.69 per cent to Rs 105.75 even as Hathway dropped 3.16 per cent to Rs 12.58. Dish TV fell by 2.61 per cent to Rs 5.60.

    The advertising sector, however, bore the brunt of the market tremors. Advertising agency RK Swamy lopped off 10 per cent to trade at Rs 199.15 from its previous days closing of 223.50. Bright Outdoor clipped 4.36 per cent at Rs 449.50 as against Signpost which went negative to the tune of 7.36 per cent to trade at Rs 235.40. Innokaiz India dropped to Rs 13.56 with a 4.98 per cent fall. Maxposure saw a 5.76 per cent decline settling at Rs 57.30. Meanwhile, DAPS Advertising India saw a dip of 2.86 per cent to Rs 17.00. (At around 4 pm, may vary according to the market)

    Despite the broader bloodbath on Dalal Street, the relatively cushioned fall of media and entertainment stocks could indicate investor confidence in the sector’s long-term fundamentals, or perhaps just temporary insulation from global trade frictions. Either way, for now, the M&E sector is holding its script, even as the markets slip into drama mode.  

  • The Mavericks snaps up Fujifilm India’s PR brief with a sharp focus

    The Mavericks snaps up Fujifilm India’s PR brief with a sharp focus

    MUMBAI: In the great brand bazaar of India Inc., Fujifilm India has zoomed in on its newest communications partner. On 7 April 2025, the diversified tech and imaging giant appointed The Mavericks India as its official PR agency, tasking the boutique reputation shop with a mandate that stretches across four business verticals and an alphabet soup of solutions.

    And make no mistake, this isn’t just about cameras. Fujifilm India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, operates across healthcare,electronics, business innovation, and imaging. From endoscopy gear and instant cameras to multifunction printers and industrial tech — the company’s portfolio reads like the inventory of a Bond villain’s gadget lab.

    The Mavericks India, known for sharp storytelling and a reputation-first approach, will now spearhead media relations, thought leadership, and stakeholder engagement, aiming to tighten narrative control, elevate brand equity, and enhance Fujifilm India’s market muscle.

    “We are delighted to partner with The Mavericks India… We aim to elevate Fujifilm India’s overall presence, reinforce our leadership across industries, and communicate our vision more effectively…” said Fujifilm India vertical head – corporate communications & CSR Abhi Shekhar Singh.

    For The Mavericks, this gig is no blurry snapshot — it’s a high-definition assignment across sectors that demand clarity, confidence, and crystal messaging. As a multi-vertical brief, the PR firm will have to juggle science, optics, medical tech, and B2B comms — all while keeping it engaging for stakeholders.

    “Fujifilm India is a global powerhouse known for its relentless innovation and pioneering solutions… We are honoured to be their communications partner,” said The Mavericks India founder & CEO Chetan Mahajan.

    The firm will drive storytelling not just with journalists but across ecosystems, helping Fujifilm India showcase its role as a leader in innovation, imaging, diagnostics, and digital transformation.

    In a world of spin, this partnership aims to deliver focus.

  • Due diligence pays dividends as Alea elevates Dhananjay Saraswat

    Due diligence pays dividends as Alea elevates Dhananjay Saraswat

    MUMBAI: Climbing the corporate ladder is no easy feat unless, of course, you’ve built it rung by rung yourself. Alea Consulting has announced the elevation of long-time team member Dhananjay Saraswat to the role of director of operations, recognising a decade’s worth of sharp investigative acumen, operational finesse, and an unwavering eye for detail.

    Saraswat, whose portfolio spans compliance, fraud investigations, due diligence, and hidden asset tracing, has been instrumental in steering Alea’s operational ship. From managing clients to ensuring deliveries stay on point, and even spearheading expansion efforts, he’s worn multiple hats and evidently, worn them well.

    Alea Consulting founder Deepak Bhawnani states, “Dhananjay is a pivotal part of our team for many years. His contributions and leadership skills to drive various projects are unparalleled. This promotion underscores how one can achieve growth based on merit and performance. As we elevate the company and expand our business with new service lines and into new geographies, Dhananjay will continue to play a crucial role.”

    Before becoming Alea’s go-to troubleshooter, Saraswat was at Gerson Lehrman Group, where he juggled stakeholders across domestic and global landscapes. Armed with an MBA in marketing and finance from IILM University and a slew of credentials including certifications from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and a 2024 programme from IIM Ahmedabad his academic arsenal is as formidable as his professional one.

    As Alea Consulting eyes new geographies and service lines, Saraswat’s promotion signals more than just internal growth, it marks a strategic step in fortifying the firm’s future with someone who already knows its foundations inside out.