ITV

Category: MAM

  • Sheela Foam appoints Rakesh Chahar as deputy managing director

    Sheela Foam appoints Rakesh Chahar as deputy managing director

    MUMBAI: Sheela Foam Ltd, a market leader in comfort and sleeping solutions in India, has appointed Rakesh Chahar as deputy managing director (Whole-time Director) with immediate effect. The appointment was announced at the Board of Directors’ meeting pursuant to the recommendation of the Nomination & Remuneration Committee. Mr. Chahar has more than three decades of robust institutional experience and leadership at Sheela Foam.

    Sheela Foam, the owner of iconic brands Sleepwell, and recently acquired Kurlon Enterprises and Furlenco, is building its presence in different geographies at a steady pace. With its portfolio spread across heritage comfort solutions and new-generation tech-enabled lifestyle solutions, the company is heading to a pivotal stage of integrated growth in both Indian and foreign markets.

    Chahar, who has been with Sheela Foam since 1990 and a Whole-Time Director since 2003, brings over 30 years of experience in scaling operations, building distribution strength, and delivering category growth. he has led transformational efforts that have solidified the group’s leadership status in polyurethane (PU) foam business. He has played a pivotal role in establishing Sleepwell as India’s most recognized and highest-selling mattress brand.

    He has been the driving force to build Sheela Foam’s distribution muscle, establishing a robust network of distribution and retail partners across the nation – efforts that have greatly enhanced consumer reach and market share.

    In his enhanced mandate, Chahar will lead the company’s growth strategy – to drive integrated operations, channel consolidation, and pan-India market reach. His leadership will also focus on expanding institutional and B2B verticals, while unlocking manufacturing and procurement synergies across the group’s production facilities.

    Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Chahar also serves as Chairman of the Indian Sleep Products Federation (ISPF) – India’s first dedicated industry body for the mattress and sleep solutions sector.
     

  • R K Swamy’s ad spend pays off with Q1 profit leap to Rs 287 lakh

    R K Swamy’s ad spend pays off with Q1 profit leap to Rs 287 lakh

    MUMBAI: R K Swamy seems to have found the right script for Q1, a plot with steady revenues, tighter expenses, and a profit scene worth watching. The integrated marketing services player posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 287.46 lakh for the quarter ended 30 June 2025, up from Rs 217.93 lakh in the year-ago period. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 7,756.79 lakh, with total income touching Rs 8,024.81 lakh, powered by Rs 268.02 lakh in other income.

    Operational expenses rose to Rs 2,494.25 lakh from Rs 2,173.20 lakh, while employee costs were slightly higher at Rs 3,182.71 lakh. Other expenses climbed to Rs 1,468.53 lakh. EBITDA came in at Rs 879.32 lakh, well ahead of the Rs 703.22 lakh posted last year, though below the March quarter’s Rs 1,972.21 lakh.

    Finance costs and depreciation stood at Rs 85.45 lakh and Rs 433.52 lakh respectively, leading to a profit before tax of Rs 360.35 lakh. Total tax expenses were Rs 72.89 lakh.

    The quarter also saw Rs 5,400 lakh of IPO proceeds fully deployed for working capital, while Rs 3,626.22 lakh earmarked for general corporate purposes has also been utilised. However, Rs 5,458.43 lakh remains unutilised including Rs 1,098.50 lakh for a planned DVCP Studio, Rs 2,838.20 lakh for IT infrastructure across R K Swamy and its subsidiaries Hansa Research and Hansa Customer Equity, and Rs 1,521.73 lakh for new CEC and CATI facilities.

    On a standalone basis, profit for the quarter was Rs 134.16 lakh versus Rs 35.18 lakh last year, with revenue from operations at Rs 3,283.06 lakh.

    While adland has seen its fair share of headwinds, R K Swamy’s Q1 suggests the company is positioning itself for a year of expansion with big-ticket infrastructure investments waiting in the wings to take centre stage.
     

  • Google’s quick move to boost brand sales with Commerce Media Suite

    Google’s quick move to boost brand sales with Commerce Media Suite

    MUMBAI: When it comes to India’s shopping habits, “add to cart” is now often followed by “arrives in 10 minutes” and Google is making sure brands don’t miss the ride. The tech giant has launched its Commerce Media Suite, an AI-powered solution designed to help brands and merchants tap into the surging quick commerce and e-commerce markets. The suite works through Google Ads, letting advertisers reach high-intent shoppers across Search, Shopping, Youtube, Display, Discover, and Gmail, directing them straight to product listings on marketplaces like Blinkit, Swiggy, Zepto, and Myntra.

    The timing is no accident with the festive season around the corner, competition for eyeballs (and wallets) is fierce. “Today, consumers demand immediacy and convenience, clearly demonstrated by the rise of quick commerce,” said Google India director for omni-channel businesses Bhaskar Ramesh. “Commerce Media Suite opens fresh pathways for discovery across Google and Youtube, driving stronger results for brands during peak demand seasons.”

    Early adopters are already seeing gains worth bragging about. ITC Aashirvaad Select clocked a 4x return on ad spend on Blinkit, while Renee Cosmetics reported an 11.5 per cent bump in sales and a 48 per cent drop in cost per order.

    For Blinkit, the solution is a match made in delivery heaven. “Google’s Commerce Media Suite offers brands a significant opportunity to cut through the noise and connect with the modern consumer,” said Blinkit director of ad monetisation and pricing Anish Acharya calling it a “game-changer” ahead of the festive rush.

    Beyond just reach, brands get Google AI-driven performance, first-party marketplace data, product-level measurement, and self-service transparency effectively marrying campaign spend to actual sales impact.

    Or as Renee Cosmetics head of eCommerce Jitendra Rawal put it: “It’s allowed us to efficiently connect with customers looking for our products and significantly drive incremental sales.”

    With India’s quick commerce sector in overdrive, Google’s latest play might just help brands click with customers in more ways than one.

     

  • Asian Paints celebrates the spirit of independence in every hue with ‘The Colours of India’ campaign

    Asian Paints celebrates the spirit of independence in every hue with ‘The Colours of India’ campaign

    MUMBAI: Every shade tells a story. This Independence Day, Asian Paints brings the spirit of the nation into living spaces with The Colours of India – a curated palette of authentic tricolour hues that go beyond symbolism. From vibrant saffrons to crisp whites and lush greens, these colours reflect the beauty and identity of the nation within our homes. The vision came alive through a striking, disruptive print campaign in India’s leading newspapers, turning the simple act of flipping a page into a moment of patriotism. The visual tribute celebrates unity and identity through colour – a reminder that patriotism isn’t just felt on one day, but can be seen, touched and cherished every day.

    Each colour featured in The Colours of India is an actual shade from Asian Paints’ extensive colour library, complete with its shade code. As readers turn the page, they discover not only a heartfelt tribute to the tricolour, but also the sheer vastness of Asian Paints’ offering – a portfolio of over 5,000 unique shades that gives every Indian the complete freedom to bring their personal vision to life, without compromise. From bold, statement hues to subtle, timeless tones, every shade is backed by the trusted Asian Paints Ki Warranty – a legacy of protecting homes and memories for over eight decades.

    For over eighty years, Asian Paints has been the foremost authority on paint and décor in India – a name synonymous with quality, innovation, and trust. One in every two Indian homes carries its mark, a testament to the brand’s deep connection with the country. More than just colour on walls, Asian Paints has been part of life stories – witnessing milestones, celebrations, and everyday moments. This lasting bond is at the heart of Asian Paints Ki Warranty -built on colour, care, and the commitment to protect Indian homes and the memories within them, across generations.

    Commenting on the campaign, Asian Paints managing director & CEO Amit Syngle said,“Marking India’s 79th year of Independence, Asian Paints celebrates the spirit of the nation with a campaign that goes beyond walls. At Asian Paints, colours are more than aesthetic choices — they are expressions of ones shared spirit and individuality. For over eight decades, we’ve been custodians of this vibrant canvas, enabling every Indian to make their spaces a true reflection of themselves. This campaign is a reminder that love for our country and personal expression aren’t limited to one day — they can be lived and cherished every day in the spaces we call our own.”  

     

  • Saatchi Propagate India onboards Saurabh Mankhand as EVP & head of consumer experience

    Saatchi Propagate India onboards Saurabh Mankhand as EVP & head of consumer experience

    MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe India’s full-funnel digital agency Saatchi Propagate has enhanced its leadership team by appointing Saurabh Mankhand as EVP & Head of Consumer Experience.

    Saurabh will spearhead the agency’s Consumer Experience (CX) practice, focused on integrating strategy, data, content, platform innovation, and emerging technologies to deliver measurable impact for brands. He will also play a key role in promoting Publicis Groupe’s unique ‘Power of One’ model to unlock new opportunities and strengthen client partnerships.

    Marking his return to Publicis Groupe India, Saurabh brings over two decades of experience in driving integrated marketing strategies, digital innovation, and business transformation. He has led mandates for brands including Unilever, Jio, Vodafone, and IBM, while building teams and service lines across e-commerce, B2B, and consumer sectors. Prior to this, he served at OLIVER+ as the Business Head for eCommerce & Technology Services. He has also held leadership roles at Indigo Consulting and Ogilvy India.  

    Reporting into Saatchi & Saatchi India, BBH India, and Saatchi Propagate India CEO Paritosh Srivastava, Saurabh will work closely with Saatchi Propagate India EVP & Business Head, Prachi Bali and Saatchi & Saatchi India, BBH India and Saatchi Propagate India, Group Chief Strategy Officer, Snehasis Bose.

    Speaking on the appointment, Srivastava said, “Saatchi Propagate India has been on an amazing growth journey over the last few years. Today, we are amongst the top digital agencies in the country, working with some of the major national and international brands. To keep this momentum going, we are strengthening our capabilities with a focus on owning the entire CX journey. Saurabh’s deep expertise in this space makes him the perfect partner to lead us into this next phase. With Snehasis, Saurabh and Prachi at the helm, Saatchi Propagate India is ready for its next phase of growth.”

    Mankhand added, “The future of brand growth is about creating predictive, personalised experiences through a seamless convergence of strategy, data, and platform innovation across the entire omni-channel ecosystem. This has placed CX at the very core of the business, and I’m excited to join the team at Saatchi Propagate India, who are already deeply engaged with clients on these strategic journeys. My focus will be on enhancing our collective ability to deliver proactive CX solutions that not only meet modern customer expectations but deliver the significant, measurable growth our clients demand.”
     

  • Trilok teams up with Gaondevi Mahila Govinda Pathak for Dahi Handi season

    Trilok teams up with Gaondevi Mahila Govinda Pathak for Dahi Handi season

    MUMBAI – Trilok is celebrating Janmashtami with a powerful tribute to women who embody courage, resilience, and quiet strength. Their debut album Devi finds fresh expression in a special Dahi Handi video featuring Mumbai’s spirited all-women team – the Gavdevi Mahila Govinda Pathak.

    Blending the celebratory energy of the festival with the album’s central message – She is not myth. She is presence. She watches. She watches over. – the video brings a groundbreaking story to the national stage.

    “Dahi Handi has always been about teamwork, balance, and determination – qualities every ‘Devi’ in our lives carries,” said Sudeep Lahiri, Head of Channels and Distribution, Collective Media Network. “Collaborating with the Gavdevi Mahila Govinda Pathak felt like the perfect way to show that devotion and strength are living, breathing forces around us.”

    In a sport long dominated by men, the Gavdevi Mahila Govinda Pathak defies stereotypes, scaling human pyramids with skill, precision, and unshakable spirit. They embody the same courage and resilience celebrated in the goddesses we worship – fierce, fearless, and unapologetically themselves.

    With Devi, Trilok hopes to inspire audiences to see strength as a spectrum – where compassion and ferocity coexist. This Janmashtami, they’re not just celebrating a festival; they’re amplifying the story of women transforming tradition from within and proving that shakti is a lived reality.

     

  • Mehrotra Kapoor takes the editor’s chair in fine health

    Mehrotra Kapoor takes the editor’s chair in fine health

    MUMBAI: The newsroom is getting a health check and Sonal Mehrotra Kapoor is writing the prescription. India Today Group has roped in the award-winning journalist as senior editor and anchor to helm the launch of what it calls India’s first-of-its-kind omni-platform brand dedicated to health and wellness. The initiative, rooted in the credo “to inform, not influence,” aims to bring science-backed, trustworthy content to a nation in the middle of what experts call a “health revolution.”

    With over 17 years in the media trenches, Sonal has built a reputation for hard-hitting, human-centred storytelling across some of India’s biggest newsrooms from 11 years as associate editor and anchor at NDTV, to over three years as editor at Moneycontrol.com. Now, she brings that editorial muscle to a sector she’s deeply invested in, armed not just with a journalist’s instincts but also a Harvard certification in nutrition.

    Reporting to B V Rao and working closely with Supriya Prasad, Sonal will spearhead content that blends digital innovation, credible journalism, and wellness expertise. It’s a brief that mirrors her own personal passions from cooking up wholesome meals and dancing to recharge, to hands-on parenting all while keeping a sharp eye on making complex health topics accessible and engaging.

    India Today is betting big on the booming health and wellness space, and with Sonal at the helm, the platform promises to be as fact-rich as it is relatable proving that good health and good journalism aren’t mutually exclusive.

     

  • Nishith Desai Associates adds two heavyweights to global strategy roster

    Nishith Desai Associates adds two heavyweights to global strategy roster

    MUMBAI: When a law firm starts playing in the big league of global strategy, you know it’s thinking far beyond dusty courtrooms. Nishith Desai Associates (NDA) has just brought in two star players Chintan Vaishnav in Boston and Ritika Patni in New York to sharpen its edge in techno-policy, cross-border strategy, and boardroom advisory.

    Dr Vaishnav, a futurist and techno-policy strategist, is best known for steering the Atal Innovation Mission at NITI Aayog and chairing the Startup20 Engagement Group during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023. With a Ph.D. in Engineering Systems and an M.S. in Technology and Policy from MIT, plus a B.A. in Indian Classical Music for good measure, he’s part scientist, part strategist, part storyteller. At NDA, he will spearhead work in AI governance, innovation policy, and public-private collaboration essentially, the legal brains trust for an increasingly tech-led world.

    On the other coast, Ritika Patni takes charge as leader of NDA’s Global Legal Strategy Consulting Practice. A gold medallist from NUJS Kolkata and MBA alumna from Columbia Business School, she’s worn many hats corporate lawyer at Linklaters London, founder of wellness startup Arth, and consultant to Fortune 500s at Alvarez & Marsal. Her new brief at NDA: guiding cross-border strategy for technology, healthcare, and professional services clients.

    The hires reinforce NDA’s unique “4D” model Practice, Industry, Leadership, Skillset which has long drawn in experts from outside the conventional legal track. It’s the same formula that brought in an engineer-turned-lawyer (Vaibhav Parikh), a surgeon-turned-lawyer (Milind Antani), a CA-MBA-turned-lawyer (Nishchal Joshipura), and a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence (Mihir Parikh).

    Founder Nishith Desai calls the appointments “a commitment to embracing change and challenging conventional thinking” as NDA evolves into a strategic legal consulting powerhouse. With Vaishnav’s policy chops and Patni’s cross-border acumen, the firm looks set to blend law, leadership, and lateral thinking in a way few others can match.
     

  • The Baker’s Dozen celebrates food as India’s universal language through its ‘Different Tongues, One Taste’ campaign this Independence Day

    The Baker’s Dozen celebrates food as India’s universal language through its ‘Different Tongues, One Taste’ campaign this Independence Day

    MUMBAI: India is a land of diverse cultures, traditions and languages, that is alive and dynamic – changing every 50-100 kms. But what binds us together is our unabashed love for food. That is, in a world marred by many cultural and language barriers, there is still food that keeps the spirit of our diversity alive. With this in mind, The Baker’s Dozen (TBD), India’s leading artisanal bakery brand, known for creating authentic and high-quality baked goods, has launched its heartwarming and relatable ‘Different Tongues, One Taste’ campaign this 79th Independence Day.

    TBD’s campaign film captures instances from across the length and breadth of the country – people sharing love and care through TBD’s diverse range of products in their day-to-day lives. A wife surprises her husband with his favourite Banana Walnut Cake. A father packs a Donut Cake in his son’s school bag. A working woman prepares sandwiches for her lunch using Fourgrain Sourdough Bread and assures her mother she is eating healthy. A young girl sends her mother a photo of Dark Chocolate Cookies, telling her they taste just like the ones she makes at home. From different cities, different languages, different lives and family traditions, TBD’s film celebrates one shared truth – how food has the power to connect us all.

     

     

    In addition to the film, the brand is also collaborating with food creators from Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat and West Bengal. Through this collaboration, these creators will recreate traditional regional recipes – that are an integral part of the larger Indian culture – using TBD’s products.

    Talking about this year’s Independence Day campaign film, The Baker’s Dozen co-founder & head chef Aditi Handa said, “One of the aspects that I love about cooking, and fascinates me to this day, is how it’s a universal language to express love and care for others. In our factory, I interact and collaborate with people from varied cultures who bring such unique perspectives to the table, enhancing the richness and goodness of the products we create. This Independence Day, we wanted to celebrate this cultural multiplicity through food with our ‘Different Tongues, One Taste’ campaign. With the current climate over language barriers, we sought to celebrate the common language of food made with love that binds us all together.”

    The Baker’s Dozen co-founder Sneh Jain added, “Through our ‘Different Tongues, One Taste’ campaign, we wanted to mark India’s independence in a way that is meaningful, relevant and relatable to Indians belonging to different cultures, regions, and languages across the country. What better way to do that than through the unique uniting power of the language of food? Our campaign film is a testament to the fact that good, pure food can transcend boundaries to bring people together in love and affection.” 
     

  • This Independence Day, Hilti India says #BharatKoAageBadhateHain

    This Independence Day, Hilti India says #BharatKoAageBadhateHain

    MUMBAI: As India celebrates its 79th Independence Day, Hilti India, the global leader in providing innovative and cutting-edge construction solutions, proudly launches its new film, #BharatKoAageBadhateHain. The film is a powerful tribute to the unsung heroes who are building the nation brick by brick.It captures the spirit of raftaar (speed), ekta (unity), andsapne (dreams) – values that have shaped India’s journey of progress since independence. From engineers and planners to technicians and site workers, the film highlights the people whose dedication is building the India of tomorrow.

    As a trusted partner to India’s construction industry, Hilti supports engineers, technicians, and workers not just with tools, but with solutions that make construction safer, more productive, and more sustainable.  The film brings to life what makes India“Sare Jahan Se Achha” through visuals of fast-moving trains, towering statues, vibrant skylines, metro lines, and tunnels carved with courage. These symbols of progress serve as the backdrop for the real story: India’s growth is made possible by the people who bring these projects to life.

    Speaking about the film, Hilti India general manager and managing director, Jayant Kumar said,“The strength of India lies in the hands of those who build it. From the first brick laid after independence to the skylines rising today, this country has been built with sweat, skill, and determination.

    At Hilti, our purpose is to Make Construction Better. This film is a tribute to every planner, engineer, technician, and worker who dreams of building a better tomorrow. We are proud to stand beside them with tools that empower, technology that enables, and belief that connects us. Bharat is not just a place. It is built by us, together.”

    Hilti is driven by its purpose of Making Construction Better, delivering innovative tools, technologies, software, and services that enable professionals to build with greater speed, safety, and precision. With a customer promise to be the best partner for productivity, safety, and sustainability, Hilti stands alongside those shaping India’s future on every project, every site, every day.

    The film is now live across social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.