Digital Agencies
AnyMind levels up consumer research game
MUMBAI: AnyMind Group and InQognito Insights have unveiled “Beyond Panels,” a pioneering cross-regional study that’s reshaping how marketers in Southeast Asia, India, and the GCC understand digital consumers. The research, presented at ESOMAR Trends Horizon 2025 in Washington D.C., dives into how in-game advertising environments can unlock richer, faster, and more authentic consumer insights.
Breaking away from traditional research panels and static questionnaires, Beyond Panels takes a behavioural-first approach, embedding research directly within mobile gaming ecosystems. Conducted using the POKKT mobile gaming platform, the study tracked 25,000 participants across eight markets between April 2024 and August 2025, using rewarded ads, in-app intercepts, and post-game surveys to capture responses in real time.
The findings reveal a clear shift in how consumers discover and engage with brands. In Southeast Asia, 62 per cent of respondents reported their first brand exposure through in-game ads, surpassing even OTT and YouTube. Ads delivered within a week before decision windows saw a 64 percent lift in brand recall and consideration, while the combined use of in-game ads, YouTube, and influencer videos achieved 51 per cent reach with just four exposures, proving that attention, when captured in the right moment, can be incredibly powerful.
Speaking about the research, AnyMind Group managing director, growth markets Aditya Aima said, “In a world where attention is fleeting and fragmented, marketers can no longer rely on retrospective panels. This study is a call to evolve, from measuring after the fact to understanding behaviour as it unfolds in natural, immersive environments.”
Echoing the sentiment, InQognito Insights research lead Smriti Singh Bhatia noted, “Traditional panels are like rear-view mirrors, they show us where we’ve been, not where the consumer is going. The era of claimed behaviour is over; it’s time to study consumers as they live, scroll, play, and shop.”
By grounding research in the spaces where people actually spend their time, Beyond Panels signals a new era of real-time, context-rich consumer understanding. In today’s mobile-first world, insight, it seems, is no longer found in forms, it’s found in the game.
Digital Agencies
Kunal Wanvari steps up as senior brand and digital marketing manager at Franklin Templeton India
MUMBAI: Franklin Templeton India has elevated Kunal Wanvari to senior brand and digital marketing manager, signalling a continued push towards data-driven brand building and digital-first engagement in a crowded asset management market.
Wanvari has spent nearly eight years with Franklin Templeton India, steadily rising through the marketing ranks. Prior to this role, he served as marketing manager and assistant marketing manager, working across brand strategy, content, digital media and campaign execution from the firm’s Mumbai office.
Before joining Franklin Templeton, Wanvari built his digital credentials at WATConsult, where he handled brand strategy and account leadership roles, and earlier at Kush Infosystems, focusing on SEO and performance marketing. His career began in sales and marketing roles, giving him a ground-up understanding of commercial storytelling.
A computer engineer by training with deep digital marketing expertise, Wanvari’s elevation reflects Franklin Templeton’s bet on hybrid marketers—equal parts brand, data and digital—as competition for investor attention intensifies.
Digital Agencies
PSB Xchange appoints Ankush Aggarwal as CXO, Sahil Sikka as CBO and CFO
MUMBAI: PSB Xchange, India’s digital marketplace for financial solutions and a flagship platform of Veefin Solutions Limited, has reinforced its leadership team with two senior appointments as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
Ankush Aggarwal has been named chief experience officer, bringing with him more than 20 years of experience across corporate banking and the SME ecosystem. In his new role, he will focus on shaping simple, seamless and results-oriented experiences for banks, corporates and ecosystem partners. Aggarwal has previously held leadership roles at Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank and SG Finserve, where he led initiatives across customer onboarding, credit processes, servicing operations and digital transformation.
Widely recognised for connecting technology, operations and business strategy, Aggarwal has consistently built scalable and compliant experience models. At PSB Xchange, his focus will be on strengthening platform thinking, governance and continuous improvement to enhance efficiency and customer outcomes.
Alongside him, Sahil Sikka joins PSB Xchange as chief business officer and chief financial officer. With over 15 years of experience in banking and financial services, Sikka has played a key role in building and scaling businesses. He was part of the founding leadership team at SG Finserve, where he helped create a listed NBFC, overseeing business strategy, capital planning, product development and governance. His work earned him the best CFO financial services award at the India CFO Awards 2024.
Earlier in his career, Sikka worked with HDFC Bank, Aditya Birla Finance and Kotak Mahindra Bank, driving growth across corporate banking and structured finance. In his dual role at PSB Xchange, he will focus on strengthening growth strategy, scaling operations sustainably and delivering long-term value through strong governance and collaboration.
Commenting on the appointments, PSB Xchange and Veefin Solutions Limited CEO Sorabh Dhawan, said the additions reflect the platform’s ambitions as it expands its engagement with banks and financial institutions. He added that Aggarwal’s experience-led approach and Sikka’s strategic and financial expertise will be central to driving sustainable growth and value creation in the years ahead.
Digital Agencies
Kisha Gupta takes charge as Infosys global head of brand
BENGALURU: Infosys has appointed Kisha Gupta as its new global head of brand, a move that highlights both her remarkable journey within the company and her unique approach to leadership. Having spent more than 13 years at Infosys, Gupta brings to the role a wealth of experience spanning brand building, academic relations, and large-scale event management. She assumes the position with a commitment to creativity, purpose, and heart, promising to steer Infosys’ global brand with care and vision.
Gupta’s career at Infosys is notable not just for its longevity but for the breadth of her impact. Since 2016, she has led the company’s global academic relations, collaborating directly with Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy on flagship initiatives like InStep, the company’s global internship programme. Each year, InStep welcomes over 250 interns from more than 50 nationalities, offering them a chance to gain hands-on experience and exposure to cutting-edge technology projects. Beyond internships, Gupta has built strong networks with students, professors, deans, and chancellors from the world’s top 200 universities, positioning Infosys as a thought leader in global academia.
Her contributions extend to brand strategy and visibility, having designed social media campaigns, reviewed creative content, and represented Infosys at over 200 international events. She has also overseen large-scale corporate events, including Confluence and Connect, and led the redesign of Infosys’ marketing floor to foster collaboration and agile working. This combination of strategic oversight and hands-on execution has made her a trusted figure within Infosys leadership, reporting directly to the CMO and working closely with the board and founders.
Beyond Infosys, Gupta has played a key role in nurturing the next generation of global leaders. As Chairperson of Aiesec in India, she works to provide students with opportunities for cross-cultural learning and to foster a more inclusive, diverse workforce. She has also attended the prestigious Stanford Graduate School of Business Ignite Program, further honing her business acumen and leadership skills.
Reflecting on her new role, Gupta expressed gratitude to mentors, colleagues, and her predecessor for their support. “If you are reading this, chances are you have played a part in my journey. That makes this moment as much yours as it is mine,” she wrote. With her proven track record in brand building, academia, and global engagement, Kisha Gupta is poised to take Infosys’ brand to new heights, blending creativity, purpose, and human touch in every initiative.
-
iWorld4 days agoNetflix celebrates a decade in India with Shah Rukh Khan-narrated tribute film
-
I&B Ministry3 months agoIndia steps up fight against digital piracy
-
iWorld3 months agoTips Music turns up the heat with Tamil party anthem Mayangiren
-
iWorld12 months agoBSNL rings in a revival with Rs 4,969 crore revenue
-
MAM3 months agoHoABL soars high with dazzling Nagpur sebut
-
News Broadcasting2 months agoCNN-News18 dominates Bihar election coverage with record viewership
-
News Broadcasting16 hours agoMukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive
-
MAM3 months agoKapil Sethi joins Network18 as head of technology
