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TheSmallBigIdea thinks big

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MUMBAI: In advertising the Big Idea comes from a small insight. That was the inspiration behind former Reliance Big executive Harikrishnan Pillai and Ex-Times Network's Manish Solanki naming their agency soon after they quit their jobs. Six years down the line, their full-service digital agency,TheSmallBigIdea (TSBI), has grown to a team of 84 professionals, having served clients such as Star Sports,&TV, Colors, Zee Bioskope, Seychelles Tourism, IDFC Bank, HDFC Life, Asian Paints, Chennaiyin FC, and Big Magic. Recently,the agency created headlines for winning the social media mandate for movies like Love Aaj kal and Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhan.

For Pillai, it has been a dream journey from 2014, when he started the TheSmallBigIdea as a self-funded venture, by imbibing his experience from the Zee network and Reliance Broadcast Network.  
His fruitful stints at Zee and Reliance helped him a lot. Talking about his past experience, he said: “If we have hunger and perseverance they gave us the opportunity. It is probably the biggest legacy that I have carried into my team. As I have said, most of our team is home-grown, all trained internally with strong ethos. The team at TheSmallBigIdea is creatively strong.  They are leading the team as if they themselves are the entrepreneurs. The second lesson learnt has been a focus on delivery. A great idea without impeccable execution is nothing. So, while we are idea-driven, we are extremely focused on executions, delivery, and measurement.”

While brands in the media and entertainment category contribute 60 per cent of its business, TheSmallBigIdea has a stronghold and focus in tourism, education, e-commerce and BFSI. Then around 15-18 months ago,  it ventured into movies. “Movies happened last year with Badhaai Ho. Then we did Bala, Good Newzz, Dream Girl, and so on. Our primary focus is on sustainability and growth. What is going to give us sustainability is the large clientele that we have; our focus has been to provide services to them so that they can stick around us. The other most important factor is growth. When you look at sustainability you also look at growth,” said Pillai. 

Largely based out of Mumbai, it has reps in Bangalore, Delhi, Punjab and Chennai. 

The agency also has a sprinkling of media-only clients for whom it does the planning and buying like: Seychelles Tourism, Bahrain Tourism, Welingkar Institute and Dalmia College. Realising the potential in going local, TheSmallBigIdea launched TSBI Bharat as it saw the need to reach out to the next 100 million people who are going to come online. It's not just about language translation but studying how regional markets behave, how they consume internet and the role of neo-social apps in their ecosystem. 

“We want to understand their sentiments, what kind of content they want to consume, etc. It is about addressing a larger ecosystem rather than addressing one particular language,” says Pillai. 

TheSmallBigIdea is expecting a lot of growth coming from TSBI Bharat. It is pushing brands to create content in regional languages using neo-social apps. “We are also focusing on TSBI studios, which is the production division at TheSmallBigIdea to create more short-format content, podcasts and ad films. Our analytics tool ACE allows business to derive actionable insight through a thorough evaluation of social and enterprise data,”he added. 

The agency, is looking at hiring more people to reach the 100-mark. Going forward, TheSmallBigIdea envisages a brighter future. “What works for us are the insights and the content,” says Pillai confidently. “Not only our ideation team but our service team is very strong and that is reflected by the fact that 80 percent of our clients renew contract on Y-o-Y basis. What is not working for us is the reputation of being a media and entertainment company, which is not true. Like I have said we get only 60 percent of revenue from media and entertainment. This perception I would like to change.” he concludes.

Now that’s what sounds like a sound idea. A big sound idea. 

Digital Agencies

Kunal Wanvari steps up as senior brand and digital marketing manager at Franklin Templeton India

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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.

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PSB Xchange appoints Ankush Aggarwal as CXO, Sahil Sikka as CBO and CFO

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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.

 

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Kisha Gupta takes charge as Infosys global head of brand

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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.
 

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