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  • Schbang elevates Neel Gawde to chief business officer

    Schbang elevates Neel Gawde to chief business officer

    MUMBAI: Digital agency Schbang has promoted Neel Gawde to chief business officer, marking his rise from national head of business development. Gawde, who joined the firm in 2018, has been instrumental in driving client acquisition and expanding Schbang’s solutions, media and events portfolio.

    A marketing specialist with a track record of more than 700 pitches and 300 closures, Gawde earlier worked at Togglehead and Activ Eight Dimensions. He began his career in social media management before moving into business development.

    At Schbang, he credits founder Harshil Karia’s mentorship and his team’s “relentless pursuit of excellence” for the agency’s momentum. In his new role, Gawde is tasked with accelerating growth and shaping the next phase of Schbang’s expansion in India’s fiercely competitive digital market.

  • Raghu Ramanujam takes charge as vp of product at Nielsen’s Gracenote

    Raghu Ramanujam takes charge as vp of product at Nielsen’s Gracenote

    MUMBAI: Raghu Ramanujam, a seasoned product executive with stints at Flipkart, InMobi and Zoho, has joined Nielsen-owned Gracenote as vice president of product management.

    At Flipkart, Ramanujam steered the payments and fintech strategy, shaping products that sought to democratise access to credit and scale digital transactions for India’s 1.4bn people. He previously founded PoolCircle, once Bengaluru’s largest carpool network, with the mission of taking a million cars off the road.

    At InMobi, he oversaw SmartPay, expanding its reach across nine countries, and built products that propelled the firm from 200m to 100bn ads served per month. Earlier, at Zoho, his NetFlow Analyzer became the company’s fastest product to notch $1m in revenue.

    Ramanujam has also led the product division at Tambora Systems, Embibe and Microsoft Accelerator, and began his career in sales and engineering before moving into software and digital platforms.

     

  • Sunny side up, Bappa! Cooking oil brand pens film for Ganesh Chaturthi

    Sunny side up, Bappa! Cooking oil brand pens film for Ganesh Chaturthi

    MUMBAI: Modaks, melodies, and memories Ganesh Chaturthi is here, and this year International Sunny Cooking Oil is stirring the pot with emotion. The brand has launched a moving three-minute film titled Letter to Bappa, capturing how India welcomes its beloved deity into homes and hearts. The short film traces the journey of a little girl travelling from city bustle to village calm, soaking in the colours, rhythms, and aromas of the festival. It all culminates in her writing a heartfelt note to ‘Bappa’, a letter that becomes the film’s emotional anchor, symbolising the different ways families express devotion.

    Food, naturally, plays centre stage. Tying back to Sunny Oil’s proposition Life Aapki, Recipe Aapki, the narrative shows how celebrations come alive around kitchen tables, where festive feasts and everyday meals alike become moments of bonding.

    “Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival that brings families together, and food is at the centre of every celebration. With our film, we wanted to capture that spirit, the laughter, the togetherness, and the joy of sharing a meal,” said Frigorifico Allana Pvt. Ltd. CEO for consumer products Division Milind Pingle makers of Sunny Oil.

    For Alphax co-founder Dorothy Rebello the film was also deeply personal: “The way children see Bappa with wonder and unfiltered love became the heart of the story. We wanted it to feel human, relatable, and rooted in everyday celebrations.”

    From the nostalgic making of modaks to the aroma of festive spreads, Sunny positions itself not just as a cooking staple but as part of India’s cultural fabric. The film closes on the brand’s enduring promise: that every festival, every recipe, and every shared meal becomes a memory seasoned with love.

  • OpenAI names Sheeladitya Mohanty as India marketing lead

    OpenAI names Sheeladitya Mohanty as India marketing lead

    MUMBAI;OpenAI has appointed Sheeladitya Mohanty as its marketing lead for India, tasking him with driving awareness, adoption and responsible use of the firm’s products across the subcontinent.

    An XLRI Jamshedpur alumnus, Mohanty began his career at Nokia in 2009 and later worked at Microsoft as a business evangelist before joining Facebook (now Meta) in 2016. Over nine years at the social-media giant, he handled platform, public affairs and brand marketing roles, most recently serving as marketing lead for Meta AI and Facebook across Asia-Pacific.

    Mohanty says his strength lies in “systems thinking”—connecting workstreams across silos to deliver scale. His expertise spans consumer marketing, go-to-market launches, platform partnerships and large-scale campaign execution.

    At OpenAI, he will lead education and outreach in India, a market critical to the firm’s global ambitions of making artificial intelligence “accessible and impactful”.

  • VOX lays it down with durable Primerra SPC floors for busy spaces

    VOX lays it down with durable Primerra SPC floors for busy spaces

    MUMBAI: VOX India is rolling out the red carpet only this one’s tougher than it looks. The interior solutions brand has launched a new variant of its Primerra SPC Flooring, designed especially for high-traffic commercial spaces, where style must stand its ground against endless footfall. The upgraded collection pairs advanced SPC layers with IXPE backing, creating floors that shrug off scratches, stains, and spills while offering comfort underfoot and sound insulation. Thanks to I4F Drop-Lock technology, installation is a quick snap literally with panels locking into place without gaps, whether short or long.

    Inspired by the timeless charm of wood, the range brings oak-textured finishes and bold brick patterns, perfect for interiors that want both warmth and contemporary flair. From offices and retail outlets to hospitality projects, the designs promise adaptability, while also doubling up as fresh ideas for bedrooms and homes looking for modern flooring with character.

    VOX India isn’t just making a style statement; it’s also guaranteeing peace of mind. Each installation is backed by a 10-year commercial warranty, making it as reliable as it is refined.

    “This new Primerra SPC flooring variant has been developed to withstand heavy commercial usage without compromising on style,” said VOX India founder Varun Poddar. “It reflects our focus on blending innovation, functionality, and design for modern interiors.”

    With this launch, VOX India strengthens its Primerra portfolio, expanding a lineup that already resonates with architects and designers. By fusing global design sensibilities with Indian commercial needs, the brand is ensuring that durability and design no longer walk separate paths, they’re laid side by side, plank by plank.

     

  • Sony Pictures’ Juhita Gupta takes lead role on YouTube channels

    Sony Pictures’ Juhita Gupta takes lead role on YouTube channels

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has handed the reins of its YouTube channels to Juhita Gupta, a seasoned media professional with over 16 years of consumer insights and market research under her belt.

    Gupta, who has spent more than a decade shaping programming strategies and audience growth across Sony Sab, Sony Pal, Sony Max and Set, is known for blending data storytelling with sharp commercial impact. Her remit now includes steering Sony’s digital video footprint at a time when streaming platforms are fighting fiercely for attention.

    Before joining Sony, she worked with 9XM, Disney Channel, Hungama, Star Movies and Channel V, giving her a panoramic view of India’s entertainment ecosystem, from kids’ content to blockbuster films.

    She began her career in FMCG research at Nielsen and TNS, tracking categories from skincare to home care. Those early years sharpened her instincts in quantitative and qualitative research, a skill set she later repurposed for television and, now, digital.

    Gupta’s expertise runs the gamut from weekly TV ratings (TAM, BARC) and promo planning to ethnographies, focus groups and social listening. In her own words, she thrives on “insight mining” and translating numbers into narratives, a talent Sony hopes will give its YouTube channels an edge in the battle for viewers.

  • Mona Singh voices Coto’s new brand film on emotional wellness

    Mona Singh voices Coto’s new brand film on emotional wellness

    MUMBAI: Coto, India’s leading emotional wellness platform, has released a stirring brand film narrated by actor Mona Singh, urging people to speak up and seek support without fear.

    Drawing from millions of minutes of real conversations on its platform, the film transforms lived struggles into powerful stories. A long-distance partner, a burnt-out parent, a young professional crumbling under expectations, each vignette reflects lives we recognise, but too often ignore.

    Produced with Trigger Happy Entertainment Network, the campaign doesn’t just spotlight problems; it offers pathways forward. “This film gives voice to the invisible battles so many fight while wearing a smile,” said coto, co-founder, Shefali Anurag. “Our mission is clear: to replace silence with presence, stigma with compassion, and isolation with connection.”

    For Mona Singh, lending her voice was more than a gig. It was personal. “Just as I rely on a nutritionist and fitness trainer for my physical health, coto
    supports my emotional wellness, bringing clarity and calm when it matters most,” she said. “The difference between barely surviving and truly thriving often comes down to having the right support at the right moment. That’s why I count on coto’s experts, not as a sign of weakness, but as essential
    tools for peak performance in every aspect of life.”

    With India’s $7 billion wellness market booming, coto is positioning itself not just as a platform but as a cultural force, normalising conversations around mental health, love, and relationships. The brand film is now live across coto’s digital channels, sparking dialogues that aim to travel well beyond the screen into living rooms, workplaces, and communities.

  • William V takes charge as CFO of Jio Blast Esports

    William V takes charge as CFO of Jio Blast Esports

    MUMBAI: William V has been appointed chief financial officer of Jio Blast Esports, the joint venture between Reliance’s Jio Platforms and Denmark’s Blast ApS. He will oversee financial strategy, governance and operational efficiency as the company pushes into India’s fast-growing esports sector.

    A chartered accountant by training, William has more than two decades in senior finance roles. He currently also serves as CFO at JioAds. Before joining Reliance, he spent seven years at Dentsu Aegis Network as director of finance and group treasury, following a decade at Star India where he handled US GAAP reporting, Sox compliance and project evaluation. Earlier stints included Darashaw and L&T Finance.

    At Jio Blast Esports, William is tasked with driving financial planning, compliance and automation while supporting long-term value creation in an industry that sits at the crossroads of gaming, sports and entertainment.

  • Nilay S exits Upstox after five-year marketing stint

    Nilay S exits Upstox after five-year marketing stint

    MUMBAI: Nilay S has wrapped up his near five-year run at online brokerage Upstox, where he rose to director of marketing.

    Joining in 2020, Nilay helped shape the firm’s brand and product marketing strategy, spearheaded marquee campaigns across the IPL and World Cup, and built initiatives such as UpLearn and UpNews. He led a 25-strong team, directly managing seven functional leaders, and drove growth across SEO, ASO and newer platforms.

    Earlier, Nilay spent nearly two years at Bytedance in senior marketing roles, handling go-to-market strategy for TikTok India. His résumé also spans stints at WPP’s Maxus Global, Accenture and TBWA.

    A graduate of Gujarat University with a later product management programme at Duke, Nilay signalled that he is “excited about what lies ahead” as he moves on from Upstox.

  • Mayoori Kango returns to Publicis to script an AI-powered new chapter

    Mayoori Kango returns to Publicis to script an AI-powered new chapter

    MUMBAI: From Bollywood spotlight to boardroom strategy, Mayoori Kango has never shied away from reinvention. The digital veteran has now rejoined Publicis Groupe as part of the global executive leadership team at Publicis Global Delivery (PGD), while also stepping in as CEO for PGD’s India Delivery Centre. The move marks a homecoming for Kango, who has already left her imprint on Publicis through earlier leadership roles at Performics (2016–2019) and Zenith (2012–2016). This time, her remit is bigger: driving global strategy across media, data-tech, and AI, and scaling PGD’s India operations into a hub of innovation.

    Kango arrives at Publicis fresh from Google, where she spent six and a half years. Most recently, she served as Industry head for AI, Martech & Media Solutions (Aug 2024–Aug 2025), and before that as head of industry for agency partnership (2019–2024). Her time at the tech giant placed her at the forefront of AI’s impact on marketing and media, a focus she is set to double down on at Publicis.

    Her career trajectory reads like a map of the digital advertising revolution: from 360i (2007–2009), where she worked on campaigns for Natgeo and Red Roof Inn, to Resolution Media (2009–2010), leading SEM for Pepsi, Monster, and Electrolux, to Digitas (2010–2012), running the Delta Search business. By the time she took the reins as chief digital officer at Zenith India, she was already recognised as one of the leading voices in digital transformation.

    Armed with an MBA in Marketing from Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College (2005–2007), Kango has built a rare global career that blends Silicon Valley tech with Madison Avenue storytelling and Indian market scale.

    Her dual role at Publicis is as much about the future as it is about continuity. As AI reshapes workflows, creativity, and consumer engagement, Kango will lead PGD’s efforts to position Publicis as the go-to partner for next-gen marketing solutions with India at its core.

    For an industry that thrives on reinvention, Kango’s return feels fitting. After all, who better to script a new chapter in AI-led marketing than someone who has lived through every act of digital’s ongoing drama?