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  • Goa sets it, PVL spikes it with debut of 10th team, Goa Guardians

    Goa sets it, PVL spikes it with debut of 10th team, Goa Guardians

     MUMBAI: From sandy shores to centre court, Goa’s taking its volleyball love to the big league. The Prime Volleyball League (PVL) has just added a fresh dose of flair to its roster with the launch of its tenth franchise, the Goa Guardians. Backed by Netenrich chairman and CEO Raju Chekuri, the Guardians are set to debut in Season 4, which officially kicks off on 2 October 2025. With this move, PVL continues its streak of adding one team every season, cementing its reputation as one of India’s fastest-growing sporting leagues.

    Goa may be famous for its beaches and football fandom, but volleyball has long pulsed through its local communities and now, the state gets its long-overdue representation on the national stage.

    “We’re not just building a team, we’re building an Olympic dream,” said Chekuri, expressing his ambition to see India competing in volleyball at the highest global levels within the next decade. “Goa Guardians is a mission to harness the untapped potential across India and give our athletes the international exposure they deserve.”

    With over 160 players expected to go under the hammer, PVL’s Season 4 auction will take place on 8 June in Calicut and fans can catch every spike and steal live on the league’s YouTube channel.

    Baseline Ventures managing director and co-founder Tuhin Mishra which co-owns and markets the league, called the addition “a major boost” to the sport’s national presence. “There’s no shortage of talent in India, and a 10-team league means more chances for players to shine.”

    Also welcoming the new entrants was PVL CEO Joy Bhattacharjya, who said the Guardians are a “fantastic addition,” and praised Chekuri’s vision for grassroots development and international credibility.

    Goa Guardians now join a formidable line-up: Ahmedabad Defenders, Bengaluru Torpedoes, Calicut Heroes, Chennai Blitz, Delhi Toofans, Hyderabad Black Hawks, Kochi Blue Spikers, Kolkata Thunderbolts and Mumbai Meteors.

    With this expansion, PVL isn’t just growing in size, it’s growing in ambition. As the countdown to Season 4 begins, the league is poised to serve up thrilling rallies, bigger rivalries, and new regional heroes, all with one clear mission: to spike Indian volleyball into global consciousness.

  • Team Pumpkin changes nappies and narratives for Mamypoko Bangladesh

    Team Pumpkin changes nappies and narratives for Mamypoko Bangladesh

     MUMBAI: From diaper duty to digital strategy, Team Pumpkin is now parenting in pixels. The digital-first marketing agency has bagged the digital mandate for Mamypoko Pants Bangladesh, marking its newest win in the baby care aisle and extending a longstanding relationship with the Unicharm brand beyond Indian borders.

    Team Pumpkin will manage Mamypoko’s digital strategy and execution across social media, influencer marketing, and performance campaigns all with the aim of making parenting a little more connected (and a lot less chaotic). The brand’s Bangladesh presence will now be helmed from the agency’s Gurgaon office, bringing a cross-border blend of insights, creativity, and cute content to the table.

    Having worked on MamyPoko Pants India since 2017, Team Pumpkin already has baby-soft experience in handling the unique challenges of the category. “With the Bangladesh mandate, we’re not just replicating what worked elsewhere,” said Team Pumpkin co-founder and chief business officer Swati Nathani. “We’re building solutions that ease parenting pain points and deliver value with every scroll.”

    Mamypoko Pants, a flagship offering from Japan’s Unicharm Corporation, has long enjoyed trust among young parents across Asia for its absorbent innovation and comfort-first ethos. With a growing footprint in both India and international markets, the brand is now leaning into regional relevance through digital storytelling and parent-centric content.

    As the digital terrain in Bangladesh evolves, this mandate reflects how brands are investing in building genuine communities not just campaigns. For Mamypoko, that means moving beyond product talk to create content that reflects the sleepless nights, sippy cups, and small joys of real parenting. And for Team Pumpkin, it’s another nudge toward becoming the agency of choice for brands that want both strategy and soul.

    Looks like this partnership is already off to a clean start.

  • Sam lands the real deal as Exp Realty names him India head

    Sam lands the real deal as Exp Realty names him India head

    MUMBAI: The cloud just got a new address and Sam Chopra is at the helm. In a move set to reshape India’s real estate skyline, Exp Realty, the world’s fastest-growing cloud-based brokerage has appointed industry trailblazer Sam Chopra as president and country leader for India. With the 250 billion dollars Indian real estate sector projected to quadruple by 2030, this isn’t just a leadership update; it’s a strategic land grab.

    Exp Realty, which operates in more than 25 countries and boasts nearly 87,000 agents worldwide, is betting big on India’s digital-first, post-RERA real estate evolution. And Chopra is no stranger to breaking ground quite literally. As the former founder of RE/MAX India and a long-time champion of professionalising the property space, he’s been instrumental in ushering credibility, global best practices, and regulatory alignment into an often-chaotic market.

    “India’s real estate industry is undergoing a tectonic shift. Transparency, technology, and trust are no longer optional, they’re expected,” said Chopra. “eXp’s agent-first, borderless model fits perfectly into this new era. It’s not just about closing deals; it’s about opening up possibilities.”

    This isn’t Chopra’s first rodeo. His three-decade career reads like a masterclass in market transformation from his role as founding chairman of the Association of Property Professionals to his leadership at International Real Estate Partners and India Accelerator. His voice has echoed through boardrooms and policy circles alike, from FIABCI to FICCI, as he’s pushed for an industry grounded in innovation, accountability, and growth.

    “Sam is more than a real estate veteran, he’s a visionary,” said Exp Realty international expansion leader Adam Day. “With his leadership, we’re not just expanding into India. We’re helping rewrite the future of the market.”

    Exp Realty’s India play isn’t just about adding another pin on the global map. It’s about redefining what real estate careers can look like. With its fully digital, agent-owned platform, the company offers agents ownership, training, tech, and freedom tools rarely found together in India’s fragmented landscape.

    And as Indian homebuyers become savvier, developers more transparent, and agents more entrepreneurial, Chopra’s appointment signals a serious bid to lead the next era of real estate.

    From legacy to leverage, from metro markets to Tier II towns with Sam Chopra steering the ship, Exp’s Indian innings may just become the model for global real estate reinvention.

  • Stand-up guy goes the distance as Zakir Khan hits the road with 60-city tour

    Stand-up guy goes the distance as Zakir Khan hits the road with 60-city tour

    MUMBAI: Knock-knock… who’s there? 60 cities, 160,000 fans, and a punchline for the history books. In a mic-drop moment for Indian live entertainment, comedian Zakir Khan is hitting the road for the country’s largest-ever stand-up comedy tour and it’s no joke. Spearheaded by a powerhouse partnership between Only Much Louder (OML) and Bookmyshow’s TribeVibe Entertainment, the tour will criss-cross more than 60 cities and play to over 160,000 fans making it the biggest deal ever signed by an Indian comedian.

    Dubbed a “comedy caravan”, the mega tour is poised to redefine the scale and seriousness with which homegrown stand-up is staged. From Delhi to Dibrugarh, Bengaluru to Bareilly, Zakir’s signature brand of heart-tugging humour and rustic storytelling will now reach audiences far beyond metro hotspots. And the numbers tell a story too 60 plus cities, lakhs of fans, and a deal that’s set a new benchmark in Indian comedy.

    “This isn’t just a personal milestone, it’s a statement,” said Zakir Khan, reflecting on the road ahead. “We’ve long hoped that Indian comedy would be treated like mainstream entertainment with scale, with respect, and with reach. This tour is proof that we’ve arrived.”

    The collaboration combines OML’s reputation for talent management with Bookmyshow’s data-backed audience intelligence and Tribevibe’s strong production footprint across India’s emerging markets. Together, they’re building a live comedy blueprint to rival the touring economies of the West.

    “This is about more than tickets and tours,” said Tribevibe CEO Shoven Shah. “It’s about rewriting how India consumes culture not just in big cities but across every corner of the country.”

    And it’s not just about one artist’s journey. As Rishabh Nahar, SVP at OML put it, “This is a blueprint for what’s possible. Artists building legacies. Audiences accessing quality entertainment regardless of location. Data and creativity working together. This is the future of Indian live entertainment.”

    With Khan at the helm, this isn’t just a road trip, it’s a movement on wheels. And as India’s laughter map gets redrawn city by city, one thing’s certain: this tour’s punchlines are poised to echo long after the curtains fall.

  • Bipin R. Pandit pens his passion in new biography, ‘Impassioned’

    Bipin R. Pandit pens his passion in new biography, ‘Impassioned’

    MUMBAI: Goafest 2025 witnessed more than just gold metals — it saw the unveiling of ‘Bipin R. Pandit – Impassioned’, a vibrant biography celebrating the Advertising Club’s spirited COO & founder of the soulful live music IP, Khumaar. The book was launched by Havas India group CEO SEA & North Asia, and Ad Club president  Rana Barua  during the 58th Abby Awards in front of an industry-packed house.

    The biography captures Pandit’s 28-year rollercoaster with the Ad Club, where he’s been the behind-the-scenes heartbeat of events like the Abbys, Effies and Emvies — awards that have since become institutionally iconic. From his early days at Baroda Rayon and Castrol India to being the anchor of over 1,000 stage shows, Impassioned weaves the personal with the professional — with equal notes of nostalgia, humour and humility.

    The book features:
    * Reflections from all 13 Ad Club presidents Pandit has worked with
    * Insights from 30 managing committee members, with a back-and-forth of perspectives
    * A tribute to Khumaar, now in its 20th year
    * A peek into the Pandits’ love story — a romance that began in school and blossomed into 40 years of marriage
    * And plenty of anecdotes that spotlight Bipin’s love for cricket, music and people

    With a foreword by Padma Shri Piyush Pandey and a special note by Padma Shri Prasoon Joshi, Impassioned isn’t just a biography — it’s a masterclass in loyalty, legacy and leading with heart.

    “I just wrote a LinkedIn blog after last year’s Abbys. Rana called, said this should be a book — and the rest is literally history,” said Pandit, thanking Gour Gupta and the team at Tribes for their support, and co-author-curator Gokul Krishnamoorthy for shaping the narrative.

    “Bipin has been the pulse of The Ad Club,” said Rana Barua. “His journey is a reminder that true leadership doesn’t always wear the loudest hat — sometimes, it sings from backstage.”

    Ad Club past president Ramesh Narayan added, “Bipin has always had that reassuring smile and an enviable ability to juggle committees, concerts, and cricket scores with ease.”

    The biography is priced at Rs 750 and available on www.bipinpandit.com. Ten per cent of the proceeds will go to Light of Life Foundation, supporting marginalised communities — yet another testament to Pandit’s impassioned legacy, both on and off stage.

    Credits
    Publisher & co-author: Bipin R. Pandit
    Curator & co-author: Gokul Krishnamoorthy
    Cover design: Vikram Gaikwad
    Book design: Mediaedge
    Cover photo: Himanshu Mestry
    Supported by: Tribes

  • Clean sweep for style as Specta and Gauri Khan surface a tough truth

    Clean sweep for style as Specta and Gauri Khan surface a tough truth

     MUMBAI: “The designer in me prefers beauty; the mother in me prefers safety.” With one evocative line, Gauri Khan slices straight into the modern Indian homeowner’s dilemma and Specta, the engineered quartz brand, serves it up with a sparkling side of design and conscience. Specta’s latest campaign, fronted by the celebrated interior designer and entrepreneur, poses a deceptively simple question: are your kitchen countertops just pretty to look at, or are they also safe enough to eat off? In an age when style and sanitation are often seen as strange bedfellows, Specta’s quartz surfaces promise to bridge that gap with panache.

    In the campaign film, Khan’s voiceover articulates the dual identities of many homeowners aesthetes and caregivers alike and challenges the idea that one must choose between elegance and everyday hygiene. Specta, with its NSF-certified, non-porous, germ- and toxin-free surfaces, makes a compelling case for having it both ways.

    “This campaign is about stirring the pot,” said Specta Quartz Surfaces founder Ankit Jain. “We use kitchen surfaces more than we realise and more roughly than we’d like to admit. Yet, the conversation around what’s safe to touch our food, and our families, is largely silent. We wanted to change that.”

    Designed with Indian kitchens in mind from oil splatters to hot pots and the occasional atta massacre, Specta’s engineered quartz promises durability without compromising on design. The surfaces have been tailored for both performance and polish, making them fit for fast-paced homes and fastidious designers alike.

    The campaign also follows Specta’s continued collaboration with Gauri Khan, including the ‘Gauri Picks’ collection that debuted at the AD Design Show 2024. It reaffirms the brand’s ambition to disrupt the surface segment one hygienic, high-fashion countertop at a time.

    So, the next time someone compliments your chic kitchen the only question worth asking might just be: “But can you eat off it?”

  • Chirag Alawadhi takes the leap from agency life to advisory heights

    Chirag Alawadhi takes the leap from agency life to advisory heights

    MUMBAI: From pitch decks to knowledge stacks Chirag Alawadhi is switching gears, not goodbye notes. After nearly a decade in the trenches of digital marketing, Chirag Alawadhi has stepped down as co-founder and CEO of The Leapfrog Network, closing a chapter that began in December 2021. But don’t expect another agency launch. Instead, Alawadhi is taking a wider lens approach diving into content ecosystems, strategic consulting, and marketing tech for a new generation of brands and builders.

    Alawadhi announced his decision on LinkedIn, marking the end of a journey that started as a solo founder and scaled into a full-fledged creative agency. “After 9 years of building businesses, I’m now focused on building the infrastructure and knowledge systems that will empower the next generation of marketers and entrepreneurs,” he wrote.

    His résumé reads like a digital marketer’s highlight reel: 1,300 campaigns delivered, over 7 million dollars in revenue generated, and content networks reaching more than 10 million followers. Along the way, he’s partnered with marquee names like Emami, Lenskart, Airtel, Reliance, OTT Play, and Tata Motors.

    What started with basic tools and delayed wins evolved into an agency known for bold campaigns and real community engagement. “This isn’t goodbye to the industry that shaped me, it’s a shift toward deeper impact,” Alawadhi said, reflecting on his departure as a move away from operations and towards enabling transformation at scale.

    His exit also mirrors a growing trend among agency veterans: trading day-to-day grind for advisory and ecosystem-building roles. Alawadhi joins a cohort of leaders looking beyond billing cycles and into future-facing industry infrastructure.

    Under his leadership, The Leapfrog Network carved out a niche in storytelling and strategy. While Alawadhi steps away, the agency rooted in its founding mission to create meaningful brand connections is poised for its next phase under fresh leadership.

    As for Alawadhi? He’s taking the leap again only this time, it’s beyond the agency playbook.

  • OnePlus powers up Gods Reign for battle royale glory at BGMI Pro Series

    OnePlus powers up Gods Reign for battle royale glory at BGMI Pro Series

    MUMBAI: It’s game on as OnePlus teams up with Gods Reign, one of India’s top-tier BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) squads, in a turbo-charged partnership ahead of the BGMI Pro Series (BMPS) 2025, where 96 elite teams are slugging it out for a whopping Rs 2 crore prize pot.

    The tie-up, stitched together by Times One, a unit of Times OOH, blends speed, swagger, and silicon. At the heart of the deal is OnePlus’ mission to cement its gaming credentials by powering Gods Reign’s training grind and match-day performance with its flagship devices—built for buttery frame rates, rapid cooling and marathon battery life.

    Having already clinched Rs 50 lakh as ESL Snapdragon Pro Series Season 6 champs, Gods Reign is no stranger to the winner’s circle. Now, with OnePlus tech fuelling their BGMI charge, the team is ready to frag, flank and fire their way to the top once more.

    But it’s not just about hardware. The deal brings co-branded storytelling, real-world gamer feedback loops for OnePlus’ next-gen devices, and high-impact content that celebrates the grit behind the game. Think tech meets teamwork, with a generous dose of community buzz.

    “This partnership with OnePlus marks a significant milestone for our team. We’re proud to be aligned with a brand that not only understands elite performance but also shares our hunger for innovation and excellence. With Times One’s support, we look forward to creating impactful experiences for our fans and the gaming community,” said Gods Reign CEO & cofounder K R Rohith.

    Added Times One gaming business head Kanishka Singh: “At Times One, we believe in the transformative power of esports as the next big cultural movement. Facilitating this partnership between OnePlus and Gods Reign underscores our mission to bring together premium brands and elite gaming talent. We are thrilled to play a pivotal role in scripting this chapter of India’s gaming evolution.” 

    With Ficci-EY 2025 projecting brand participation in esports to rise from 68 to 75 and player involvement to hit 2.8 million this year, OnePlus’ power play is well-timed. It’s a high-stakes, high-speed partnership that’s already levelling up India’s esports narrative—one kill streak at a time.

  • SW Network Wins Integrated Digital Mandate for – Fujifilm India instant camera brand instax

    SW Network Wins Integrated Digital Mandate for – Fujifilm India instant camera brand instax

    MUMBAI:  SW Network has landed a picture-perfect win with Fujifilm India, snapping up the integrated digital marketing mandate for its cult instant camera brand, instax Following a multi-agency pitch, the agency will now helm everything from D2C performance marketing and media planning to influencer collaborations, SEO and scroll-stopping creative.

    Leading the charge will be SW Growth Labs, the growth vertical of the agency, alongside SW Creative, which will craft platform-first content and thumb-stopping narratives aimed at Gen Z and Millennial audiences hooked on vintage vibes and tangible memories.

    instax, already a darling of creators, collectors, and cool kids, is capitalising on the global revival of instant photography. With smartphones saturating digital memories, these pocket-sized snap-and-print gadgets have made a comeback—one polaroid at a time. From designer film cartridges to smartphone printers, instax has firmly positioned itself as the go-to for the #aesthetic generation.

    SW Network  cofounder Raghav Bagai shared his enthusiasm on  the partnership: “instax is more than just a camera brand. It is an experience that blends nostalgia with creativity, allowing people to capture and share moments in a tangible way. SW Growth Labs will lead performance marketing and SEO, while SW Creative will drive creative, influencer, creative, and social strategies. Together, we are building an integrated approach to accelerate the brand’s digital growth in India. At SW Network, we believe in the power of data-driven creativity to build meaningful brand connections. We look forward to strengthening brand presence and engagement in the market.”

    Fujifilm India instax division digital marketing manager Shaiphali Galhotra  added, “Our partnership with SW Network is a key step in strengthening the brand’s digital-first approach. By integrating media, social, and performance marketing strategies, we aim to build a stronger, more engaging brand presence while enhancing our D2C experience. We are confident that SW Network’s expertise will drive meaningful results and solidify the brand’s market leadership in India’s instant photography market.”

    With this win, SW Network adds yet another feather to its cap, proving that when strategy meets sentiment, you get more than just clicks—you get keepsakes.

  • Nicole Clemens makes the prime time move to Amazon’s streaming empire

    Nicole Clemens makes the prime time move to Amazon’s streaming empire

    MUMBAI: Nicole Clemens has swapped Paramount’s fading star for Amazon’s prime position, landing the plum role of vice-president and head of international originals for Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. The appointment, effective 7 July, sees her trading one streaming giant’s troubles for another’s triumphs.

    Fresh from her stint as president of the now-defunct Paramount Television Studios—where she presided over hits like Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Reacher, and Cross that ironically ended up on Prime Video—Clemens will now orchestrate Amazon’s content conquest across more than 20 territories. Rather like poacher turned gamekeeper, but with better streaming numbers.

    Prime Video International, vice-president Kelly Day  clearly couldn’t contain her glee: “Nicole is a highly respected and experienced media executive who will guide our future international originals slate as we invest for the long term.” Translation: she knows how to make shows that people actually watch.

    The timing couldn’t be more fortuitous. Prime Video’s international division has been on a right tear, churning out more than 140 original series and films across two dozen territories last year—their biggest haul yet. With over 200 million Prime members globally, there’s clearly an appetite for content that doesn’t involve subtitles reading “Netflix Original.”

    Clemens brings serious pedigree to the role. During her Paramount tenure, she shepherded everything from the Emmy-nominated Station Eleven to George Clooney’s Catch-22, plus the entire Star Trek universe for Paramount+. Before that, she spent five years as executive vice-president at FX Networks, overseeing crowd-pleasers like Atlanta and Snowfall.

    Her new empire will span teams across Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, with regional heads including Javiera Balmaceda (Latin America, Canada, and Australia), Tara Erer (Northern Europe), and Nicole Morganti (Southern Europe) all reporting directly to her.

    Additionally, Nikhil Madhok, head of international originals for India, will continue reporting to Gaurav Gandhi, VP of Prime Video APAC and Mena, but will remain a part of Clemens’s leadership team. 

    Supporting the division are Marc Hausmaninger, head of content strategy for international originals, and Sam Semon, responsible for international business affairs. This expanded team underscores Prime Video’s commitment to tailoring content across regions, with Clemens at the helm steering the international creative and strategic direction.

    She’ll initially set up shop at Amazon MGM Studios’ Culver City headquarters before decamping to Prime Video’s London office—presumably for the superior biscuit selection.

    The appointment signals Amazon’s serious intent to challenge Netflix’s global dominance. With international hits like Germany’s Maxton Hall and Spain’s Red Queen already in the pipeline, Clemens will be tasked with ensuring Prime Video’s international slate remains anything but secondary viewing.