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Tag: appointment

  • Wunderman Thompson India ropes in Rakesh Varma & Abhay Godbole, bolsters its Mumbai leadership team

    Wunderman Thompson India ropes in Rakesh Varma & Abhay Godbole, bolsters its Mumbai leadership team

    Mumbai: Wunderman Thompson India has announced the appointment of two senior hires for its Mumbai office. Rakesh Varma has joined as vice president & executive business director, and Abhay Godbole as vice president & client service director.

    Both Rakesh and Abhay will report to Wunderman Thompson Mumbai managing partner Anurag Tandon.

    Rakesh has over 15 years of advertising experience, having worked on a wide range of brands, with a particular fondness for automobiles and auto accessories, with brands like Volkswagen, TVS Motorcycles, Ashok Leyland & Gulf Oil. He has been associated with leading brands like Hotstar, Radio City, FBB, Gelusil & Tata AIA, amongst others. He has in-depth understanding and experience in brand strategy, campaign planning, and leading integrated marketing efforts.

    Having previously worked with Wunderman Thompson Mumbai, Abhay Godbole returns to the agency for a second innings. During his previous stint with the agency, Abhay was instrumental in leading the much lauded “Mutual Funds Sahi Hai” for AMFI. He has close to two decades of experience in marketing communications, working across categories like FMCG, automobiles, and BFSI. Passionate about advertising and creativity, Abhay believes any marketing challenge can be addressed through compelling creative solutions.

    Commenting on the new appointments, Wunderman Thompson Mumbai managing partner Anurag Tandon said, “As we continue to diversify our client roster and grow our talent base, it is critical for us to have the right hands on deck. Rakesh and Abhay bring with them extensive experience and domain knowledge that will propel us to drive growth in key industry domains and deliver the best outcomes for our clients. Both our senior hires have an impressive track record of building strong consumer brands, and I am looking forward to scaling new heights with our client partners.”

    On taking up his new role at Wunderman Thompson, India, Rakesh Varma, commented, “At Wunderman Thompson, we’re building a future that’s as exciting as its legacy. And I consider myself extremely fortunate to be a part of this transformation. With its diverse brand portfolio, integrated service approach, and promising growth vision, WT is all set to thrive. I’m looking forward to nurturing some of the long-standing client relationships and creating new ones.”

    Abhay Godbole added, “I am delighted to be back at Wunderman Thompson, one of India’s finest agencies that has nurtured and built multiple brands in the country. Wunderman Thompson is in a unique position to create the agency of the future; an agency that is capable of delivering the best of both mainline and data-led digital communications. I look forward to being a part of this exciting and transformational journey.”

  • Carat India wins integrated media mandate for TimesPro

    Carat India wins integrated media mandate for TimesPro

    Mumbai: Dentsu India’s media agency Carat has won the media mandate for TimesPro. The account was won following a multi-agency pitch and will be serviced from the agency’s Mumbai office.

    As per the mandate, the agency will manage the omnichannel media services for TimesPro.

    Speaking on the win, Carat India CEO Anita Kotwani said, “We are pleased to win the media business for TimePro. Carat is committed to creating meaningful end-to-end media solutions through data-driven marketing and to further accelerating the brand’s growth journey. As a team, we are excited to get this opportunity to work with a brand that is aiding every professional’s career aspiration!”

    TimesPro head of brand marketing & communications Gaurav Barjatya commented, “We are delighted to be working with Carat India. It’s an agency that’s responsive and nimble to the business demands of today, which span a variety of traditional and new-age media. We look forward to collaborating with them as we grow and take our H.EdTech offering to millions of learners nationwide.”

    TimesPro is an award-winning higher education technology initiative of the Times of India Group.

  • Thought Blurb Communications elevates Renu Somani to national creative director

    Thought Blurb Communications elevates Renu Somani to national creative director

    Mumbai: Thought Blurb Communications, a full-service advertising and design agency helmed by Vinod Kunj, has announced the elevation of Renu Somani to national creative director. After steadily guiding the direction of the creative product of Thought Blurb Communications for the last ten years, Somani will now take over as the creative head at the agency from being the executive creative director.

    Renu holds more than 18 years of experience with creative departments of advertising agencies like Ambience Publicis, McCann Erickson and Saatchi & Saatchi and has worked for brands like Parachute Hair Oil, Savlon Soap, and ICICI Home Loans. At Thought Blurb, she has led creative communications for brands like Parle-G, Parle Marie, Parle 20-20, Vero Moda, Reliance Digital, Radio Mirchi, and Viacom 18, to name a few.

    Renu began her career as an art director before switching seamlessly into her role as a writer after joining Thought Blurb. She brings her combined talents in art, copy, scripting, and audio-visual media to bear on a 360-degree execution in traditional, electronic, and digital media. Renu now takes charge of managing the creative products of the company that has a presence in Mumbai and Kochi. She will be overseeing a diverse team of creative talent in these cities, helping in the development of brands across the country and also in planning the creative strategy for new clients here.

    Speaking on her new role, Renu Somani stated, “I have a degree in art, but writing comes as naturally to me as breathing. I believe I paint stories with my words. The creative industry is shape-shifting and each day a new avatar is being created. My mandate will be to give shape and voice and texture and personality to the avatar that we at Thought Blurb would like to give ourselves. We are known to nurture great talent, and I’d like to build on that tradition and get the team to come up with ideas that reflect the zeitgeist of the times.”

    Speaking about the appointment, Thought Blurb Communications founder and chief creative officer Vinod Kunj stated, “Renu is an extremely instinctive and creative person. She can pick up a castaway idea from a brainstorming session and polish it to perfection. We are a very close-knit unit, and we cherry-pick the brands we work with. In the process, we have built great case studies for some of India’s biggest brands. Renu will now work with her team and create campaigns that make a meaningful difference to those brands in the international markets.”

    Somani’s work has been recognised over the years by several Indian and international industry award bodies. She has also been a finalist at the One Show, Cannes, and Adfest Awards. She has won awards at the Abbys, D&AD Kyoorius, Golden Mikes, and Radio Mirchi Kaan Awards. Most recently, she won the IAA Awards for her work on Parle G. Her work has also been featured in the Communication Arts Guild magazine.

  • Wavemaker India names Vishal Jacob as chief transformation officer

    Wavemaker India names Vishal Jacob as chief transformation officer

    Mumbai: GroupM’s media agency Wavemaker India on Tuesday announced Vishal Jacob as the chief transformation officer. Vishal will take on the additional responsibility in addition to his existing role as chief digital officer.

    In this extended role, Vishal will work with office heads and business leaders to structure and create diverse skill sets within business teams to manage current and future business requirements. He will also work along with practice leads to break silos and create more cross-functional teams to deliver unified solutions to clients, one of Wavemaker’s key focus areas. Vishal will also work on strengthening existing capabilities beyond digital and incubating new ones that will make Wavemaker’s future ready for the challenges.

    Wavemaker South Asia CEO Ajay Gupte said, “The environment around us is rapidly changing, and we need to continuously upskill ourselves to lead this change so that we continue to provide unique and innovative solutions for our clients. With Vishal taking over the additional responsibility of transformation, we will be better placed to craft customised strategic initiatives, particularly related to digitalization and driving company culture.”

    Speaking on this new role, Vishal Jacob said, “Consumer behaviour and the media landscape are forever evolving. Embracing these changes through a culture of agility becomes critical for success. Driving this transformation at an organisational level is highly challenging yet very exciting, and I am looking forward to it.”

    Vishal started his digital journey with GroupM in 2005. He has led and assisted clients across industries (auto, FMCG, telco, media, and retail) in their digital transformation journey, hinging it on creating a connected ecosystem of paid, owned, and earned properties. Vishal has also authored a book called “Connecting with Yourself: Why we Think, Feel, and Act the Way We Do.” He is a certified coach from ICF with further specialisation in transactional analysis and NLP, and he continues to nurture and coach talent to prepare them for leadership roles.

  • Cashify appoints Subodh Garg as its first chief financial officer

    Cashify appoints Subodh Garg as its first chief financial officer

    Mumbai: Homegrown re-commerce marketplace, Cashify has appointed Subodh Garg as its first chief financial officer. The appointment of the new CFO would be a step toward preparing for the company’s continued focus on sustainable growth, it said in a statement.

    In his new role as CFO, Subodh will lead the company’s long-term profitable growth and strategy and ensure financial readiness. With Cashify working aggressively, the appointment of Subodh to the team will strengthen the growth story and further assist in expanding into new, untouched territories.

    With more than two decades of experience in the financial sector, Subodh Garg joins Cashify as a veteran with strong business acumen. Prior to this, he held the position of CFO at Pickrr and other leadership positions with startups such as Bulbul and Healthkart. Before venturing into the world of startups, Subodh garnered a rich, diversified experience of 20 years in various industries such as insurance, BPO, service, and manufacturing.

    Speaking about the appointment, Cashify co-founder & CEO Mandeep Manocha said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Subodh into the Cashify family. His proven expertise in leadership and commercial judgement is crucial for us at this juncture. The extensive experience and knowledge that he brings in after working with various industries will definitely help Cashify flourish sustainably in the current scenario.”

    “I’m extremely delighted to be a part of the Cashify team. The current growth trajectory of Cashify is pretty exciting, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with the team and contributing towards strengthening Cashify as a sustainable and profitable business model, ” said Subodh Garg.

  • 9X Media’s Bhupendra Makhi starts his new innings as CEO

    9X Media’s Bhupendra Makhi starts his new innings as CEO

    Mumbai: The largest music broadcaster, 9X Media has elevated Bhupendra Makhi to the position of chief executive officer (CEO). The new role allows him to spearhead strategic business developments for the company. His vivid experience will facilitate strengthening the company’s objectives and focus on areas to build business for the long term. Having a proven track record of producing excellent results, he will focus to embark on a new journey and take 9X Media to a higher level of growth by engaging audiences through its disruptive content.

    Bhupendra brings extensive knowledge of the financial sector as well as an impressive track record in the media & entertainment industry.

    During his long tenure with 9X, Bhupendra was also the company’s chief financial officer (CFO), having risen through the ranks from vice-president of finance. He has been with the company since 2007.

    Commenting on his elevation as CEO, Bhupendra Makhi said, “I am grateful to our investors and the board for entrusting me with this role. 9X Media has reached an important stage, having met significant milestones, and achieving positive performance. We remain highly encouraged and I look forward to continuing to work closely with all the teams for the benefit of the company and creating value for our stakeholders.”

  • Media Mantra wins PR mandate for Qualitest

    Media Mantra wins PR mandate for Qualitest

    Mumbai: AI-powered quality engineering services provider Qualitest has appointed Media Mantra as their strategic PR agency for India. The agency will oversee all aspects of communication and messaging for Qualitest, including corporate reputation management, brand awareness, and key stakeholder outreach.

    Qualitest Group managing director, India Rajesh Subramony said, “India is a strategic pivot for Qualitest and we have increased our presence and operations in this region significantly over the past year. At this critical juncture, we are pleased to partner with the Media Mantra team to bolster our communication and messaging, execute campaigns and support us in the next phase of growth in India.”

    Media Mantra co-founder & director Pooja Pathak said, “We are delighted to be partnering with Qualitest. As strategic partners, we intend to deploy our vast knowledge and expertise to execute innovative, disruptive, and high-impact public relations campaigns that will help increase awareness and positively impact the business goals of Qualitest.”

    Media Mantra CEO Rahul Mehta said, “We are honoured to be chosen as the official PR agency by Qualitest, the world’s largest AI-powered quality engineering services company that has been expanding its business at a record pace globally and in India. As strategic consultants, we are committed to helping our clients achieve communication outcomes that positively impact their image and business. We look forward to executing campaigns that will help Qualitest build strong awareness and effectively engage all key stakeholder groups.”

  • Dish TV’s Jawahar Lal Goel resigns from the board

    Dish TV’s Jawahar Lal Goel resigns from the board

    MUMBAI: Dish TV, the DTH service provider has announced that director Jawahar Lal Goel has resigned from the board of the company. “Jawahar Lal Goel, Director…. has tendered his resignation from the company’s board of directors and committee/s thereof with effect from the close of business hours of September 19, 2022,” Dish TV informed in a regulatory filing.

    He is no longer the chairman of the company. Goel will vacate his position at the upcoming company’s AGM on 26 September, 2022.

    After the announcement, the share price rose by 10 per cent and hit the upper circuit.

    In June, over 75 per cent of shareholders voted against the reappointment of Goel as board’s managing director at the company’s extraordinary general meeting. After it happened, Goel had agreed to resign as Dish TV chairman ahead of the AGM.

    Yes Bank holds around 25 per cent stake in the company. It had been pushing for a board reconstitution and wanted the promoter family led by Goel to be removed. Yes Bank had cited corporate governance issues and Goel stepped down after engaging in a legal battle for a long time with Yes Bank.

    Earlier this month, Dish TV had agreed to appoint three of the seven independent directors, which were proposed by Yes Bank.

    The Goels own a six per cent stake in the company. They lost control over the company after banks seized the promoter’s pledged shares.

  • Next by Rediffusion names Asheesh Malhotra as executive director

    Next by Rediffusion names Asheesh Malhotra as executive director

    MUMBAI: Next by Rediffusion has roped in Asheesh Malhotra as its executive director. Asheesh joins the Rediffusion group from Dentsu. The launch of Next was announced by Rediffusion on 15 August.

    With over 25 years of experience in the advertising industry, Asheesh has worked in leadership roles at Dentsu, Ogilvy, Lowe and Bates. He has straddled strategy and business functions on global & local businesses alike. He helped launch India’s first private life insurance company, ICICI Pru. He led global business hubs for Castrol and BP across Europe, Asia and also the business of Unilever beverages.

    Asheesh has over the years won the prestigious Effie awards for Unilever, ICICI Pru, Mondelez in India and APAC regions. He has also worked on the launch of Royal Enfield Meteor and Classic and Malabar Gold’s Brides Of India campaigns.

    Additionally, he teaches marketing and advertising students at institutes like SP Jain and Northpoint Center of Learning. He is also on the advisory councils of a couple of universities, and an active member of Intach.

    Asheesh did his schooling at St Edwards in Shimla and went on to pursue his higher studies at Delhi University. Thereafter, he attended the New York Film Academy and studied film and content development. Asheesh is also a certified apple orchardist having grown up in the pristine Kullu valley.

    Welcoming Asheesh Malhotra to Next by Rediffusion, Rediffusion group managing director Dr Sandeep Goyal said, “In Asheesh, we have a true blue-blooded professional who has worked across categories, domains, brands and geographies. I have personally worked with him during his earlier stint at Rediffusion when he was handling the Taj hotels business nearly 20 years ago. We again worked together when he led the Toyota business in Bangalore at Dentsu. Asheesh is client-focused, strategically strong and very good with creative teams. The assignment at Next by Rediffusion is just right for him – a combination of innovation and experience”.

    “This is my second innings at Rediffusion. I love the easy informality at the agency. Also, the wide canvas afforded everyone to do their best. Next by Rediffusion is a rare opportunity for me to create a completely new metaphor in advertising and communication. All soonicorns and unicorns, despite their size and apparent success, need a lot of help with brand building and ideation. We will do just that at Next by Rediffusion”, added Asheesh Malhotra.

    Asheesh Malhotra will be based in Mumbai. Next Rediffusion aims to have offices pan-India in the next 18-24 months.

  • Mindshare onboards Mausami Prasad as national head of strategy & insights

    Mindshare onboards Mausami Prasad as national head of strategy & insights

    Mumbai: Mindshare India, the flagship agency from GroupM, announced the appointment of Mausami Prasad as national head – strategy & insights. Mausami will be based out of Mumbai and will report to Mindshare South Asia CEO Amin Lakhani.

    With over 22 years of experience in crafting strategy, Mausami has been passionate about knowing consumers, their behaviour, concerns, aspirations, and everything in between to help craft growth strategies for brands. Mausami has worked on both sides of the table – getting sharp insights at Colgate and Future Retail and doing cutting-edge work at Indica and Kantar. In her last stint at Kantar, she was leading the Unilever relationship for India and was a SPOC for South Asia.

    Mindshare South Asia CEO Amin Lakhani said, “We are glad to have someone as experienced as Mausami on our team. Today, our clients are focusing on integrated strategies to grow their businesses. The expertise Mausami brings to Mindshare will allow us to continue to support clients by crafting insight-driven approaches. I am certain that Mausami will play a pivotal role in the brand transformation journey for our clients.”

     “I believe in earning the leadership that I have been entrusted with and would love to create winning journeys with my team,” said Mausami Prasad. “I am excited to join Mindshare, an industry leader in shaping creative strategies for its brands and clients to help them achieve their goals. I am thrilled about this opportunity, and I would like to thank the team for believing in me. I look forward to contributing to Mindshare’s ‘good growth’ journey by creating exclusive strategies for our clients,” she added further.