ITV

Tag: Carat

  • Ratheesh MS joins Starcom as vice president after long GroupM stint

    Ratheesh MS joins Starcom as vice president after long GroupM stint

    MUMBAI: Advertising veteran Ratheesh MS has taken charge as vice president at Starcom, the media agency under Publicis Groupe. His appointment follows a brief spell at WPP Media and a near decade with GroupM’s Motivator, where he rose to general manager.

    Ratheesh has built a reputation for steering high profile accounts across auto, telecom, e commerce, insurance and consumer goods. His career spans over 19 years with stints at ZenithOptimedia, Wavemaker, Carat, Lintas Media, MPG Group, Malayala Manorama and Infomedia.

    Among his proudest milestones: conceptualising India’s first car night rally for Maruti Suzuki’s Swift, delivering double digit growth for Jabong.com, and leading Honda Cars’ media win in a multi agency pitch.

    At Starcom, Ratheesh is expected to bring his trademark blend of disruptive growth strategy and meticulous media planning to fuel the agency’s next phase of expansion.

  • Anuj Gupta climbs the media ladder, takes charge as sr vice president at Havas Media Network

    Anuj Gupta climbs the media ladder, takes charge as sr vice president at Havas Media Network

    MUMBAI: Media maven Anuj Gupta has stepped into the big league as sr. vice president at Havas Media Network, marking another high in a 20-year career that’s seen him steer some of the country’s top media accounts.

    Gupta, who was previously vice president at Havas, has been part of the agency since 2021, helping shape strategy, planning and buying across marquee brands. His promotion is a nod to his deep-rooted expertise and consistent delivery in the ever-evolving world of media.

    He’s no stranger to the circuit, having spent time at DDB Mudra, Starcom Mediavest, Carat, Cheil, and Maxus. Whether it was launching Reliance Big TV, shaping the media story for Samsung’s white goods, or rolling out Nokia’s telecom blitz, Gupta has worn the strategist’s hat with flair.

    Known for turning consumer insights into sharp, actionable media playbooks, he blends old-school rigour with new-age digital agility. Over the years, he’s mastered media mix modelling, cross-platform integration, competitive analysis, and ROI-driven planning.

    Now, with Havas doubling down on India’s growth engine, Gupta’s elevation signals a sharper focus on full-funnel media strategy. As he gears up for the next chapter, one thing’s clear – this VP knows how to turn impressions into impact.

  • Nisha Didwania steps up as senior vice president at Zenith

    Nisha Didwania steps up as senior vice president at Zenith

    MUMBAI:Nisha Didwania has levelled up at Zenith, taking charge as senior vice president in April 2025. After steadily climbing the ranks at the agency, this move marks the next big chapter in her 18-year journey through India’s media maze.

    From dissecting brand briefs to decoding media trends, Nisha’s expertise lies in crafting integrated strategies that don’t just meet KPIs but knock them out of the park. At Zenith, she leads one of the region’s largest accounts, driving seamless planning, activation, and future-facing AOPs. Her track record includes everything from pushing digital transformation to rallying high-performance teams and orchestrating cross-functional magic.

    Before this, Nisha held leadership roles at Motivator, Carat, Accenture, and Maxus—where she’s practically done it all: new biz wins, media efficiency hunts, stakeholder tangoes, and even flipping traditional mindsets to integrated powerhouses.

    Known for her no-fuss, all-focus style and ability to build future-ready teams, Nisha isn’t just riding the media wave—she’s steering it.

  • Ashish Singh hops over to Starcom as vice president after a long Mindshare innings

    Ashish Singh hops over to Starcom as vice president after a long Mindshare innings

    MUMBAI: Ashish Singh, a seasoned digital strategist with close to 20 years in media and marketing, has joined Starcom as vice president. The move comes after a rewarding 6-year run at Mindshare, where he last served as principal partner.

    Ashish’s career reads like a masterclass in Indian media evolution — from steering digital growth at Mindshare and Carat, to shaping strategies at Omnicom, Isobar, Hungama, and even a pre-digital era stint at Naukri.com.

    From new business pitches to integrated digital solutions, Ashish has been the go-to guy for driving revenue and innovation. His impressive resume includes managing marquee accounts, building digital roadmaps, leading pitch wins, and mentoring teams across verticals.

    With this power move to Starcom, industry insiders are watching closely as Singh aims to script a fresh growth story at the Publicis-owned agency. Let the planning wars begin.

  • Dentsu South Asia fuses creative and media in leadership makeover

    Dentsu South Asia fuses creative and media in leadership makeover

    MUMBAI: dentsu south Asia is betting big on integration with a leadership shake-up that sees Amit Wadhwa ascending to chief executive of creative and media brands, south Asia while Anita Kotwani takes the reins as chief client officer, south Asia.

    The ad network’s bold restructuring aims to blend traditionally separated creative and media functions into a seamless operation, with both executives reporting to Harsha Razdan, dentsu’s south Asia boss, and Prerna Mehrotra, who oversees media operations across the Asia-Pacific region as CCO and CEO – Media, APAC.

    “Marketing today is more complex than ever, but complexity shouldn’t slow businesses down,” declares Razdan, touting the firm’s One dentsu  model as the solution to untangle clients’ thorny business challenges.

    In his expanded role, Wadhwa will lead dentsu’s creative and media practices, architecting seamless collaboration across three creative brands – Dentsu Creative Webchutney, Dentsu Creative Isobar, and Dentsu Creative PR, and five Media brands – Carat, dentsu X, iProspect, Posterscope, and Sokrati. His priority will be to break silos and establish a unified way of working across these disciplines, ensuring that media and creative function as a cohesive force.

    Says Wadhwa:  “This level of integration hasn’t been done in a long time, giving us the opportunity to shape a new way forward. Success isn’t about a single idea or individual – it happens when the right people collaborate, take ownership, and act with intent. That mindset is what’s driving the next phase of growth at dentsu South Asia. For years, Media and Creative have been distinct powerhouses, each delivering impact in their own way. But the future demands integration, not silos. We are bringing them together – not just for efficiency, but to create a more connected, agile, and strategic approach to solving challenges. 2024 laid the foundation for dentsu; 2025 is about momentum – bigger ideas, faster execution, and smarter impact. With some of the brightest minds in the industry, I’m excited for what’s next.”

    Kotwani will steer client-centric strategies that strengthen partnerships and align solutions with evolving business needs. As chief client officer for dentsu south Asia, she will champion transformative growth by embedding client-centricity into every strategic decision. She will oversee integrated client teams, expanding her remit to creative, media, and CXM, while also ensuring the expansion of the network’s presence in high-growth areas such as business transformation (BX), retail, and commerce. She will deliver bespoke, high-demand client centric solutions by combining expertise from across the network with cutting-edge technology, advanced commerce strategies, and strategic partnerships.

    Says Kotwani: “Clients power everything we do. This role is about creating high-impact partnerships by understanding their challenges and delivering solutions that generate measurable business growth. My focus is on accelerating their success through integrated capabilities, tailored strategies, and seamless execution. We are leveraging dentsu’s full ecosystem to create market-leading solutions that enable brands to scale, adapt, and lead with confidence. With extensive experience in building enduring client relationships and shaping large-scale media and marketing initiatives, I am committed to delivering long-term value. We are bringing together expertise, innovation, and deep market insights to help businesses unlock new opportunities, strengthen brand positioning, and create exponential impact. This is about setting new benchmarks for growth and ensuring our clients stay ahead in an ever-evolving market.”

  • Omnicom Media enlists Varuni Vij as vice-president

    Omnicom Media enlists Varuni Vij as vice-president

    MUMBAI: Omnicom Media group has signed up Varuni Vij as vice-president from this month. Vij has  a large part of her 16 years of working in media agencies, moving onto the client’s side in 2020 when she started  working with Reckitt.

    Vij has had stints with Zenith, Madison World, Carat, Mindshare and Initiative over her career. Her last job was with the Good Glamm Group, where she says she “started as a media lead. But  I significantly enhanced our brand’s visibility and engagement, leveraging my media expertise and passion for beauty and personal care I was promoted to Brand side for notable Beauty & Personal care brands – Organic Harvest, Manish Malhotra Beauty and POPxo makeup.”

    Her going back to the agency side will be a homecoming of sorts. 

  • Dentsu reveals 2025 media trends report

    Dentsu reveals 2025 media trends report

    Mumbai :  dentsu releases its 2025 media trends report, titled The Year of Impact. This edition, crafted by specialists across Carat, dentsu X, and iProspect, explores the profound changes driven by algorithms, artificial intelligence, and the new dimensions of consumer engagement, expected to shape the media landscape in the upcoming year.

    The report details how 2025 will drive toward a fully addressable, shoppable, and accountable media ecosystem, marking a shift into what dentsu defines as the “Algorithmic Era of Media.” With over 40 pages of in-depth insights, the report outlines how brands can harness this new media environment to drive tangible impact and growth.

    dentsu Media APAC, chief client officer & practice president Prerna Mehrotra commented: “At dentsu, we’re truly excited about what we call the Algorithmic Era – where generative AI and personalization are set to drive unprecedented change in how brands engage with consumers, creating new ways for brands to capture consumer attention and build relationships. We see media becoming 100% addressable, shoppable and accountable, highlighting the need for marketers to think about media in a whole new way. Brands must build Media ++ strategies to create more memorable, personalised moments tapping into the creator economy and building connected ecosystems to identify new spaces for growth. In our latest edition of the dentsu Media Trends report, we deep-dive into 10 trends and provide strategic considerations for brands to deliver impact in this new era.”

    “The rapid integration of AI across the media value chain has transformed how brands interact with consumers, marking the beginning of The Algorithmic Era, where real-world value creation moves beyond experimentation,” says dentsu Media global practice president, Will Swayne. “The 2025 report is a toolkit for brands seeking to thrive in this new era, offering strategic guidance on leveraging niche communities, connected television, and next-level retail media.”

    According to the 2025 Media Trends report, the key themes poised to drive the industry forward include:

    1.   AI moves from potential to actual impact: AI has evolved from a nascent trend to a transformative force, embedding itself in daily life and revolutionizing media planning, content creation, and consumer interaction. AI-generated micro-moments and the rise of dynamic personalization are opening new doors for brands to build deep, meaningful connections with consumers.

    2.   Storytelling breaks through the algorithmic bubble: Niche interests and deep fandoms are becoming invaluable assets for brands looking to stand out. Storytelling will be the primary tool for brands to navigate the increasingly algorithm-driven media space, creating impactful narratives across connected television and digital platforms.

    3.   Retail reshapes media: Retail media continues to grow at a double-digit rate, offering advertisers access to unparalleled shopper data. With key players like Amazon, Walmart, and even the finance industry expanding their ad capabilities, the retail-media fusion is set to become a cornerstone of media strategies.

    4.   The quest for quality: As media investments increase, so does the demand for higher-quality engagement. Brands must prioritize strategic partnerships and premium content to cut through the noise, ensuring their media dollars drive both immediate results and long-term brand equity.

    5.   Unevenly distributed future: As technology and media consumption habits evolve unevenly across regions, brands will need to adopt hyper-localized strategies. Regulatory, economic, and technological divides are reshaping the global media landscape, and brands must be prepared to navigate these complexities.

    dentsu

  • Carat India launches ‘Reimagining India’s Festive Landscape 2023’ report

    Carat India launches ‘Reimagining India’s Festive Landscape 2023’ report

    Mumbai: Inching closer to the peak of festivities, Carat – the media agency from dentsu India, has launched a festive reckoner, ‘Reimagining India’s Festive Landscape 2023’. Inspired by the philosophy of the agency’s global framework – ‘Designing for People’, the report offers a unique perspective to revolutionize brands’ approach to the upcoming festive season in India.

    Every year, brands invest a chunk of their resources to decode shoppers and analyze consumer behavior, limiting their expertise in reaching out to a sect of consumers. However, the need for marketers today is to transform their approach to holistic consideration of the fundamental shifts that consumers witness during the festive period.  

    The report is a quick solution that highlights profound insights into the varied phases of an individual’s journey to becoming a festive consumer. It is designed to bring a significant shift in perspectives, enabling brands to craft a robust people-centric engagement plan that can target consumers across the marketing funnel.

    As per the report:  

    1.   Approximately 65 per cent of people witness an uptick in their spending during the latter half of the year

    2.   People in their browsing stages often spend between 1.5 to 2 months in the research phase

    3.   68 per cent of women take charge of the decisions

    Below are the key principles from the report for brands to break free from the festive clutter:

    1.   Prioritise attentive reach

    2.   Inspire celebration

    3.   Differentiate with Distinction

    https://www.dentsu.com/sg/en/reports/thought_leadership_reimagining_indias_festive_landscape

    Carat India CEO Sanchayeeta Verma said, “I am super excited to launch this study. Carat has always been a front-runner in bringing to life some core in-depth industry insights. This festive report further exemplifies our expertise in the domain.  It has been created on the key pillars of our DFP framework and incorporates the learnings from our attention economy and Lumen studies.  The intrinsic details captured in the report will allow brands to develop a renewed sense of purpose, better understand their TG, and tweak strategies to swiftly navigate through their journeys.”

    dentsu CEO media, South Asia Anita Kotwani added, “Dentsu inherits a futuristic forward-looking approach, finely driven by thought leadership. We take utmost pride in launching this first-of-its-kind festive report, a certain go-to for every marketer. In India, advertisers spend a massive 30-35% of their annual budget during the 45-day festive period. Thus, being distinctive in their media strategy can be a complete festive game changer. The report offers some deeply rooted cultural insights from across geographies to enable brands to creatively customize their media approach and maximize their attentive reach.” 

  • Dentsu 2023 Media Trends: Industry trends tapping shifting consumer behaviour

    Dentsu 2023 Media Trends: Industry trends tapping shifting consumer behaviour

    Mumbai: dentsu International has compiled and released the insights and projections of all its global media agencies into the comprehensive 2023 Media Trends guide for marketers worldwide for the second year in a row.  

    The analysis released on Thursday covers the top media trends to watch out for in the upcoming year, drawing on experts and professionals from Carat, dentsu X, and iProspect.

    With over 35 pages of commentary, dentsu 2023 Media Trends examines ten industry trends that will shape how brands tap into shifting consumer behaviour and have significant implications for future campaigns and budget allocations. The unique report conveniently groups these key 2023 trends within three overarching categories reflecting the core themes of content, commerce, and community.

    Speaking about the report and the collaboration involved, dentsu International global CEO, media & global clients Peter Huijboom said, “This year we witnessed a very different geopolitical landscape and a new and challenging economic outlook, which has forced brands and people to really stop and re-evaluate many things. Through all this uncertainty, we’ve been able to see the emergence of new consumer behaviours, exciting tech innovation, and the spark of profitable new media opportunities for brands.”

    “As a leading agency network, we pride ourselves on knowing people better than anyone else and understanding what’s next. This couldn’t be made clearer than within this 2023 Media Trends report: our media specialists from around the globe have once again identified those burgeoning societal shifts impacting the industry and brought them into the spotlight,” he added.

    The key predictions for the direction of the media industry into 2023 and beyond mentioned in the new dentsu report are:

    Content:

    2023 will bring changes in the content people consume and how they do it. The speed of the shift to digital platforms shows no signs of slowing down, especially in the video-on-demand and gaming industries. The changes in the general economic landscape will lead consumers to evaluate the number of platforms and associated costs linked to subscriptions. The advance of advertising streams may not only provide an alternative to consumers, but it will also provide brands with an opportunity to attract the attention of consumers and capitalise on advertising streams.

    #1 AVoD eats SVoD – Ad-funded video platform is set to overtake subscription channels with time, as major streaming platforms are adding ad-funded tiers.

    #2 Games everywhere – Gaming is becoming mainstream. Games are becoming increasingly prominent on content sites to drive repeat users.

    #3 Attention brings back the essence of advertising – Interest in attention is growing as brands look beyond metrics of reach and viewability to assess consumer engagement and make more effective decisions.

    Commerce

    Digital commerce continues to evolve, both in importance and in the diversification of sites, apps, and platforms. Consumers are now able to shop at any time from almost anywhere, paving the way for both retail sites and apps to expand their services and offerings to cater to shifting consumer demand and flexibility. The challenge for brands is to engage directly with consumers while at the same time planning and adapting for a cookieless future and respecting data privacy.

    #1 From going shopping to always shopping – consumers can shop anywhere and anytime. As a result, retail sites are evolving into content sites, and commerce sites are changing into media sites.

    #2 Retail media shakes up adland – Retail platforms and sites are turning themselves into advertising platforms and becoming attractive propositions for brands due to retailers’ huge wealth of first-party data.

    #3 The rise of the super apps – Apps are evolving and continue to build ecosystems offering a wide range of services to anticipate and cater for users’ needs.

    #4 No way back for third-party cookies – Brands continue to navigate a cookieless future and advertisers will explore and test the solutions working best for their brands.

    Community

    Digitalised communities are a mainstay by now. They continue to change and reflect both technological and societal changes. Social media platforms are adopting their algorithms to encourage engagement, and within social media, “live” events are spilling over to other platforms, forming new communities. Consumers are now able to join global communities that align with their personal views on sustainability and responsibility. Brands should understand the motivations and formation of online communities to encourage engagement and adaptations to future campaigns to better connect with their chosen audience in the context most befitting the intended message.

    #1 ‘Going Live’ goes a long way – Brands and platforms are increasingly using the ‘go live’ functions to build a community to create interest through live events. Not only to bring consumers together but also to encourage live, active engagement.

    #2 Responsibility takes centre stage – Communities are emerging through a common emphasis on brand responsibility. Platforms are opportunities to share relevant content and increasingly measure the impacts of campaigns.

    #3 Social algorithms give users what they don’t know they want – It is not about who you follow as much as what social media platforms want you to see.

    Each trend is examined in greater depth in the report, which concludes with specific recommendations and takeaways for marketers and brands to incorporate into their plans.