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Tag: leadership

  • Nike India onboards Siddhant Narayan as head of marketing

    Nike India onboards Siddhant Narayan as head of marketing

    Mumbai: Sportswear major Nike India has onboarded Siddhant Narayan as its marketing head. Prior to this, Narayan was chief marketing officer at Chinese smartphone brand OnePlus – a position he quit in May 2021.

    Sharing the news on his LinkedIn, Narayan wrote: “Excited and humbled with this wonderful opportunity to inspire every athlete through the power of sport.”

    This would be Narayan’s second stint with the sportswear brand, having previously worked at the organisation for seven years between May 2008 and October 2015, in various roles such as sports marketing specialist (May 2008 – Dec 2010), product marketing manager (Jan 2011 – Feb 2012), and brand manager (Mar 2012 – Oct 2015) respectively.

    During the period, Narayan is credited with co-creating the impactful 360 brand campaign ‘Bleed Blue’ which went on to become a popular campaign at the Cricket World Cup in 2015, among others.

    An alumnus of MIT School of Business, Pune, Narayan has also worked with brands such as Daniel Wellington and Reliance Jio in positions of leadership in the past. 

  • L&K Saatchi and Saatchi’s Paritosh Srivastava takes charge of Publicis Worldwide India

    L&K Saatchi and Saatchi’s Paritosh Srivastava takes charge of Publicis Worldwide India

    Mumbai: Publicis Groupe India on Wednesday announced that Paritosh Srivastava, the current CEO of L&K Saatchi & Saatchi will now also helm the operations at Publicis Worldwide India. Subhash Kamath and Russell Barrett – who were overseeing Publicis Worldwide India – move into a group advisory role and BBH leadership role respectively, as announced by the company earlier.

    The changes reiterate the group’s focus and investment in its strong, iconic creative agency brands, ensuring creative excellence, effectiveness, and market leadership for its clients, the company said in a statement. The appointment aims to further dial up Publicis Worldwide’s offerings and spectrum of expertise in the marketplace, with technology, experience and data-fuelled creative solutions to help clients stay ahead of the curve, in a platform world.

    “Paritosh is a proven and accomplished leader and under his leadership, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi has won large and coveted mandates, navigated the pandemic judiciously and taken the agency to a position of strength,” remarked Publicis Groupe South Asia CEO Anupriya Acharya. “He has also played an important role in the success of Publicis Worldwide in India for many years and is very familiar with its culture, talent, and key clients and hence was a natural choice.  I am confident that his appointment will benefit our clients, business and people  immensely.”

    Publicis Worldwide is a founding creative agency brand of the group and enjoys strong equity built over the years with its clients in India, having won many accolades at leading award shows. This includes Cannes Lions, where last year it became the first-ever agency brand to win five different Grand Prixes for five different clients, and others such as Clio’s, One Show, D&AD, Spikes Asia, Effies and Abbys. Publicis Worldwide India’s roster of clients includes names such as Citibank, Zee, Heineken, SKODA, Linen Club, Times Television Network, Ferrero, Enamor, HDFC Mutual Funds, Kalpataru among others.  

    “This is a huge honour and Publicis Worldwide is very close to my heart,” Paritosh Srivastava said. “I have spent eight wonderful years of my professional life in the agency. I look forward to working with its hugely talented teams, to bring in world-class, truly impactful solutions for our trusted and respected set of client partners. In the competitive backdrop of today, clients need communication solutions that impact business and are truly dynamic, bold and data-driven. Publicis Worldwide is a powerful brand for the groupe globally, we will ensure that we maintain its impeccable reputation and make it future-proof in India.”

  • Himanshu Shekhar named as cluster CEO of GroupM Thailand, Indonesia & Vietnam

    Himanshu Shekhar named as cluster CEO of GroupM Thailand, Indonesia & Vietnam

    Mumbai: Media investment company GroupM has promoted Himanshu Shekhar to the role of cluster CEO of GroupM Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. Shekhar became CEO of GroupM Indonesia in 2019, and in October last year, he took on the additional mantle as CEO of GroupM Vietnam. His remit as CEO of GroupM Indonesia and Vietnam has been expanded to include the burgeoning Thailand market.

    Additionally, the company has appointed Pathamawan Sathaporn as the CEO of GroupM Thailand. She moves on from Mindshare Thailand’s CEO position where she held various leadership roles for over one and a half decades. Pathamawan assumes the portfolio held by Niklas Stalberg who will be leaving the network after a decade of long-standing service. In this role, she will report to cluster CEO Himanshu Shekhar.

    “Both the appointments are with effect from 1 May,” the company said in a statement.

    Having spent two decades within the GroupM network, Shekhar rose through the ranks in Mindshare managing the business in volume-heavy India and Indonesia. He was appointed CEO of Mindshare Southeast Asia from 2014 to 2018. During Shekhar’s tenure at Mindshare, the agency in Indonesia bagged gold at ‘Campaign Asia’s Agency of the Year’ for five years running, while Mindshare Southeast Asia also snagged gold for three consecutive years.

    “The group’s strategy to cluster Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam under one unified leadership will strengthen market capabilities and network agility,” said Himanshu Shekhar. “Given the breadth and depth of resources across these three important markets, we will be able to further scale our capabilities and solutions to deliver enhanced value for all our clients and partners. I look forward to building pathways for our talents to flourish in their careers and do great work for our clients. Our chief goal is to make advertising work better for people across Southeast Asia.”

    “I am thrilled to partner with an illustrious leader like Pathamawan whose depth of field experience in Thailand will undoubtedly propel us into an even more glorious future,” he further said.

    As CEO of GroupM Thailand, Indonesia & Vietnam, Himanshu will report to GroupM Asia Pacific CEO Ashutosh Srivastava, the company stated.

    GroupM Thailand CEO Pathamawan Sathaporn commented, “I am honoured to embark on a journey that is both familiar and new – the purple blood running through my veins has now taken on a shade of blue. Growing alongside Mindshare for the past 16 years, I feel privileged to have witnessed the dramatic evolution of the media landscape which sets us up for new adventures daily.”

  • Vanaja Pillai to head of diversity, inclusion and impact at DDB Mudra

    Vanaja Pillai to head of diversity, inclusion and impact at DDB Mudra

    Mumbai: DDB Mudra Group has announced the elevation of Vanaja Pillai as head of diversity, inclusion and impact, underscoring the company’s commitment to embedding diversity, equity and inclusion in its people and business strategy.

    Pillai was the driving force behind the Phyllis India Project, a comprehensive and intense leadership development program to help prepare DDB’s women talent for leadership.

    “Vanaja’s work on the Phyllis India program has been applauded across DDB’s borders and is a brilliant example of senior leadership driving actionable change in advancing DEI within the DDB family,” stated DDB Worldwide chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer Nikki Lamba. “We are excited about her taking on this larger mandate and bringing DEI to the heart of our business, people and product strategies in India.”    

    In her expanded role, she will work closely with CEO and MD Aditya Kanthy and HR head Rita Verma on initiatives to grow a diverse and inclusive workplace, including talent acquisition, retention, training and outreach to talent in underrepresented communities. Pillai will also lead the creation and delivery of effective growth and development opportunities rooted in the company’s purpose and growth strategy, said the statement.

    “To compete in our times, we need to take a critical view of every aspect of our business. Our approach to talent and culture included,” commented Aditya Kanthy. “There is much to do in this area, and Vanaja is just the right person to lead us to success. This work, with the Group’s effort as a global network, will bring in diverse voices to help shape workplace culture and brand communication of the future.”

    “It has been an exhilarating journey, from the intent of creating an India chapter for the Phyllis Project, to having the first batch graduate last week,” Vanaja Pillai said, speaking on her extended role. “The bar has been set high for every challenge we pick up from hereon. Over the next year we will focus on a select set of DEI goals and approach them with the same rigour and passion that made the Phyllis India Project what it is today. From an overall talent perspective, the pandemic made us even more aware of the need for constantly focusing on people and their growth.”

  • LV Vaidyanathan elevated as P&G India CEO

    LV Vaidyanathan elevated as P&G India CEO

    Mumbai: Procter & Gamble (P&G) on Tuesday announced that LV Vaidyanathan will take over as chief executive officer for its operations in India from 1 July.

    Vaidyanathan will take over from Madhusudan Gopalan, who is going to take on an important leadership role within P&G as senior vice president – grooming & oral care, P&G Japan & Korea. During his four-year tenure at the helm of P&G India, Madhusudan led the transformation of the business to consistently deliver sustainable top and bottom-line growth, according to the company.

    An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, Vaidyanathan started his journey with P&G in 1995 as an intern and joined the India Sales team straight from campus in 1996. He has more than 26 years of experience across diverse geographies and cultures like India and ASEAN countries including Singapore, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. He is currently leading the P&G business in Indonesia as CEO where he has been responsible for industry-leading growth and value creation for the company. Under his leadership, the Indonesian business has transformed to become value accretive for the parent company and has overtaken a formidable competitor in the market by turning around the share gap in the last four years. A passionate advocate for Equality and Inclusion, under his leadership, P&G has achieved the milestone of having 50 per cent women representation in their leadership team, the company shared. Vaidyanathan has also served as the chairman of Indonesia Chapter of US ASEAN Business Council.

    “It is a moment of great pride for me to come back to India and spearhead the P&G business,” said LV Vaidyanathan. “I am looking forward to being back in the market, learning more about the Indian consumers and serving their needs. For us, going forward, it will be important to continue the focus on our strategy which is delivering consistent results. We will continue to drive productivity improvements to fund investments in innovation and help drive balanced top-and bottom-line growth. As a focused and agile and accountable organisation operating at the speed of the market, we will also aim to lead constructive disruption across the value chain in the industry.”

    Madhusudan has been heavily invested in developing young Indian talent and grooming Indian talent for international roles within the company. Under his leadership, the company launched its ‘P&G Suraksha India’ program towards Covid relief where it contributed towards vaccine doses, oxygen concentrators, masks, and sanitizers for the protection of frontline workers and underprivileged communities. He has been instrumental in sharpening the company’s focus on environmental sustainability and P&G recently became one of the first FMCG companies in the country to achieve ‘plastic packaging waste neutrality,’ stated the FMCG major.

    “It has been a great honour to lead the P&G business in India, my home country where I started my P&G career. The four-year journey has been an enriching and rewarding one and I’m proud of what we have achieved together as the India team. I am delighted with the appointment of LV Vaidyanathan as my successor, one of India’s home-grown talents who I firmly believe has the right expertise to lead the growth of our business in India in the years to come. I am confident that he will continue to lead the P&G India business to greater heights and in turn, incrementally contribute to the overall growth for the parent company,” said Madhusudan Gopalan.

    “I want to thank Madhusudan for his outstanding leadership of the India organisation over the last four years and the transformation of the business to delivering consistent balanced growth and value creation,” P&G president for Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa Magesvaran Suranjan said. “Not only has his leadership been exemplary to guide the company through the pandemic, but he is also leaving the business well-positioned to win in India for years to come. I am thrilled with LV Vaidyanathan’s appointment as the India CEO, who has been an integral part of the P&G growth story for well over two decades. The moves for both Madhusudan and LV are testament to the strength of Indian talent and India’s importance as a talent factory for P&G globally.”

  • Kunal Jeswani moves to Singapore as group CEO at Ogilvy Singapore & Malaysia

    Kunal Jeswani moves to Singapore as group CEO at Ogilvy Singapore & Malaysia

    Mumbai: After 17 years with Ogilvy India, Kunal Jeswani will be moving to Singapore as Ogilvy Singapore & Malaysia’s group chief executive, the agency said on Friday. It further announced that VR Rajesh will be elevated as Ogilvy India group president, effective 1 June. 

    Having led the India business for the last seven years, Jeswani will be with Ogilvy India for the next two months to manage the country leadership transition. 

    On his new role, Jeswani said, “Ogilvy India is easily one of the best agencies in the world and it has been an absolute privilege to spend the last 17 years in the company of giants who I love, respect and have grown with. As I move to a different market and a different Ogilvy experience – Ogilvy India is bigger, better and more vibrant than it has ever been. I am sure that under VR’s leadership, our client relationships will thrive, and our work will shine even brighter.”       

    As group president, VR Rajesh will lead the integrated Ogilvy India P&L across all its offices and will be responsible for the acceleration of all its core capabilities in India – advertising, brand and content, experience, health, PR & influence and Ogilvy Consulting.  

    VR Rajesh joined Ogilvy in 2004 and has grown from strength to strength in the organisation. A powerful growth driver, an influential client partner and a passionate creative partner, he has led Ogilvy Mumbai & Kolkata since 2018, growing the business consistently year after year, the agency said in a statement. 

    “Over the last seven years, Kunal has shaped a people-centric culture and laid foundations for Ogilvy’s digital transformation. It’s a privilege to take the baton from him and continue the journey,” commented VR Rajesh. “The next couple of years will see us accelerate new-age digital competencies and strengthen our content offering by being more regional and local. It’s going to be an exciting ride in creating a comprehensive Ogilvy offering for our clients. I am sure it won’t be difficult when one has a family of giants.”

    “I am delighted that after a stellar performance at Ogilvy India, Kunal is moving to head Ogilvy Singapore & Malaysia. This important responsibility will add international exposure to Kunal’s rich experience across the many aspects of the communications business. VR Rajesh, who takes on the baton from Kunal, is an Ogilvy stalwart and I am confident he will take Ogilvy India and our clients to greater heights. On behalf of the Ogilvy India Board, I welcome VR to this new responsibility,” stated Ogilvy chairman – global creative Piyush Pandey.

  • ZFunds bolsters its leadership with two new appointments

    ZFunds bolsters its leadership with two new appointments

    Mumbai: Mutual fund distribution platform ZFunds on Monday announced two new leadership appointments as the company expands its footprints. While Yogesh Yadav joins as the chief technology officer (CTO), Tanvi Jadhav is the new head of products. 

    The appointments strategically enable the platform in the distribution of financial products in tier-2, 3 and 4 cities and rural India through its experts, ZFunds said in a statement.

    “We are pleased to welcome Yogesh and Tanvi on board. Their belief in new-age start-ups like ours despite their backgrounds with long-standing organisations is heartening,” commented ZFunds co-founder and CEO Manish Kothari. “At ZFunds, we are proud of our culture of meritocracy, customer-centricity, growth, and diversity. These attributes serve us right in our mission of making purchases of financial products and decision making Sahi (Right) and Asaan (Easy) in the 500 bottom-most districts of India.”

    Yadav has extensive experience in software engineering and joins ZFunds from ByPrice-Mexico where he worked as a CTO. Before ByPrice, he worked with the leading e-comm player in Latin America;  Linio. Beyond work, he utilises his experience in blockchain for an in-depth study of trends in cryptocurrency. He holds a B-tech from Delhi College of Engineering. “At ZFunds we have built tech products simple and easy. It allows people from lower-economic-rung to invest in Gold and Mutual Funds and thus help the Indian economy grow. I have had an offer from a global giant too but I chose to refute it,” said Yogesh Yadav, on joining ZFunds.

    Jadhav comes from a rich experience in the fintech industry, with past stints at InCred Financial Services, Paisabazaar, HealthKart and Kotak Mahindra Bank, where she played a crucial role in building digital products. She is a graduate of IIT Guwahati with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computing. “For me, the option of heading the products at ZFunds was more than merely a professional pursuit. Instead, I took it as an opportunity to participate in a financial reform of sorts for our society. I am looking forward to being part of the vibrant team and driving digital-first innovations,” stated Tanvi Jadhav.

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  • Havas Group India restructures Havas Worldwide (Creative) leadership

    Havas Group India restructures Havas Worldwide (Creative) leadership

    New Delhi: Havas Group India has elevated Arindam Sengupta as chief client officer of Havas Worldwide India and head – Group Integration, here on Thursday. He was previously managing partner – West & South.

    The announcement is part of the phased restructuring of the Havas Worldwide (Creative) leadership that comes on the back of the company’s recent growth.

    Sengupta will also continue to head the French automobile brand Citroen India, and other key clients of Havas Worldwide India. As head of integration, he will work closely with the leadership team of all the Havas Group companies, drive higher growth and business collaboration, which will dovetail into the overall Better Together philosophy of Havas Group India, it said in a statement.

    The agency has also promoted Havas CX executive vice president and business head Prashant Tekwani who will now additionally also head the Mumbai operations of Havas Worldwide India, working closely with Manas Lahiri. He will continue to lead and build Havas CX which was launched in India in late 2020, and accelerate digital transformation and consumer experience-led brand strategies.

    Arindam and Prashant (as head of Havas CX) will continue to report to Group head Rana Barua and work closely with the senior leadership of Havas creative and the group companies, according to the statement.

    Prior to this, the agency had promoted Manas Lahiri as managing director and Ravinder Siwach as ED & national creative director of Havas Worldwide India, respectively.

    Havas Group India – Group CEO Rana Barua said, “Despite the challenges of the last two years, as a network, we have witnessed unprecedented growth through new business wins, acquisitions and extending several global expertise to India. All of which has helped us build a marquee list of new clients and partnerships. Havas Group India has emerged as one of the strongest integrated networks in India, offering our clients effective solutions through collaboration and coming together of the best talent and expertise.”

  • Mullen Lintas bolsters its North India operations with new leadership

    Mullen Lintas bolsters its North India operations with new leadership

    Mumbai: To consolidate its footing in the region, Mullen Lintas has announced new leadership at its Delhi office. The business function for the North region will be led by Sunil Singh Manhas who has been appointed as senior VP and business head. Nisheeth Srivastava, elevated to group creative director, will oversee the creative product and will be partnered by Sarabjit Singh, who has also been elevated to group creative director (Art). Saumya Baijal, appointed as VP and head of Planning – North, will lead the planning function for the region.

     The new roles are effective immediately, said the agency in a statement. 

    The agency’s Delhi office has a diverse portfolio of clients ranging from consumer appliances, consumer durables, home improvement, FMCG, healthcare, etc, and also handles flagship brands like Havells and Dabur. It has also won creative mandates for AkzoNobel and LifeCell International recently. The revamp of the leadership team is aimed to bring about a transformative change to the agency’s Delhi office.

    Sunil Singh Manhas, the business lead for the office, comes from Dentsu and has worked extensively across multiple categories and brands like, Honda, Maruti Suzuki, KFC, Hindustan Times, Max Life Insurance, Paytm, CP Plus, Herbalife, and Moov. With over a decade of experience with agencies like Ogilvy, DDB Mudra, and dentsu, his knack for understanding the business of brands will be a great addition to the agency’s Delhi office. Manhas’s mandate will be to deepen the relationship with existing businesses and build new ones, stated the agency.

     

    “Mullen Lintas Delhi is poised for growth having already added a diverse mix of brands into the portfolio this year. We felt that this is the right time to bring in a new leadership team that is young, talented and driven,” stated Mullen Lintas CEO Hari Krishnan. “Sunil Singh Manhas comes on board as Sr VP & Business Head for Delhi. Sunil is a seasoned campaigner and knows the Delhi market inside out. He brings with him a wealth of cross-category experience and knowledge. His drive for new business and his passion for ideas will augur well for us.”

    Nisheeth Srivastava, who has over 13 years of experience in marketing, advertising, content and digital, started his career as a brand executive with Mudra Ahmedabad in 2007. In 2010, he moved to Lowe Lintas Delhi as a creative. He has also worked with Radio Mirchi (UP) as cluster programming head and OLX India as brand creative lead in the past. A strong advocate of a digital-first approach resulting in conversation and conversion, he has created some highly recognised work for brands such as OLX, Google Pay, ABP News, Philips Lighting, Dabur Real, Havells, Maruti Suzuki, Cargill Foods, and India Gate rice. Nisheeth’s mandate will be to steer the agency’s creative product to the next level and boost clients’ confidence in the agency.

    Sarabjit Singh, who will partner Nisheeth in leading the creative duties, brings 15 years of experience to the table, having worked in agencies like Lowe Lintas, Leo Burnett, Cheil and Rediffusion, in the past. His work has won several awards at shows such as Cannes, Spikes Asia, New York Festivals, Effies etc. Sarabjit joined Mullen Lintas when it started in 2015 and has been an integral part of the team ever since. At Mullen Lintas, Sarabjit has lifted the creative product of several brands that the agency handles out of its Delhi office.

    Saumya Baijal has over 14 years of advertising and marketing experience working across agencies like Ogilvy, Lowe Lintas, McCann Erickson and others. She has extensively worked on brands like Google, Uber, Fabindia, HT Radio, Philips and more. Previously, she has also worked at Cisco, as Brand Manager – India. She is a strong voice in the gender movement and a bilingual writer. Her articles and poems have been published in popular, widely read national publications and various anthologies. Her role as the chief strategist will be crucial in the transformation of the planning function at the agency’s regional office.

    Speaking on the strengthening of the creative and planning function, Krishnan added, “Under the creative leadership of our CCOs Azazul Haque & Garima Khandelwal, there’s a lot that we have achieved already in terms of creative reputation with some stellar work across offices. To reproduce the same momentum in Delhi, we’ve strengthened the creative team with Nisheeth Srivastava & Sarabjit Singh. They are hybrid creative folks with an innate understanding of digital and traditional.” 

    “The strategic planning product of Mullen Lintas follows the challenger philosophy and under the leadership of our National Planning Director – Ekta Relan, we’ve made many strides across different brands in our portfolio in terms of brand impact. In keeping with the challenger mentality of the agency, we have brought on board Saumya Baijal as VP and Head of Planning for North. Saumya’s passion for ideas & her energy and enthusiasm towards all things creative, is just what we need for our young & agile operation. With the four of them leading the operation, we are confident of making a prominent impact in Delhi,” Krishnan further said.

  • White Rivers Media appoints Darrell Fernandes & Shruti Deora to lead client partnerships

    White Rivers Media appoints Darrell Fernandes & Shruti Deora to lead client partnerships

    Mumbai: White Rivers Media (WRM), an independent integrated digital agency, on Wednesday announced the appointment of two industry leaders- Darrell Fernandes and Shruti Deora as head of client partnerships, along with elevating internal leadership roles to bolster the vision of its future growth.

    Darrell Fernandes is an advertising & communications expert with over 16 years of work experience across leading agencies. His last stint was with Red Fuse Communications, where he led the account management team, driving integrated marketing efforts for various brands. In his extensive career, he has worked across various categories like BFSI, FMCG, automobile, realty, decor, among others.

    In his new role as WRM, head of client partnerships, Fernandes said, “WRM is a thriving digital ecosystem with a young and energetic team of over 250, which lives & breathes data, creativity, and technology. I am excited to be a part of this passionate tribe of digital natives and steer the agency’s next chapter.”

    Shruti Deora as head of client partnerships, WRM is moving forward from her last stint at the 59th Parallel, where she led the digital team for eminent global and national personalities from the entertainment industry. With over 13 years of experience across digital media and public relations, Shruti has worked with several noted marketing and communications agencies, managing brands across entertainment, luxury & lifestyle, retail, corporate, etc.

    On joining WRM, Deora said, “Over the years, I have seen the agency grow into one of the largest independent agencies in the country. I am delighted to be part of the WRM family and champion work that is not only creatively led but also drives business goals for brands across sectors.”

    The agency which celebrated its ninth anniversary this week, further acknowledged the various stakeholders – clients, partners, and team members – who have been the core pillars on its journey so far.

    As the agency moves towards the next phase of its growth, the elevation of internal leadership comprising of Bhushan Kadam, Lizandra Pinto, Megha Marwah, Adarsh Loyal, Adrine D’mello, Tanish Shah, and Prakhar Srivastava will help augment the strategic and innovative solutions that the agency offers to its clientele.

    Speaking about the new appointments, WRM co-founder and CEO, Shrenik Gandhi said, “Over the nine years, we at White Rivers Media, have always blended passion and innovation together. I am excited to have Darrell and Shruti on board as well as congratulate the elevated leadership team. Their extensive experiences and expertise will help in aligning our vision of being one of the most disruptive digital marketing agencies.”

    WRM co-founder and CCO Mitesh Kothari added, “We have evolved from being a selective solutions partner, to being a truly integrated digital agency in the last nine years. At this landmark milestone, I am happy Darell and Shruti join our ranks alongside the elevated leadership team. I am certain that their new roles and responsibilities will strengthen our efforts in keeping our clients ahead of the game.”