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Tag: McDonald’s

  • Madison Avenue moment as Havas closes in on Sam Balsara’s empire

    Madison Avenue moment as Havas closes in on Sam Balsara’s empire

    MUMBAI: The curtain is about to rise on one of Indian advertising’s most dramatic acts. After months of speculation, the Havas–Madison deal has now reached the signing stage, with top industry sources confirming that the Rs 700-crore acquisition for a 70 per cent stake is nearly sealed. For Sam Balsara, the man who has kept Madison fiercely independent for over three decades, this could be the turning point of a storied career.

    Industry insiders said that while it is “not right to discuss valuations at this stage,” both sides have agreed on the major terms. “The banker involved has finalised all formalities and the deal is on the verge of completion. Most likely, by early 2026 after regulatory approvals, it will be announced,” one veteran leader said.

    If the deal closes, it will peg Madison’s valuation close to Rs 1,000 crore, nearly double the Rs 500 crore price Balsara once discussed with WPP in 2015 though far short of the lofty numbers once floated.

    The move is no surprise given Havas’s acquisitive streak in India. Led globally by Yannick Bolloré, the network has snapped up five to six agencies in the past eight years and continues to see consolidation as its playbook for India. Bolloré had said earlier this year that cultural unification and strategic partnerships would remain core to Havas’s growth.

    Securing Madison, one of India’s last great independents, would not only give Havas scale but also cement its presence in a fiercely competitive market.

    For Madison, the timing is crucial. Over the past year, it has lost marquee clients including Godrej Consumer Products, McDonald’s, Atomberg, and Raymond, while Marico currently reviews its business. The losses have shaken confidence and intensified pressure on Balsara to secure a future-proof partner with technology, scale, and multinational backing.

    The agency has tried to respond. In August 2025, Madison brought back Ajit Varghese as partner and group CEO of Media and OOH with an equity stake marking his return after senior stints at JioHotstar and WPP. Earlier in the year, Vivek Das, ex-Google India and Southeast Asia executive, joined as chief marketing officer. Madison also completed its 100 per cent acquisition of Hiveminds, the performance marketing specialist it first invested in back in 2017.

    These moves underscored an effort to rebuild digital muscle and shore up bargaining power ahead of negotiations.

    For Balsara, long hailed as Indian advertising’s last independent mogul, the Havas deal may feel bittersweet. But it also signals realism: independence has limits in a world where scale, data, and global platforms dictate the pace.

    As one industry insider put it: “This is not just a deal, it’s an inevitability. Madison’s survival now depends on becoming part of something bigger.”

    If signed, the Havas–Madison marriage would go down as one of Indian advertising’s most significant consolidations marking the end of an era for independents and the dawn of a new one where even icons like Madison must reinvent themselves to stay in the game.

    Because in today’s ad world, survival isn’t about who shouts the loudest, it’s about who scales the fastest.
     

  • Dentsu crowns new creative kings as Dhruv Tiwari and Zubin Jauhari join

    Dentsu crowns new creative kings as Dhruv Tiwari and Zubin Jauhari join

    MUMBAI: Two sharp minds, one bold mission Dentsu Creative Isobar has doubled down on its creative firepower with the appointment of Dhruv Tiwari and Zubin Jauhari as group executive creative directors. The move, announced this week, signals the agency’s intent to marry creativity with culture and commerce, shaping campaigns that don’t just win awards but win hearts across India. Both will report to Dentsu Creative Isobar chief creative officer Abhijat Bharadwaj and will lead a 150 plus strong creative team charged with pushing boundaries for some of the country’s most ambitious brands.

    Dhruv Tiwari arrives from DDB Mudra, where he transformed the North office into a creative powerhouse with work for McDonald’s, Royal Enfield, Kent RO and DLF Mall of India. His campaigns blended cultural spark with business impact and earned recognition at Adfest, The Abbys and Kyoorius. As he quipped: “I’m here to stir things up to craft work where creativity, tech and culture collide. Work that earns attention, sparks conversation, and maybe even rewrites the rulebook. If the shiny metals follow, well… we won’t complain.”

    Zubin Jauhari, meanwhile, is making a homecoming to dentsu. Over the past decade, he has worked on everything from Swiggy and Flipkart to Google, Facebook and Ola Electric, turning brands into cultural icons. His trophy cabinet features Cannes Lions, a Spikes Asia Grand Prix and a Kyoorius Black Elephant. On returning, he said: “It feels incredible to return to a place that shaped some of my fondest professional memories. I’m here to create work that resonates far beyond the industry, help define the future of creativity, and build a team that everyone can’t stop talking about, all while having a ton of fun doing it.”

    For Bharadwaj, the appointments cap a year-and-a-half-long talent build: “Now that the bottom and middle levels of our structure are solidly in place, it’s time to crown the top of this creative pyramid. I can’t think of anyone better than Dhruv and Zubin. Zubin is an award-winning creative who is an expert at new-age creativity and Dhruv is an excellent leader with a vast portfolio of successful campaigns. We’re in the fight and gunning for greatness.”

    Dentsu Creative Isobar CEO Sahil Shah echoed the sentiment: “The future of creativity lies in fusing culture, technology, and influence to deliver impact at scale. Dhruv and Zubin embody this new-age thinking and inspire those around them. Backed by a hugely talented team of 150 plus creatives, they will craft transformative work for brands and society while nurturing a culture that empowers our people to dream bigger and create bolder.”

    Together, Dhruv and Zubin are expected to deliver campaigns that channel India’s diversity and dynamism, harnessing technology to amplify culture and content to drive influence. The duo’s remit aligns with Dentsu Creative’s global mission: building work that’s emotionally resonant, culturally rooted and commercially meaningful.

    As the agency puts it, this is not just about crafting ads, it’s about “celebrating Bharat while speaking to modern India”. With this creative power pairing, Dentsu Creative Isobar seems ready to script its next blockbuster chapter.

  • BBH beefs up brainpower with new EVPs and creative leadership boosts

    BBH beefs up brainpower with new EVPs and creative leadership boosts

    MUMBAI: BBH India is turning up the creative volume and the leadership dial. The Publicis Groupe agency has strengthened its senior bench with the appointment of Delon Mascarenhas and Mitushi Sharma as executive vice presidents, while also elevating Ashwin Palkar and Nisheeth Srivastava to senior executive creative directors.

    The shake-up comes as BBH India enjoys a hot streak: fresh business wins, deeper partnerships, and international recognition, including a Bronze Lion at Cannes Lions 2025 for its cheeky “Bassi Vs Garnier Men’s Facewash” campaign. It also bagged the No. 3 spot in India on the MMA Smarties Business Impact Index 2024 underlining its momentum.

    Mascarenhas, who re-joins BBH, brings more than 25 years of experience spanning brand strategy, content, and digital marketing. His career highlights include senior stints at DDB Mudra Group, Edelman India, Havas Life, and Tring, working with marquee brands like McDonald’s, HUL, Red Bull, Meesho, Dream11, and Abbott.

    Sharma comes in with over 23 years of advertising chops, most recently at FCB Interface, and a portfolio covering categories from FMCG to pharma. She has shaped strategies for global and Indian heavyweights including Nivea, Whirlpool, Mahindra, Torrent Pharma, and has played a pivotal role in managing Unilever brands such as Lakme, Domex, and Ayush.

    Ashwin Palkar and Nisheeth Srivastava’s elevation signals BBH’s push for creative firepower and talent development. Both will continue reporting to chief creative officer Parikshit Bhattacharya.

    Commenting on the appointments BBH India MD and COO Himanshu Saxena said: “With Delon and Mitushi, we’re doubling down on our belief in creativity that delivers full-funnel marketing effectiveness. This leadership is built to take us into the next growth phase.”

    For Mascarenhas, it’s a homecoming: “I’m excited to re-join BBH India at this pivotal moment. With a strong team and bold vision, the opportunity to shape brands in today’s evolving landscape is immense.”

    Sharma echoed the sentiment: “BBH has always stood out for blending cultural insight, creativity, and strategy. With technology changing consumer mindsets, I look forward to pushing boundaries and fuelling exponential growth.”

    With 2025 already stacked with wins, fresh leadership firepower could ensure BBH India continues to punch above its weight in the global creative ring.
     

  • Ajit Varghese heads back to Madison as partner and CEO

    Ajit Varghese heads back to Madison as partner and CEO

    MUMBAI: Ajit Varghese is set to return to the world of advertising, taking the reins at Sam Balsara’s Madison as partner and chief executive officer. The move marks a homecoming for Varghese, who cut his teeth at the agency before a globe-spanning career across media and tech.

    Varghese had only recently been chief revenue officer at Jiostar, the Reliance–Disney joint venture, a role he held for seven months. Before that he led ad sales for the Walt Disney Company in India (2023–24) and served as chief commercial officer at ShareChat and Moj (2020–22), where he drove a 7x revenue surge and helped turbocharge growth in Bharat-focused social media and short video.

    His longest stint was at WPP, where he rose from managing director of Maxus South Asia to global president of Wavemaker, overseeing 3,000 staff across 50 markets. Along the way, he delivered double-digit bottom-line growth, launched new digital and data-driven practices, and notched a string of industry awards.

    Varghese began his career at Madison in 1999, climbing to chief operating officer before leaving in 2006. Back then, he helped Coca-Cola triple its media budget in India and added marquee clients such as McDonald’s, Asian Paints, and Axis Bank.

    His return signals Madison’s intent to sharpen its edge in a market that is once again in flux.

  • McDonald’s gets a fry with a side of feels in Siliguri love story

    McDonald’s gets a fry with a side of feels in Siliguri love story

    MUMBAI: A reel that began with home-cooked fries and a lovingly hand-sketched McDonald’s box ended up serving the internet one of its warmest moments this month. The creators behind @patnijipatikijodi posted a short video of a husband recreating the iconic red-and-yellow fries box for his wife—drawing every curve, arch, and crinkle with heart.

    What followed was McDonald’s India flipping the script in style. The brand tracked down the couple in Siliguri and sent them a surprise: a real fries box, perfectly mirroring the husband’s hand-drawn version—this time filled with actual fries and packed with love. The move, imagined and executed by creative agency DDB Mudra, quickly turned into a crowd-puller online.

    The couple returned the favour with another reel, this time unboxing the surprise and praising the brand for its thoughtfulness. The comments section lit up with fans hailing the fast-food giant for its ‘aww-some’ real-world response to a digital love note.

    No paid partnership, no flashy collab—just pure, authentic engagement that fried the internet in the best way possible.

     

     

     

     

  • Ranveer Singh’s McDonald’s meal launches across North and East India

    Ranveer Singh’s McDonald’s meal launches across North and East India

    MUMBAI: Warning: This meal may cause spontaneous dancing. McDonald’s India – North and East has teamed up with hindi movie energy powerhouse Ranveer Singh to launch ‘The Ranveer Singh Meal’, a limited-time offering that’s equal parts flavour bomb and fan service.

    Joining global icons like BTS and Travis Scott, Singh becomes the first Indian celebrity to be part of McDonald’s global Famous Orders platform, bringing his go-to favourites to golden arches across North and East India.

    So, what’s on the Ranveer menu? Fans can choose between a McVeggie (Xplode) or McChicken (Xplode) amped up with a chilli-creamy ‘Xplode’ sauce and crispy golden onions, dialling up the drama on your everyday burger. It’s paired with the brand-new Golden Pop Fries, crispy potato pops that crunch and melt in a single bite, and the debut of Bobaaa Blast, a poppy boba pearl drink that’s part beverage, part party trick.

    The meal starts at Rs 249 for the vegetarian option and Rs 269 for non-veg, and is available from 13th June for a limited period across all McDonald’s outlets in North and East India including via the McDonald’s App, takeaway, drive-thru, Swiggy, and Zomato.

    A celebration of personal taste, pop culture, and playful nostalgia, this collab turns a meal into a mood and perhaps, a quick bop at the counter.

  • Gorakhpur gets a taste of the Golden Arches with McDonald’s debut

    Gorakhpur gets a taste of the Golden Arches with McDonald’s debut

    MUMBAI: Burgers, fries and smiles have landed in Gorakhpur and it’s lovin’ it already. McDonald’s has officially fired up its grills in Gorakhpur, marking its much-anticipated entry into the city with a sprawling 113-seater restaurant at Nayak Enclave, Basharatpur. With snazzy interiors, a digital-first experience, and an all-star menu of global favourites and desi delights, the outlet promises to be more than just a pit stop, it’s a flavourful new hangout.

    Whether you’re craving a McAloo Tikki post-lecture, catching up over coffee with friends, or indulging in a Maharaja Mac after a shopping spree, the new outlet caters to everyone, students, families, and those simply seeking a satisfying bite.

    The restaurant is decked out with self-ordering kiosks, table service, and guest experience leaders, ensuring a slick, queue-free dining experience. And with takeaway and dine-in options available, it’s convenience served with a side of crispy fries.

    Announcing the restaurant launch, McDonald’s managing director for India – North and East Rajeev Ranjan said, “It fills us with immense joy to open our doors in Gorakhpur, a city known for its deep-rooted culture, vibrant youth, and welcoming spirit. Through our new restaurant, we wish to be part of the everyday celebrations of residents of Gorakhpur, offering global menu, great tasting delicious food that’s not just quick and convenient, but also pocket friendly. We are hopeful of our restaurant becoming  a go-to place for the residents of the city – from coffee breaks to family treats and student hangouts.

    But it’s not just about the menu. As part of McDonald’s for Youth programme, the Gorakhpur outlet will also create employment opportunities for local talent, particularly from underprivileged backgrounds, giving the city’s youth a flavour of economic inclusion.

    With nearly 245 outlets across North and East India, McDonald’s continues to bring its signature blend of taste, technology and community focus to more cities and in Gorakhpur, it looks like the love story is just beginning.

  • McDonald’s shakes things up with shakashaka fries and a musical twist

    McDonald’s shakes things up with shakashaka fries and a musical twist

    MUMBAI: McDonald’s India – north and east is striking a crispy, crunchy, and catchy chord with food lovers through its latest campaign, Shakashaka. This quirky, mockumentary-style campaign reimagines shakeshake fries as more than just a snack, it’s now a musical instrument, thanks to the eccentric and musically enlightened Papaji.

    The campaign follows Papaji, who discovers that the rhythmic shaking of the shakeshake fries bag produces the vibrations of the cosmos, leading to the birth of Shakashaka, a movement that teaches fans the art of Shak-ing, Shuk-ing, and Shik-ing their way to flavour-filled enlightenment. “Fries may be French, but the sounds they produce are universal,” declares Papaji, as he recruits a cult of Shakashakers, even hosting live classes at select McDonald’s locations to spread the joy of shaking.

    McDonald’s India – north and east has tapped into the insight that fans love the ritual of shaking the fries as much as eating them. With music playing a crucial role in gen z’s identity, the Shakashaka campaign transforms this simple act into an immersive and shareable experience.

    McDonald’s India managing director for north and east Rajeev Ranjan said, “At McDonald’s, we believe every meal should be more than just delicious! Our Shakashaka campaign is designed to turn dining into an interactive, fun-filled moment where great taste meets excitement. With every sprinkle, shake, and bite, customers become part of the flavour adventure, making each meal uniquely theirs.”

    To make the celebration even more appetising, the campaign also introduces McDeal meals—an affordable way for customers to enjoy their favourite McDonald’s flavours without breaking the bank. Starting at just Rs 69, the new offers include Mcchicken patty with piri piri seasoning for Rs 69, Mcaloo tikki burger with piri piri fries for Rs 79, and veg surprise or chicken surprise with piri piri fries for Rs 89, ensuring a deliciously pocket-friendly indulgence. 
     

  • Warner Bros Discovery hires Robert Gibbs as chief communications & public affairs boss

    Warner Bros Discovery hires Robert Gibbs as chief communications & public affairs boss

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has announced the appointment of  Robert Gibbs as chief communications & public affairs officer. In this newly created role, he will oversee WBD’s corporate and business communications as well as public affairs. An experienced and proven communications and public policy leader, Gibbs will officially assume the role on 5 August and report to WBD CEO David Zaslav.

    “At this transformative time in our industry, Robert is the right leader to assume this new, critical global role, as we continue to grow the Warner Bros Discovery brand and presence around the world,” said Zaslav. “Robert is an insightful and respected leader with experience spanning Fortune 500 companies, the White House, and winning political campaigns. He will be an invaluable part of the team as we create the most captivating stories and content for consumers around the world. I am thrilled to welcome him to WBD.”

    “I couldn’t be happier to join Warner Bros Discovery and to help tell the incredible stories of so many iconic brands across entertainment, news and sports,” said Gibbs. “I’m particularly excited to work with the global team to fully and clearly capture WBD’s vision and communicate the meaningful growth potential in front of us. I am looking forward to getting started and being a part of this world-class organisation.”

    Gibbs most recently served as a partner at Bully Pulpit International, a strategic communications, public affairs, and corporate reputation advisory firm. From 2015 to 2019, Gibbs served as the executive vice president for corporate relations and global chief communications officer for McDonald’s, where he oversaw the company’s global corporate communications, internal and executive communications, government relations and public affairs work. At McDonald’s, Gibbs globalised the communications function, led communications strategy for the company’s successful launch of delivery service, and drove significant awareness of key strategic initiatives including improved food quality and the “America’s Best First Job” campaign.

    Prior to McDonald’s, Gibbs held several senior communications and advisory roles in the Obama White House and his presidential campaigns. He was the Obama Administration’s first White House press secretary and an assistant to the president from January 2009 to February 2011. Gibbs began working for Obama in 2004 as communications director for his US senate campaign. He held the same job in Obama’s US senate office and during his 2008 presidential campaign. After leaving the White House, Gibbs served as a senior advisor to president Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.
     

  • McDonald’s India – North and East join hands with ONDC to increase digital reach

    McDonald’s India – North and East join hands with ONDC to increase digital reach

    Mumbai: With the aim to delight customers with its diverse food menu on the buyer’s app, McDonald’s, India North and East joined ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) Network to enhance customer accessibility.

    The partnership signifies the brand’s efforts to reach closer to customers by penetrating additional digital platforms. The menu of McDonald’s India North and East will now be available* across ONDC buyers’ applications with exclusive ala carte and meal options.

    Speaking on the initiative, McDonald’s India – North and East MD Rajeev Ranjan said, “We are excited to announce our collaboration with the ONDC Network. This is a significant step in our journey of making the McDonald’s experience more accessible to existing and new customers. With the power of ONDC’s technologically enabled fully integrated inclusive consumer-friendly platform and our strength of high-quality great-tasting food served quickly with a smile every at time, we are committed to build a more profound and meaningful connection with our customers.

    ONDC MD and CEO T Koshy said “McDonald’s India integration with the ONDC Network marks a monumental milestone in our journey to revolutionize digital commerce across the country. This development underscores the growing acceptance and trust that established brands like McDonald’s have in ONDC’s open, inclusive, and interoperable Network. As more and more brands join us, it amplifies our commitment to empower businesses, foster healthy competition, and provide consumers with unparalleled choice and convenience.”

    By integrating with the ONDC Network, McDonald’s North and East India is well-positioned to leverage the power of technology to expand its reach and better serve customers. This collaboration enables us to partner with all buyer applications that can help transform our operational landscape and enrich the overall experience of our valued customers.