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Tag: Microsoft

  • Bloomingdale PR grows its northern roots with Sanya Jain

    Bloomingdale PR grows its northern roots with Sanya Jain

    MUMBAI: Bloomingdale Public Relations is turning the spotlight on Delhi with a key leadership move. The boutique PR firm, known for its strategic storytelling and stronghold across Asia, has appointed Sanya Jain as strategic communications lead – north, reinforcing its focus on expanding operations in the capital.

    Based in New Delhi, Sanya will head Bloomingdale’s regional growth, client relations, and team culture across North India, reporting directly to Bloomingdale PR CEO Vikram Kharvi.

    With a decade of experience spanning consumer, corporate, crisis, and internal communications, Sanya has collaborated with industry giants including HP, Google, Microsoft, and TikTok. Her track record in shaping narratives and leading reputation strategies makes her a strong fit for Bloomingdale’s next growth phase.

    “We’re thrilled to welcome Sanya to lead our Delhi operations,” said Bloomingdale PR CEO Vikram Kharvi. “Her strategic acumen and forward-looking approach will be instrumental in strengthening our presence in one of India’s most dynamic markets.”

    On her appointment, Sanya Jain shared, “I’m excited to take on this role and contribute to Bloomingdale’s creative and strategic legacy. I look forward to building impactful partnerships and meaningful campaigns across Delhi and beyond.”

    The move marks another step in Bloomingdale PR’s nationwide expansion, as the firm continues to deepen its roots in key Indian markets with a focus on innovation, talent, and impactful communication.

  • LatentView adds power minds to its AI think tank

    LatentView adds power minds to its AI think tank

    MUMBAI: When it comes to sharpening its data game, LatentView Analytics isn’t just adding numbers, it’s adding names that count. The AI-driven analytics and consulting firm has welcomed Vandana Rana and Divesh Singla to its Advisory Council, signalling a bold move to strengthen its leadership in AI and digital transformation.

    Divesh Singla, a veteran with over two decades in analytics and life sciences, has helmed leadership roles at Signant Health, IQVIA, Eli Lilly, and Parexel. Known for building world-class Global Capability Centres (GCCs), he’s also among India’s top 100 AI & analytics leaders.

    Meanwhile, Vandana Rana, an AI and data science trailblazer, brings global experience from Walmart Global Tech, Microsoft, and T-Mobile. A champion of responsible AI, she’s known for building scalable, high-impact data systems that turn innovation into real-world value.

    Commenting on the appointments, LatentView Analytics CEO Rajan Sethuraman said, “Enterprises today are clear about their AI priorities. To deliver measurable impact, we must stay ahead. Strengthening our Advisory Council with industry experts enhances our ability to help clients make confident, data-driven decisions.”

    Both new members expressed excitement about shaping LatentView’s vision. Singla highlighted India’s 100-billion dollars GCC opportunity, while Rana pointed out the need to operationalise AI effectively, turning experimentation into enterprise success.

    With these appointments, LatentView’s Advisory Council grows stronger as a think tank of innovators, guiding the company’s next phase of AI-driven growth, global partnerships, and purpose-led digital transformation.

  • Liminal Custody names Muppalla as product chief officer

    Liminal Custody names Muppalla as product chief officer

    MUMBAI: Liminal Custody has appointed Chakravarthi Muppalla as chief product officer to lead its next phase of innovation in digital asset infrastructure.

    Muppalla, who has held senior roles at Microsoft, Salesforce, Coinbase and Chorus One, brings over a decade of experience across cloud, SaaS, AI and blockchain. At Chorus One, he led the creation of Opus, a multi-chain staking and restaking platform.

    His background straddling enterprise technology and decentralised finance is expected to help Liminal strengthen its position as a trusted, regulated custody provider for institutional clients.

    Liminal Custody founder Mahin Gupta said Muppalla’s appointment marked “an important step” in the firm’s evolution. “His blend of Web2 and Web3 expertise aligns perfectly with our vision of simplifying digital asset management for enterprises globally,” he said.

    Muppalla likened the current moment in digital asset infrastructure to the early days of cloud computing. “Institutions want reliability, compliance and performance before they can truly scale,” he said. “At Liminal, I’m excited to build products that bridge that gap.”

    Under his leadership, Liminal plans to deepen its focus on institutional-grade innovation, modular product design and interoperability, helping enterprises and exchanges navigate the shifting landscape of digital finance.

     

  • India’s AI ambitions hit the high note with Microsoft scholarship surge

    India’s AI ambitions hit the high note with Microsoft scholarship surge

    MUMBAI: India isn’t just coding the future, it’s rewriting it, line by line, in AI. The country has emerged as one of the top applicant nations for the 1 million dollars Microsoft AI Innovator Global Scholarships, a landmark initiative by Women in Cloud, launched alongside Opulis: Women Powering Microsoft’s Trillion-Dollar Shift.

    The collector’s edition coffee table book endorsed by Microsoft and the Microsoft Alumni Network celebrates 50 women tech leaders who have helped steer the company through its transformation into the AI era. But this is more than just glossy pages and golden stories; Opulis doubles up as a career catalyst through its Book-to-Scholarship Model, where every purchase unlocks real AI learning opportunities for aspiring professionals.

    Since its launch, the scholarship programme has drawn over 700 applications from 20-plus countries, including Brazil, the US, Nigeria, India, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Kenya, and Egypt. India’s strong showing underscores its growing momentum in AI skilling particularly among young professionals and women technologists eyeing the global digital workforce.

    “We’re ensuring that access to AI careers and education isn’t limited to a few, it belongs to everyone, especially women ready to lead India’s digital future,” said Opulis president of women in cloud and executive producer Chaitra Vedullapalli. “Electricity unlocked the industrial revolution, and AI is unlocking quantum progress.”

    Through 1,000 Opulis book pre-orders worldwide, Women in Cloud has already unlocked 100 Microsoft AI Certification Scholarships offering learners world-class credentials that can power careers worth Rs 55–60 lakh per annum. The move is projected to create over Rs 60 crore in new economic value annually, translating to about 7 million dollars in wages and an estimated 21 million dollars total economic impact.

    The ultimate goal? To ignite 1,000 AI careers by 2030, powered by book sponsorships, corporate grants, and community support proof that storytelling and access can together spark large-scale economic mobility.

    Marking Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, Opulis also spotlights five Indian-origin women leaders shaping the company’s AI journey: Chaitra Vedullapalli, Monika Mital Gupta, Aparana Gupta, Sharmila Rathinam, and Nitasha Chopra. Among them, Aparana Gupta, based in India, leads as Director of Engineering and Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft embodying the homegrown excellence the programme seeks to inspire.

    Available in hardcover and digital editions across Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and over 4,000 global retailers, Opulis carries a unique promise: every 10 books sold funds one AI Innovator Scholarship, creating a virtuous loop of knowledge, opportunity, and empowerment.

    In the end, Opulis isn’t just chronicling women who powered Microsoft’s trillion-dollar shift, it’s scripting a new chapter where Indian women and technologists worldwide can claim their seat at the AI table. And this time, they’re not just participating in the revolution, they’re training it.

  • Mythik ropes in Jio, MX Player & Walmart veterans to power product-tech vision

    Mythik ropes in Jio, MX Player & Walmart veterans to power product-tech vision

    MUMBAI: The global entertainment startup, on a mission to be the “Disney from the East” has unveiled a heavyweight product and technology leadership team with three marquee hires. Sachin Thapliyal joins as founding member & chief product officer, Kamalmeet Singh as chief technology officer, and Nitin Pakhare as head of product design.

    Between them, the trio boasts over 60 years of experience across giants like Jiosaavn, MX Player, Amazon, Walmart, Microsoft, Payu, and Paytm, shaping platforms that entertained and engaged millions. From building music and video apps with 100 plus million users to pioneering GenAI architecture, their combined resumes read like a masterclass in consumer-tech at scale.

    Thapliyal, who once scaled Jiosaavn past 100 million MAUs and helped shape MX Player into a 175 million-user super-app, will steer product strategy. Singh, an ex-Walmart principal architect and author of large-scale tech design books, brings the muscle of cloud, GenAI, and enterprise-grade architecture. Meanwhile, Pakhare, who has designed experiences for Jiocinema, MX Player, and Yahoo Labs, will focus on ensuring Mythik’s stories look as good as they feel.

    Founder & CEO Jason Kothari is betting on the trio’s mix of creativity and technology to help Mythik deliver its bold promise: reimagining Eastern mythology, history, and folktales for global audiences in compelling, tech-driven ways.

    As Kothari put it, “Their experience in building entertainment platforms at scale, architecting global solutions, and creating engaging user experiences aligns perfectly with our mission.”

    If Mythik’s new chapter reads anything like its hiring, the East’s tales may just get a blockbuster retelling for the world stage.

  • Ziroh Labs powers up with Vineet Mittal to scale CPU-native AI future

    Ziroh Labs powers up with Vineet Mittal to scale CPU-native AI future

    MUMBAI: When AI meets ambition, sparks tend to fly and Ziroh Labs has just added fresh fuel to its fire. The Bengaluru-based deeptech startup has roped in industry veteran Vineet Mittal as senior vice president, marking a decisive step in its mission to democratise Artificial Intelligence through CPU-powered innovation.

    Mittal brings more than 20 years of experience in enterprise software, AI, and cloud-scale data platforms, with stints that read like a who’s who of tech heavyweights. At Microsoft, where he most recently served as principal group engineering manager, he led efforts in cloud security, data governance, and a massive log collection and threat detection platform. Before that, his leadership roles at Bluetalon (later acquired by Microsoft), RSA India, and Sun Microsystems saw him shape breakthroughs in secure computing and large-scale data systems.

    For Ziroh Labs, his arrival comes at a pivotal juncture. The company’s flagship Kompact AI platform is rewriting the rules of AI infrastructure by enabling large language model inference on CPUs eliminating the dependence on costly GPUs and unlocking advanced AI for cost-sensitive, data-regulated sectors. With applications spanning BFSI, healthcare, public services, and defence, Kompact AI is positioning itself as a disruptor in AI affordability and accessibility.

    “Ziroh Labs is at the forefront of solving one of the most urgent challenges in AI today delivering scalable AI on existing CPU racks without compromising on output quality,” said Mittal, calling Kompact AI’s CPU-native architecture a “game-changer for democratising access to advanced AI.”

    Ziroh Labs co-founder and CEO Hrishikesh Dewan echoed the excitement: “Vineet’s extensive expertise in cloud platforms, AI infrastructure, and security management makes him the ideal leader to drive the global growth of Kompact AI. His hands-on approach and track record of building high-performing teams will be instrumental as we accelerate our innovation and scale our impact worldwide.”

    As Ziroh Labs eyes global markets with an AI-for-all philosophy, Mittal’s appointment signals more than just a leadership shift, it’s a statement of intent. In a world obsessed with GPUs, Ziroh is betting that its CPU-first strategy, backed by seasoned leadership, will be the real power play in the AI arms race.

  • OpenAI names Sheeladitya Mohanty as India marketing lead

    OpenAI names Sheeladitya Mohanty as India marketing lead

    MUMBAI;OpenAI has appointed Sheeladitya Mohanty as its marketing lead for India, tasking him with driving awareness, adoption and responsible use of the firm’s products across the subcontinent.

    An XLRI Jamshedpur alumnus, Mohanty began his career at Nokia in 2009 and later worked at Microsoft as a business evangelist before joining Facebook (now Meta) in 2016. Over nine years at the social-media giant, he handled platform, public affairs and brand marketing roles, most recently serving as marketing lead for Meta AI and Facebook across Asia-Pacific.

    Mohanty says his strength lies in “systems thinking”—connecting workstreams across silos to deliver scale. His expertise spans consumer marketing, go-to-market launches, platform partnerships and large-scale campaign execution.

    At OpenAI, he will lead education and outreach in India, a market critical to the firm’s global ambitions of making artificial intelligence “accessible and impactful”.

  • WPP partners with IICT to boost creative and digital talent in India

    WPP partners with IICT to boost creative and digital talent in India

    MUMBAI: When ad world muscle meets academic hustle, you get a creative spark like no other. In a move that blends Madison Avenue with Mumbai’s media dreams, WPP, the global giant in marketing services has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), a Ministry of I&B-supported initiative that aims to revolutionise creative and digital skilling in India.

    This partnership positions WPP as the first agency group to formalise such a comprehensive engagement with IICT, joining the league of global tech titans like Google, Meta, Microsoft, JioStar, Nvidia, and Adobe all of whom have pledged support to build India’s creator economy.

    India, WPP’s fifth largest and fastest-growing market, now becomes the testing ground for a powerful alliance between academic rigour and industry firepower.

    Under the collaboration, WPP will Co-develop IICT’s curriculum to reflect real-world creative, media, and tech skills, Provide mentorship for IICT’s startup incubator, Engage faculty on live projects and joint research, Support technology planning for the IICT campus, Assist with promotional and outreach strategies.

    “This collaboration is a testament to WPP’s deep commitment to nurturing talent and driving innovation in India’s dynamic media and entertainment sector,” said WPP country manager for India CVL Srinivas. “By combining IICT’s academic rigour with WPP’s global industry leadership, we aim to equip the next generation of creative professionals with the skills and insights needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.”

    The alliance comes close on the heels of IICT’s inauguration at the newly established IICT–NFDC campus in Mumbai, a high-profile event attended by Ashwini Vaishnaw, union minister for railways, information & broadcasting, and electronics & IT, and Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra.

    IICT board member Ashish Kulkarni added, “With WPP, we are bringing together the best in creative, technology, and media. This partnership will help make IICT a world-class institution on par with IITs and IIMs, preparing market-ready talent for tomorrow’s India.”

    With India inching closer to becoming a global creative powerhouse home to over 75 crore internet users and a booming content economy, the timing couldn’t be more apt. If the next big idea is born at the crossroads of commerce and creativity, WPP and IICT might just be laying the road.

  • Waves 2025 Brings Big Deals and Bold Dreams to India’s Media Sector

    Waves 2025 Brings Big Deals and Bold Dreams to India’s Media Sector

    MUMBAI: If the Indian media sector were a movie, Waves 2025 would be the montage sequence fast cuts of big money, bold ideas and breakout talent all coming together for a dramatic makeover. Held in Mumbai, the Waves Summit 2025 saw the Government of Maharashtra sign MoUs worth nearly Rs 8,000 crore, giving the media and entertainment sector a starring role in the state’s growth narrative. Among the headliners:

    . Rs 3,000 crore from Prime Focus to build a 200-acre Film City

    .  Rs 2,000 crore from Godrej for a film, TV and media campus in Panvel

    .  Rs 1,500 crore each from the University of York and the University of Western Australia to set up their first Indian campuses in Mumbai

    And just like that, education and entertainment are sharing billing on the marquee.

    Waves 2025 also introduced the Nifty Waves Index, listing 43 media and entertainment companies finally giving the sector its own Sensex-style snapshot. Meanwhile, the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) inked partnerships with industry giants including Google, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Adobe, Nvidia, and Toon Boom, rolling out opportunities for scholarships, internships, rendering parks, game design courses and creative entrepreneurship.

    Waves Bazaar cemented its role as the sector’s B2B-B2G power corridor. Launched in January 2025, the digital-first marketplace has already hosted 2,450 projects, with 6,442 buyers and 6,106 sellers participating across film, animation, XR, gaming and advertising verticals. It’s India’s global swipe-right moment for creative deals.

    Elsewhere, WaveX turned into a high-stakes pitch fest where creative dreams met venture capital muscle. From 1,504 applicants, 30 high-potential M&E startups in gaming, storytelling, immersive tech and the creator economy pitched live to 29 marquee investors including Lumikai, Jio, and Warmup Ventures. With 127 startups securing connections or partnerships, and applications vetted by IAMAI and KPMG, this wasn’t just razzle, it was rigor with returns.  

    Enter the Create in India Challenge, a flagship talent hunt that hosted 34 creative contests across animation, AR/VR, gaming, music and films. Finalists competed in the buzzing Creatosphere, a zone dedicated to next-gen creators. Eight expert masterclasses helped sharpen their edge, while the finals turned the stage into a launchpad.

    Not to be left out, Waves Culturals gave attendees a feel of India’s artistic pulse through performances blending traditional and global forms. The event’s heart, however, was the Bharat Pavilion, inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi on 1 May 2025. Designed as an immersive tribute to India’s storytelling roots, it showcased four thematic zones Shruti (oral traditions), Kriti (written heritage), Drishti (visual storytelling), and Creator’s Leap (future tech).

    Over in the FM lane, the 8th National Community Radio Conference saw 12 CR stations receive national awards for innovation and inclusivity. With 531 CR stations and over 400 representatives attending, it was a mic-drop moment for grassroots broadcasters.

    Add to that the launch of the first Indian Film Festival in New Zealand and fresh Indo-UK film collaborations and you’ve got an M&E summit that doesn’t just talk global, it screens it.

    From classroom tie-ups to cultural showcases, and from startup pitches to mega MoUs, Waves 2025 didn’t just imagine India as a global creative powerhouse it laid down the blueprint, cast the crew and started shooting.

    And with Maharashtra calling action on infrastructure, investment and innovation India’s media industry is no longer just watching the story unfold. It’s writing the script.
     

  • Theblurr brings on Sainath Saraban as co-founder and chief creative officer

    Theblurr brings on Sainath Saraban as co-founder and chief creative officer

    MUMBAI: Theblurr has announced the appointment of Sainath Saraban as co-founder and CCO. With a legacy of bold storytelling and a globally attuned creative lens, Sainath will lead Theblurr’s creative vision across markets, helping brands cut through noise with ideas rooted in insight, craft, and outcomes.

    Sai brings over two decades of creative leadership, having worked across India, the USA, LATAM, S.E. Asia, Europe, and Africa. His portfolio spans some of the world’s most respected brands including Pepsi, Bacardi, Coca-Cola, Nike, Levi’s, Amazon, Microsoft, and Hewlett-Packard with standout work like the iconic ‘Aaj kuch Toofani karte hai’ campaign for Thums Up.

    From his early days at JWT and McCann to becoming National Creative Director at Leo Burnett India, and later founding Simple Creative Inc. and Studio Simple in the U.S., Sai has continuously bridged cultural nuance with big-brand storytelling. His work as a Global Creative Director with Hewlett-Packard demonstrates that great ideas can travel globally while staying locally relevant.

    “Sai is not just a creative leader—he’s a global storyteller who speaks the language of culture, technology, and human truth,” said Theblurr co-founder & CEO Shamsuddin Jasani. “At Theblurr, where we combine AI with human intelligence, he will be key in driving creative excellence with speed and purpose.”

    Commenting on his appointment, Sai said, “Theblurr is the kind of agency I’ve always wanted to build a creative playground fueled by technology and purpose. From campaign thinking to platform storytelling, I’m excited to create work that is culturally alive, globally scalable, and commercially impactful.”

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