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Tag: Priti Murthy

  • WPP Media South Asia hits reset with new leadership councils and client-first gameplan

    WPP Media South Asia hits reset with new leadership councils and client-first gameplan

    MUMBAI: WPP Media South Asia has officially turned the page on its GroupM chapter with a sweeping leadership overhaul, as it embraces a sharper, integrated model under WPP’s global media reset.

    The network’s new direction was internally announced this week, marking a bold step toward unified media, measurable outcomes, and future-ready innovation across India and South Asia.

    At the core of the transformation is a newly minted Executive Committee (ExCo), led by four presidents of client solutions — Priti Murthy, Ajay Gupte, Amin Lakhani, and Navin Khemka — who will jointly shape strategy, execution, and client delight across verticals.

    Supporting them is Vishandas Hardasani, continuing as chief finance officer, ensuring compliance and commercial rigour.

    In new, focused roles:

    ●    Upali Nag steps in as president – strategy, tasked with steering high-impact client programmes.

    ●    Vishal Jacob takes charge of Choreograph as president, scaling data and tech capabilities.

    ●    Ashwin Padmanabhan, now chief operating officer, will turbocharge execution across media buying, commerce, content, and sports.

    ●    Praseed Prasad, as president, growth & marketing, will focus on emerging categories, SMBs, startups and lead mOutcome initiatives.

    In tandem with the ExCo, WPP Media South Asia also launched the WPP Media Leadership Council (WLC), featuring a high-powered bench including Ajey Mehta, Atique Kazi, Ruchi Mathur, Shekhar Banerjee, Snehi Jha, Vinit Karnik, Manini Chakraborty, Namrata Mehra, Muralidhar T, Parveen Sheikh, and Rohit Sule.

    This cohort will focus on cohesion, culture, and capability-building to ensure WPP Media’s new architecture translates to real business wins.

    Prasanth Kumar continues to lead operations in India and Sri Lanka, anchoring both ExCo and WLC as they execute WPP’s new-age blueprint. A chief people officer appointment is also said to be in the works, hinting at a stronger push towards people-first transformation, learning, and leadership.

    With this structural shake-up, WPP Media South Asia isn’t just repositioning for the AI era — it’s building a battle-ready blueprint for the future of media.

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  • “AI-powered influencers are reshaping brand engagement” – Vinit Karnik

    “AI-powered influencers are reshaping brand engagement” – Vinit Karnik

    MUMBAI: The advertising landscape in India is on the brink of its most transformative year yet. With AI taking over marketing workflows, quick commerce redefining e-commerce, and connected TV (CTV) gaining an unprecedented foothold, brands are scrambling to stay ahead. The latest forecast from GroupM’s TYNY report outlines the trends that will shape 2025, and let’s just say, if you’re not innovating, you’re falling behind.

    AI agents take the wheel

    The machines are here, and they’re not just running ads—they’re planning, activating, and measuring entire campaigns. The rise of sophisticated AI agents will automate scheduling, reporting, and even basic content creation, freeing up human marketers to focus on strategy. By late 2025, expect AI-powered agents to handle customer service, hyper-personalised advertising, real-time campaign optimisation, and even vernacular content creation at scale.

    GroupM south Asia CSO Parthasarathy Mandayam (Maps) stated, “As consumer behaviour grows more complex, marketing measurement is rapidly evolving. With data privacy driving change, traditional analytical models are integrating AI and real-time analytics for better accuracy. Brands are adopting unified measurement frameworks to make smarter decisions. In 2025 we also see a rapid adoption of AI agents, going beyond automation and productivity enhancement to transform areas like customer service, vernacular engagement and real-time campaign optimisation.”

    GroupM south Asia CSO Parthasarathy Mandayam

    Quick commerce rewrites the e-commerce playbook

    E-commerce in India is growing at breakneck speed, and quick commerce (Q-commerce) is its turbocharged engine. The online digital commerce market is projected to touch Rs 167,000 crore by 2028, making up 9-11 per cent of total retail GMV. India’s advertising industry is keeping up, with ad revenue expected to reach Rs 1,64,137 crore in 2025, growing by 7 per cent. Digital media alone will account for 60 per cent of all advertising, an 11.5 per cent jump from last year.

    GroupM India president – data, performance, and digital products, Atique Kazi explained, “The convergence of brand and retail media is rapidly shaping a unified ‘One Commerce’ ecosystem. Marketers are quickly pivoting to connected commerce outlook bridging multi-channel commerce approach and how media investments in one channel influence or cannibalise the other. As quick commerce promises instant delivery and purchase gratification, it has also pushed the marketers and agencies to be quicker, agile, nimble, and war-footed.”

    GroupM India president – data, performance, and digital products, Atique Kazi

    Q-commerce brands are also experimenting with time-based advertising. Morning ads for dairy, late-night campaigns for desserts, and weekend promotions for snacks are becoming the new norm. As for marketing costs? “CPMs on Q-commerce can rival IPL rates,” the report notes, urging brands to negotiate smarter and automate their ad buys.

    CTV’s big leap

    India’s CTV (Connected TV) market is exploding. By 2025, over 65 million households—or 30 per cent of India’s TV viewers—will be watching content via CTV, making it a goldmine for hyper-personalised and programmatic advertising.

    “CTV has got the eyeballs; however, advertising spends haven’t matched the viewership in comparison to the audience reach it holds. Live sports have been an exception. The unlock for 2025 is not to get caught in measurement; blending strategies that are device-agnostic is key,” said Kazi.

    Advertisers are also getting smarter with CTV ads. From leveraging advanced ACR (automatic content recognition) data to hyper-target users based on past viewing habits, to innovating with interactive ad formats, CTV is redefining TV advertising. However, measurement remains a pain point. “A dual measurement approach is necessary until we get a unified industry standard,” experts suggest.

    Data privacy

    With India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act coming into play, data clean rooms are becoming indispensable. These secure environments allow brands to collaborate on audience insights without directly sharing data. By integrating tools like Google’s audience data hub and Amazon marketing cloud, brands can now measure campaign effectiveness while keeping consumer privacy intact. Digital is expected to drive 60 per cent of India’s ad growth in 2025, accounting for Rs 10,225 crore of incremental advertising.

    GroupM Nexus president Priti Murthy highlighted, “With the rise of data clean rooms, marketers are now unlocking deeper audience insights while maintaining consumer trust—transforming data collaboration in a way we’ve never seen before. From enriched audience data and targeting to advanced analytics opportunities, we see DCR transforming marketing.”

    GroupM Nexus president Priti Murthy

    AI disrupts search

    Google searches as we know them are changing, thanks to generative AI. Instead of clicking through multiple links, users are getting AI-generated answers directly in search results. This is a game-changer for SEO, forcing brands to focus on structured content, semantic SEO, and featured snippets to stay visible.

    “Performance marketing will no longer be about driving clicks but about owning conversations, influencing AI-driven content discovery, and ensuring brands remain top of mind in a world where traditional SEO is being rewritten,” added Murthy.

    Influencers, but make them AI

    The influencer marketing game is getting a digital facelift. AI-powered influencers are gaining traction, offering consistent brand messaging, 24/7 availability, and endless scalability. Unlike human influencers, they don’t age, don’t demand higher pay, and don’t get involved in scandals (at least not yet).

    GroupM south Asia head of sports, esports, and live entertainment, Vinit Karnik noted, “The rise of AI-powered influencers is revolutionising how brands engage with audiences, blending technology and creativity to drive authentic, scalable interactions. As India’s 750 million smartphone users consume more immersive content, AR-driven campaigns are already delivering up to three times higher conversions for brands.”

    GroupM south Asia head of sports, esports, and live entertainment, Vinit Karnik

    With these seismic shifts in advertising, brands must embrace AI, double down on data privacy, and rethink their media strategies. The future belongs to those who can balance automation with creativity, scale personalisation without breaching privacy, and engage consumers across multiple channels.  

  • GroupM appoints Gurpreet Singh as head of performance for GroupM Nexus India

    GroupM appoints Gurpreet Singh as head of performance for GroupM Nexus India

    Mumbai: GroupM, WPP’s media investment group, has announced the  appointment of Gurpreet Singh as the head of performance at GroupM Nexus in India. He brings  with him more than 15 years’ experience in the digital marketing industry and has carved a niche  for himself in the performance marketing domain. He joins the GroupM Nexus India team from  Performics- Publicis Groupe, where he held the position of Managing Partner.  

    In his new position at GroupM Nexus, Singh will be responsible for driving a high-performance  culture. He will play a pivotal role in deploying the latest technology, data, and automation  solutions. His expertise in handling diverse sectors in digital marketing will prove to be critical in  powering the next era of performance media at GroupM Nexus in India.

    Singh excels in formulating intricate strategies tailored for large-scale performance media  campaigns. His expertise extends towards efficiently supervising and guiding teams, ensuring  seamless execution of projects, and achieving optimal Return on Investment (ROI) for clients.

    GroupM Nexus India president Priti Murthy said, “Gurpreet will assume the key  responsibility of cultivating a culture of high performance. He will be committed to ensuring that  individuals within GroupM have the necessary resources and motivation to succeed. I am confident  that they will benefit immensely from the integration of cutting-edge technology, data-driven  approaches, and automation solutions which will be helmed under him. Additionally, his sharp  focus on customer centricity will enable us to deliver incremental growth for GroupM agencies.”

    GroupM India president –   Data, Performance and Digital Products Atique Kazi said,  “Gurpreet’s expertise will strengthen the performance vertical within GroupM. He will be crucial in  implementing automation, data, and technological solutions for GroupM in India, ensuring  maximizing ROI for clients. We are certain that his expertise will help the company continue to  deliver innovative solutions for clients.”

    Singh said, “I am thrilled to be a part  of this dynamic team and eager to apply my experience and expertise to deploy advanced  technologies and automation initiatives across GroupM. I truly believe in the vision of building the World’s largest performance capability engine and look forward to unlocking the next era of  performance for GroupM.”

    He also holds the distinction of being a member of Google’s inaugural “Google Insiders” cohort  and the first batch of Meta Select 2021. He was also recognized as one of the Top 30 under 30 by  Impact magazine and earned a distinct position among the top 25 digital planners in India in 2015. 

  • GroupM appoints Anand Thakur as head of analytics, data and tech for GroupM Nexus India

    GroupM appoints Anand Thakur as head of analytics, data and tech for GroupM Nexus India

    Mumbai: GroupM, WPP’s media investment group, today announced the  appointment of Anand Thakur as head of analytics, data and tech at GroupM Nexus in India. He  brings with him more than 20 years of significant experience across the media industry in the  information technology domain. He joins the GroupM Nexus India team from Omnicom Media Group,  where he held a key role overseeing various Information Technology functions such as Software  Development, Product Development, UI/UX, and Business Solutions.

    In his new position at GroupM Nexus, Anand will lead automation initiatives across all GroupM  applications and contribute to shaping the solution architecture. He will collaborate closely with agencies  to expand capabilities in Commerce, Performance, automation, and enhancements. Additionally, he will  actively participate in developing the data lake, establishing a robust data infrastructure for managing  both structured and unstructured media. Anand will also be instrumental in creating comprehensive integrated campaign reporting and a diverse range of capabilities.

    Anand’s proficiency lies in creating holistic integrated campaign strategies while supervising and  directing teams to ensure the seamless implementation of operational procedures. He has been  instrumental in formulating business continuity plans, procedures, SLAs, and service standards to  uphold business service excellence in his past. Additionally, he excels in configuring dashboards and  leading automation initiatives. He stays updated on the latest technologies and automation trends,  playing a central role in improving efficiency and effectiveness across diverse projects.

    GroupM Nexus India president Priti Murthy said, “Anand’s rich experience in driving business  service excellence will come to play in developing data-driven campaign insights and implementing  efficient, technology-driven solutions and innovations at GroupM Nexus India. As we stride toward  streamlining our business processes and fostering innovation, he will play a pivotal role hastening the  path towards building the world’s largest performance capability engine and delivering incremental  growth for GroupM agencies.

    GroupM Nexus India head of analytics, data and tech Anand Thakur, said, “I am tremendously  excited to join the GroupM Nexus leadership team. The rapid advancements in AI, machine learning,  and big data analytics have opened new and exciting possibilities for optimizing advertising spends. I  look forward to steering the data and tech transformation at GroupM Nexus.” 

  • Priti Murthy joins GroupM as president, GroupM Services India

    Priti Murthy joins GroupM as president, GroupM Services India

    Mumbai: GroupM India on Thursday announced the appointment of Priti Murthy as president, GroupM Services India. In her new role, Murthy would also be part of the GroupM India executive committee.

    Murthy will work closely with GroupM’s regional leadership team in ensuring seamless adoption of all the initiatives. She will report to GroupM South Asia CEO Prasanth Kumar and GroupM Asia Pacific COO Jon Thurlow. GroupM Services India leadership team would report to Murthy, stated the agency.

    As president of GroupM Services, she will be leading the centre of delivery excellence that comprises biddable, non-biddable, analytics, and reporting. Along with her strong leadership team, Murthy would work closely with agencies to understand their needs, incorporating best-in-class delivery metrics with ‘improvise and improve’ as the approach to continued excellence, said the statement.

    “It is a homecoming for Priti and strengthening of GroupM India leadership team with yet another remarkable industry leader. Priti’s product mindset powered by a unique blend of experience in setting and executing an organisation-wide vision will enrich the GroupM teams alike,” said  Prasanth Kumar. “As one of the most regarded women leaders in the industry, Priti also believes in GroupM’s future centric business approach and has always focused on building purpose-driven culture as a key leadership responsibility.”

    As an industry veteran, Murthy has spent a large part of her over a 22-year long career with GroupM. She has been an immensely effective leader contributing to the organisation in all her previous roles held within Wavemaker (née Maxus Global) during her 13-year stint. Her last held role with GroupM was as the chief strategy officer at Maxus Global. She has been heading OMD India as the chief executive officer for the last four years.

    “It is one of the best eras in the media industry, revival and rejuvenation being the focus. I am delighted to join GroupM, to walk the path to the future transformation of GroupM offerings in the marketplace and magnify the operational excellence that it is known for,” stated Murthy. “With GroupM’s focus on creating the best in class and house of excellence, my role will be to bring in the right mix of talent, process, and tech to ensure quality assurance and continuous improvement for biddable and non-biddable media for our partners and clients. I am looking forward to working with Prasanth and the entire ExCo in driving this focus.”

  • OMD India’s campaign for Dalda shines at Drum’s Social Purpose Awards 2018

    OMD India’s campaign for Dalda shines at Drum’s Social Purpose Awards 2018

    MUMBAI: Marketing performance company OMD India has announced that its campaign ‘#PehleTum’ for Dalda Cooking Oils won the award for ‘Best Integrated Marketing Campaign’ at the Drum’s Social Purpose Awards 2018 in London last week. The win comes shortly after the campaign won the Mumbrella Award for Bravery at the Mumbrella Asia Awards 2018 last month.

    ‘#PehleTum’ (You First) campaign was designed to promote gender equality, specifically targeting those households where women take the sole responsibility of cooking for the entire family and only eat after ensuring everyone else has eaten. Dalda Cooking Oils partnered with Leo Burnett and OMD India to create this campaign urging husbands and families to offer the first bite of every meal to the women of their household.

    OMD shares that in order to drive change it utilised a ‘judiciously woven mix of media, with each medium planned and integrated in a manner that added relevance, weightage and a new meaningful layer to the core communication of #PehleTum’. The compelling campaign reached over 14 million people through various touch points while increasing brand recommendation for Dalda Cooking Oils by 85 per cent.

    Commenting on the win, OMD India CEO Priti Murthy said, “I am extremely proud of the team for their media approach on this campaign, facilitating the amplification of such an important message in today’s society. These latest recognitions are a testament to the brave work we do at OMD India to help our clients cut through the clutter and generate real impact for their brands.”

    Bunge India marketing head Milind Acharya added, “A very simple insight that led to #PehleTum was; with changing times, shouldn’t the homemaker be a part of the dinner table along with entire family which, in our society is an important aspect, where family matters are also discussed. We attempted to put this onus on the Male members of the family to invite her to take her rightful place. As Dalda oil is an integral part of any meal, the homemaker is also an integral and equal part of the family and all related matters. Recognition of the campaign and its thought encourages us to continue such efforts, which are relevant for the brand, the consumer and the society.”

  • OMD India strengthens its leadership team

    OMD India strengthens its leadership team

    MUMBAI: In a move to strengthen its core leadership team, OMD India has promoted Sulina Menon to the newly created role of chief client officer, while Lalit Agrawal has been elevated to the role of head of OMD India – West.

    The promotions are in line with the executives’ long-standing track record of achievements and will enhance the agency’s leadership capabilities as it continues to take on fresh growth in the Indian market.

    Menon takes on her new role with immediate effect and will work closely with OMD India’s CEO, Priti Murthy, in building the OMD brand nationally. A media veteran with multifaceted experiences, Menon has worked across media agencies, television channels and on the client-side at Samsung. Since joining Omnicom Media Group in 2013 to lead on planning for the network’s Delhi office, Menon has proved her mettle and earned the status of a trusted partner to the agency’s longstanding clients. In this new role, she brings her media agnostic approach, helping clients to focus on what really drives value for their brands instead.

    Speaking on her promotion, Menon says,  “I am really excited about energising our team in India to drive data-enabled, integrated solutions for our clients and look forward to seamlessly on-boarding our new clients. It’s important for us to continue evolving our approach for clients and OMD is well equipped to future-proof their businesses. I am excited to be a part of the journey.”

    In his new role as Head of OMD India – West, Agrawal will drive and consolidate fresh avenues for growth. His presence as a strong business leader is already felt by some of the most iconic brands,  and his consistent delivery of innovative solutions to complex business problems has earned him respect and appreciation from both local and regional clients. During his eight years with OMD, he has been instrumental in delivering several innovations and industry-first initiatives – a feat that he will undoubtedly continue as the agency continues to expand its presence in West India.

    Speaking on his appointment, Agrawal adds, “OMD is now well underway on its new path, with a rejuvenated focus on helping clients make ‘Better Decisions, Faster’. I am thrilled to be part of this momentous occasion as we extend our footprint in West India and I look forward to working with our clients and teams to make a mark for this region.”

    Speaking on the promotions, OMD India CEO Priti Murthy mentions, “I am delighted to partner with Sulina and Lalit in their new roles. As an agency that is committed to generating business results for our clients, both Sulina and Lalit embody this value proposition, having spent considerable time in the industry and at OMD. These promotions are also a testament to the talent of our teams, taking our agency from strength to strength. I look forward to working closely with them both in navigating OMD’s continued journey of growth in India.”