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Tag: Sonia Huria

  • Maddock Films snares Sonia Huria in brand, consumer & social communications role

    Maddock Films snares Sonia Huria in brand, consumer & social communications role

    MUMBAI: For long she’s been on the other side and she’s endeared herself to all who she has been associated with. Now the very familiar and affable face in the entertainment industry, Sonia Huria,  has hopped onto Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films as head brand, consumer and social communications.

    Maddock Films had a fabulous 2024 with three films raking it in at the box office: Teri Baaton mein Uljha Jiya (Rs 133 crore), Munjya (Rs 132 crore) and the biggest of them all – Stree 2 (Rs 900 crore). It has lined up a slate of films which will figure in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe , two of which are to be released in 2025: Thama (Diwali) and Shakti Shalini (31 December).

    So it definitely needs all the professional help it can to build up the brands. And Sonia has oodles of it (22 years) with her last position being that of head of communications , Asia Pacific for four years at Prime Video and Amazon MGM studios(October 2020-January 2025), where she handled the launch campaigns of over  100 shows and films in India, Japan and Singapore.

    Prior to that, she was senior vice-president at Viacom18 Media where over nearly 13 years  (April 2008-Octo 2020) she spearheaded the launch of its Hindi general entertainment channel Colors which quickly claimed the No 1 spot, beating back long-standing number one’s in the space. Additionally, she also worked on social impact initiatives with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Finally, two of the initiatives – the #OpenNewWorlds brand promise and the #OneTogether campaign – she championed helped build stability in the organisation.

    Before the two corporate assignments, she was employed with agencies like Weber Shandwick in Mumbai then Genesis Burson Marstellar first in Singapore and then in India for around six years.

    “After an enriching journey in television and streaming, I’m thrilled to embark on this new chapter with a studio that consistently sets benchmarks and redefines success in both theatrical and streaming entertainment,” posted Sonia on Instagram. “Maddock Films has always been known for its ability to craft stories that resonate deeply with audiences. In my new role, I’m eager to bring together the storytelling touch points across social, PR, and consumer communication to create immersive and engaging experiences for viewers. By connecting these threads seamlessly, we can build a dynamic and interconnected audience journey, amplifying the magic of our narratives and ensuring they captivate and delight at every interaction. With an incredible lineup of projects ahead, I look forward to collaborating with Maddock’s visionary creators and talented team to take our stories beyond screens and into the hearts of audiences everywhere.

     

  • Viacom18’s Sonia Huria to join Amazon Prime Video as communications head for India

    Viacom18’s Sonia Huria to join Amazon Prime Video as communications head for India

    KOLKATA:Viacom18 corporate marketing, communications and sustainability head Sonia Huria has ended her 12-years long stint with the organisation. She will join Amazon Prime Video to lead all its communication efforts for India operations. 

    Huria will be a part of the global communications team – leading PR and Communications for Amazon Prime Video in India. She will be reporting to Amazon Prime Video PR Asia Pacific and Canada PR head Tobias Tringali who is based in Seattle. 

    Ramping up Amazon Prime Video’s communication outreach, Huria will bring in her extensive experience of the entertainment industry and corporate communication. She will be directly responsible for driving the PR narrative for Amazon Prime Video while also leading communication and reputation management across the media spectrum.

    With over 18 years of experience in the entertainment and the consumer space, she led brand and corporate communications for Viacom18 across all its five lines of business – broadcast entertainment, filmed entertainment, digital entertainment, experiential entertainment and consumer products – as well as led one of the industry’s most decorated internal communication functions. 

    Huria began her journey with Viacom18 in 2008, as part of the team that launched Hindi GEC – COLORS which became the no.1 channel in the category within a span of nine months from launch. Auguring the role of sustainability, Sonia has successfully created a model of multi-partner funded behaviour change communication content at Viacom18. First with the TV series Navrangi Re! which focused on sanitation in peri-urban India to more recently with MTV Nishedh. In addition to managing internal and external communication, Sonia also leads trade marketing and digital media for the organisation – ensuring streamlined messaging across touchpoints.

    As an industry thought leader, Huria serves as managing committee member at The Advertising Club. Under her leadership, Viacom18 has won several prestigious awards at PRWeek Asia Awards, South Asia Sabre Awards and Indian PR and Corporate Communications Awards (IPRCCA). She has been featured on Impact Magazine’s Top 50 Women Leaders in Advertising, Media and Marketing for four  years in a row.

  • Viacom18, BARC India nurture positivity through work-from-home system

    Viacom18, BARC India nurture positivity through work-from-home system

    MUMBAI: There is hope, resilience, and an overwhelming we-can-overcome-it sense when all of us feared that we were headed for a cul-de-sac. Despite all the fear and uncertainty surrounding the spread of the pandemic COVID-19, there are instances worth celebrating. One such is the transition from full-time office to a work-from-home mode, which, necessitated under the circumstances, gives tiny epiphanies and new learning to organisations.

    Knowing very well that many employees may find the transition hard, companies are also offering them a helping hand to cope with it. Viacom18 is prioritising employees’ safety and well-being in this crisis period. Viacom18 corporate marketing communications and sustainability head Sonia Huria says that the company has always believed that testing times like these provide them with a reason to reflect, rethink and innovate. “We have been promoting and ensuring that employees and their families practice social distancing and are working from home. Working remotely over the past week has been more of a learning than a challenge,” she says.

    According to her, support within the team has risen across personal and professional levels like never before. This has given rise to a distinct sense of positivity and created a sense of belonging and dependence. She said that they have been able to identify strengths and implement processes which have never been tested before.  

    “For instance – a daily VC scrum has been working extremely well. It’s quick, focussed and very action-driven. While we have always stressed on the importance of open and clear communication, we have understood the benefits of 'over-communication’ too,” she adds.

    The proactive work-from-home initiative from Viacom18 seems to have sparked an increase in productivity, too. “What we have realised is that by taking away the niggling concern of contamination in a public space (through the work-from-home directive), employees are focussing on productivity and proactive closure of tasks well before deadlines. Collaboratively, the past one week has restored determination to break barriers and has strengthened the outlook of the organisation to do more, innovate, experiment and take on new challenges,” Huria states.

    Having your own small working corner at home is essential to focus. BARC India is ensuring that positivity is well in check even while working from home through its #ShareYourWorkstationAtHome challenge for employees. It encourages them to share pictures of their home office.

    According to a BARC India spokesperson, the environment has changed, but the dedication and commitment is intact and it continues to be the responsible and reliable currency of the broadcast industry. The spokesperson said that strong technological support and infrastructure help it to effectively serve the industry while employees work from home safely.

    Working from home doesn’t have to mean boring or distracting and so it came up with this cheerful initiative. Employees across the country are participating in the challenge.


    (If you would like to get featured in our range of positive stories during the COVID-19 crisis, reach out to us right away!)

  • Viacom18 issues denial about Saugato Bhowmik appointment at Voot

    Viacom18 issues denial about Saugato Bhowmik appointment at Voot

    MUMBAI: Earlier this morning, we broke a story stating that Viacom18 executive vice president and business head of consumer products and integrated network solutions Saugato Bhowmik might be roped in to replace industry veteran Gaurav Gandhi.  

    Gandhi was one of the key drivers of the Ambani majority owned network’s OTT service Voot.

    Senior sources within Viacom 18 had informed indiantelevision.com that Bhowmik was one of the front runners for the post. There are other names being bandied about, but we would not like to reveal them at this juncture.

    Now Viacom18 head of communications Sonia Huria  has issued a denial about this speculation saying: “Such erroneous conjecture is unfounded. We will issue a statement when we have something to announce.”

    Keep reading indiantelevision.com for further updates!

    Also Read :

    Gaurav Gandhi leaves Viacom18

    Gaurav Gandhi to head Amazon Prime Video India

    Voot sets its sights on regional & premium ad-free content

  • Viacom18 promises to #OpenNewWorlds in new corporate film

    Viacom18 promises to #OpenNewWorlds in new corporate film

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 has launched a corporate brand film titled ‘Open New Worlds’. Conceptualised by Leo Burnett Orchard, the film commemorates the entertainment conglomerate’s completion of 10 years in India. The film will have an integrated reach and will be activated on touch points like outdoor, digital, in addition to the Viacom18 network.

    The montage film portrays the impact Viacom18’s lines of business have had on Indians across geographies, different ages, backgrounds, platforms, cultures and interests through its properties on air, online, on ground, in shop and through cinema. The narrative of the film is held together by an inspiring rendition of the brand philosophy in the title track sung by singer Jubin Nautiyal.

    Video Link: http://bit.ly/2hLk3l1

    Viacom18 head of communications and CSR Sonia Huria says, “While deliberating on the singular theme that would best describe the corporate brand salience, the one thought that kept resurfacing throughout our varied businesses and brands was how Viacom18 has been encouraging everyday Indians to explore possibilities, push their own boundaries, embrace opportunities and challenge norms. This was the genesis of the brand promise of ‘Open New Worlds’.”

    Leo Burnett Orchard executive creative director Amod Dani adds, “This project has been an interesting challenge right from the start. How do you introduce a decade-old media company, with immensely famous brands in its fold, that defines entertainment across genres, platforms and cultures, with a film that is more than just a corporate statement? The inspiring brand ethos that reflects the belief of the company helped us outline how each of Viacom18’s individual brands change lives of Indians every day. And how unlikely audiences connect with content, merchandise and derive inspiration and joy. Creating ‘Open New Worlds’ has been a highlight of our journey with the group, one that will live with us for a long time.”

  • Sonia Huria to handle entire Viacom18s communications

    Sonia Huria to handle entire Viacom18s communications

    MUMBAI: After being vacant for almost four months, the position of Viacom18’s corporate communications head is being filled up. The position had been vacant after Sandeep Dahiya decided to move on from the company. Now, Sonia Huria, who was serving as the Colors corporate communications head, will head all the communication and PR functions for Viacom18.

     

    In her new role, she will be handling the communications for all the Viacom18’s broadcast channels including Colors, the ETV channels it recently acquired, VH1, MTV, Nickelodeon, Sonic Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. She will also handle Viacom18’s motion pictures as well as allied functions like consumer products INS and digital. Her appointment is effective from today, 25 November, and she will report directly to Viacom18 Group CEO Sudhanshu Vats.

     

    “Work has already piled up. The entire Viacom18 is getting into the regional market and I will do my best to deliver the message of one Viacom18,” says Huria.