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Tag: Starcom Mediavest

  • Anuj Gupta climbs the media ladder, takes charge as sr vice president at Havas Media Network

    Anuj Gupta climbs the media ladder, takes charge as sr vice president at Havas Media Network

    MUMBAI: Media maven Anuj Gupta has stepped into the big league as sr. vice president at Havas Media Network, marking another high in a 20-year career that’s seen him steer some of the country’s top media accounts.

    Gupta, who was previously vice president at Havas, has been part of the agency since 2021, helping shape strategy, planning and buying across marquee brands. His promotion is a nod to his deep-rooted expertise and consistent delivery in the ever-evolving world of media.

    He’s no stranger to the circuit, having spent time at DDB Mudra, Starcom Mediavest, Carat, Cheil, and Maxus. Whether it was launching Reliance Big TV, shaping the media story for Samsung’s white goods, or rolling out Nokia’s telecom blitz, Gupta has worn the strategist’s hat with flair.

    Known for turning consumer insights into sharp, actionable media playbooks, he blends old-school rigour with new-age digital agility. Over the years, he’s mastered media mix modelling, cross-platform integration, competitive analysis, and ROI-driven planning.

    Now, with Havas doubling down on India’s growth engine, Gupta’s elevation signals a sharper focus on full-funnel media strategy. As he gears up for the next chapter, one thing’s clear – this VP knows how to turn impressions into impact.

  • IdeateLabs appoints Divya Ajitkumar as business head

    IdeateLabs appoints Divya Ajitkumar as business head

    MUMBAI: IdeateLabs, one of India’s largest independent full-service digital-first creative agencies has roped in Divya Ajitkumar as Business Head. She will be based out of the Mumbai office and will be reporting to the Director, Vrutika Dawda.

    Divya has over a decade of experience in the digital space, having worked in highly organized and evolved markets with exposure to cutting edge technology and access to top tier publishers and clients in geos like NYC and London. Her roles involved collaborating across cross-functional teams like display, performance, search, affiliate and social and her core expertise lies in setting-up processes and solving complex business problems.

    Prior to joining IdeateLabs, she has worked with companies like, WeWork, O&M, iProspect and Starcom MediaVest managing brands like Coca-Cola, Samsung, Avon, Honda and RIM amongst others. Her new responsibilities at IdeateLabs involve building new business as well as growing existing ones, planning, strategizing, managing campaigns, growing P&L, and managing stakeholders.

      IdeateLabs director Vrutika Dawda said, “Divya brings a lot of experience coupled with fresh ideas to the table. Her business values and ideals fit right into the culture and DNA of IdeateLabs. Divya will be playing a crucial role in multiplying businesses and strengthening relationships with existing and new clients along with the stakeholders. We look forward to having her on board, to aggregate and enhance the business.”

    Commenting on her new role, Ajitkumar commented, “At IdeateLabs I have found a role that is both challenging and interesting.  Given the tremendous pressure to succeed in the Indian market, the only way to survive is to stand heads and shoulders over the rest. Where the differentiation between agencies is starting to blur, IdeateLabs has decided not to add to the chorus by being another commodity focused agency. Rather we are investing in products and IPs that drive value for clients through actionable results. Clients today have become just as digitally savvy as the agency. We are at the crux of a defining shift in the marketplace where we are seeing a lot of clients question the value of an agency. What they seek is a partner, a guide, an extension of themselves. Capitalizing on key moments to drive their agenda is critical. Through digital, your opportunity is immense to demonstrate value addition by creating different business models that can help amplify their ROI.”

    IdeateLabs, one of India’s largest independent full-service digital-first creative agencies . It is a fired-up group of professionals from the creative, tech and marketing worlds. While its clientele exceeds 75 well-known Indian and International names, its portfolio spans across varied business verticals. Its clientele includes renowned brands like Hiranandani Communities, Brand Factory, Future Group, HDFC Bank, Magma Finance, Hafele, Kalpataru, Fullerton India, Franklin Templeton Mutual Funds to name a few. IdeateLabs specializes in taking brand challenges and turning them into opportunities that deliver tangible and valuable results. IdeateLabs has its headquarters in Mumbai and satellite offices in Singapore and Dubai.

  • Madison Media appoints Vinay Hegde as SVP – buying

    Madison Media appoints Vinay Hegde as SVP – buying

    MUMBAI: Madison Media has just announced the appointment of Vinay Hegde as SVP buying; reporting into the group’s buying COO Neelkamal Sharma. Hegde joins the agency from Starcom Mediavest Group, where he was national trading director.

    Hegde has over 20 years of experience having worked in Mindshare Fulcrum for over 10 years handling buying for Unilever business. He has also worked in Disney as Director Revenue Strategy and HTA and Percept previously.

    Madison Media & OOH group CEO Vikram Sakhuja said, “I am delighted to have Hegde join our team. I have known him as a fantastic Buyer whose understanding of the Indian TV environment is second to none. He will bring considerable heft to Madison’s prodigious Buying strength.”

    On his appointment Hegde said, “I am delighted and look forward to using my experience to contribute to the crystallization of the vision of the leadership team here at Madison. In my view Madison is the quintessential example of an agency with strong foundations built on human spirit by the enigmatic and brilliant Sam Balsara and now infused with a fresh energy by the charismatic Vikram Sakhuja. ”

    Madison Media Group handles media planning and buying for blue chip clients including Godrej, ITC, Marico, Snapdeal, McDonald’s, TVS, Raymond, Piramal Healthcare, Levis, SpiceJet, Domino’s, Max Life Insurance, Asian Paints, Pidilite, Tata Salt, Acer, Crompton, Indian Oil, Gowardhan Dairy, Café Coffee Day and many others. The gross billing of Madison Media Group is about Rs. 3,750 crores.

  • Madison Media appoints Vinay Hegde as SVP – buying

    Madison Media appoints Vinay Hegde as SVP – buying

    MUMBAI: Madison Media has just announced the appointment of Vinay Hegde as SVP buying; reporting into the group’s buying COO Neelkamal Sharma. Hegde joins the agency from Starcom Mediavest Group, where he was national trading director.

    Hegde has over 20 years of experience having worked in Mindshare Fulcrum for over 10 years handling buying for Unilever business. He has also worked in Disney as Director Revenue Strategy and HTA and Percept previously.

    Madison Media & OOH group CEO Vikram Sakhuja said, “I am delighted to have Hegde join our team. I have known him as a fantastic Buyer whose understanding of the Indian TV environment is second to none. He will bring considerable heft to Madison’s prodigious Buying strength.”

    On his appointment Hegde said, “I am delighted and look forward to using my experience to contribute to the crystallization of the vision of the leadership team here at Madison. In my view Madison is the quintessential example of an agency with strong foundations built on human spirit by the enigmatic and brilliant Sam Balsara and now infused with a fresh energy by the charismatic Vikram Sakhuja. ”

    Madison Media Group handles media planning and buying for blue chip clients including Godrej, ITC, Marico, Snapdeal, McDonald’s, TVS, Raymond, Piramal Healthcare, Levis, SpiceJet, Domino’s, Max Life Insurance, Asian Paints, Pidilite, Tata Salt, Acer, Crompton, Indian Oil, Gowardhan Dairy, Café Coffee Day and many others. The gross billing of Madison Media Group is about Rs. 3,750 crores.

  • Publicis Media India makes key restructure and appointments

    Publicis Media India makes key restructure and appointments

    MUMBAI: Publicis Media today unveiled structure and leadership appointments for its organisation, as announced Publicis Media, India CEO Anupriya Acharya. As per the announcement,

    Mallikarjun Das (Malli) has been appointed Group CEO of Starcom India. His team will include Sarfaraz Khimani, Co-CEO Performics.Convonix, Pallav Jain, Co-CEO Performics.Convonix, Basabdatta Chowdhuri who now takes on the role of national COO, Starcom India.

    Furthermore, Tanmay Mohanty has been appointed as Zenith India Group CEO., with Performics.Resultrix MD Mayoori Kango in his team.

    “One of the greatest strengths of our new organization in India is its team of leaders, all of which have proven track records within our system. They have been integral in accomplishing what we have in the last 2-3 years and now committed to setting strategy and charting the course for the new organization,” Acharya said.

    She added, “The new structure that follows the framework of the global vision is fully equipped to fit the future and best serve our clients. It is a fresh opportunity to simplify our organisation, invent more modern approaches to gain effectiveness and efficiency, introduce structures for greater collaboration, and drive new levels of client value and delight”.

    Publicis Media, India will consolidate its agency brands: Starcom Mediavest, Zenith Optimedia, Equinox, Performics, Convonix, Resultrix, Ninah, Newcast into four agency brands that are in line with the global structure, namely: Starcom , Zenith, Mediavest | Spark, Optimedia | Blue 449

    In this new model, the agency network names of Starcom Mediavest Group and ZenithOptimedia Group are retired to better enable a flatter organisational structure. VivaKi capabilities will be fully integrated into Publicis Media’s Global Practice model. Performics will remain Publicis Media’s global performance marketing brand and scale within all agency brands.

    Apart from the two CEO appointments for Starcom India and Zenith India, other key appointments the media agency giant announced are as follows

    Dnyanada Chaudhari will lead Publicis Media Exchange

    Santosh Ghosh will lead Data, Technology & Innovation

    Aarti Bharadwaj will lead Analytics, Research & Insight

    Gautham Pingali will lead Business Transformation and Content

    Communications will be led by Anushree Chandran.

    At a Publicis Media India level, Rajesh Viswanathan is appointed Chief Financial Officer, Saswati Sinha is appointed Chief Talent Officer.

    Starcom Chairman Hanley King has moved on to a global role within Publicis Media, his role is taken over by Malli

    Zenith Managing Director Hari Krishnan is also moving on to pursue other opportunities. Comments Anupriya, “We thank Hari for all his contributions and wish him the best. Another key appointment in Zenith, under Tanmay’s leadership will be announced in due course.”

  • Publicis Media India makes key restructure and appointments

    Publicis Media India makes key restructure and appointments

    MUMBAI: Publicis Media today unveiled structure and leadership appointments for its organisation, as announced Publicis Media, India CEO Anupriya Acharya. As per the announcement,

    Mallikarjun Das (Malli) has been appointed Group CEO of Starcom India. His team will include Sarfaraz Khimani, Co-CEO Performics.Convonix, Pallav Jain, Co-CEO Performics.Convonix, Basabdatta Chowdhuri who now takes on the role of national COO, Starcom India.

    Furthermore, Tanmay Mohanty has been appointed as Zenith India Group CEO., with Performics.Resultrix MD Mayoori Kango in his team.

    “One of the greatest strengths of our new organization in India is its team of leaders, all of which have proven track records within our system. They have been integral in accomplishing what we have in the last 2-3 years and now committed to setting strategy and charting the course for the new organization,” Acharya said.

    She added, “The new structure that follows the framework of the global vision is fully equipped to fit the future and best serve our clients. It is a fresh opportunity to simplify our organisation, invent more modern approaches to gain effectiveness and efficiency, introduce structures for greater collaboration, and drive new levels of client value and delight”.

    Publicis Media, India will consolidate its agency brands: Starcom Mediavest, Zenith Optimedia, Equinox, Performics, Convonix, Resultrix, Ninah, Newcast into four agency brands that are in line with the global structure, namely: Starcom , Zenith, Mediavest | Spark, Optimedia | Blue 449

    In this new model, the agency network names of Starcom Mediavest Group and ZenithOptimedia Group are retired to better enable a flatter organisational structure. VivaKi capabilities will be fully integrated into Publicis Media’s Global Practice model. Performics will remain Publicis Media’s global performance marketing brand and scale within all agency brands.

    Apart from the two CEO appointments for Starcom India and Zenith India, other key appointments the media agency giant announced are as follows

    Dnyanada Chaudhari will lead Publicis Media Exchange

    Santosh Ghosh will lead Data, Technology & Innovation

    Aarti Bharadwaj will lead Analytics, Research & Insight

    Gautham Pingali will lead Business Transformation and Content

    Communications will be led by Anushree Chandran.

    At a Publicis Media India level, Rajesh Viswanathan is appointed Chief Financial Officer, Saswati Sinha is appointed Chief Talent Officer.

    Starcom Chairman Hanley King has moved on to a global role within Publicis Media, his role is taken over by Malli

    Zenith Managing Director Hari Krishnan is also moving on to pursue other opportunities. Comments Anupriya, “We thank Hari for all his contributions and wish him the best. Another key appointment in Zenith, under Tanmay’s leadership will be announced in due course.”

  • Madison Media Plus appoints Anita Bose as COO

    Madison Media Plus appoints Anita Bose as COO

    MUMBAI: Madison Media Plus has appointed Anita Bose as chief operating officer. Bose will be responsible for driving the agency’s Delhi office.

     

    Madison Media and OOH group CEO Vikram Sakhuja said, “Today, business cycles have shortened, brand plans are more fluid, and the media environment is in a much greater flux. A person like Anita has the unique skills to lend stability to chaos. I look forward to Madison Media Plus rising to new heights under her leadership.”

     

    “It is an honour to be associated with Madison Media and work with accomplished industry veterans like Vikram Sakhuja and Sam Balsara, together. I am looking forward to empower the Delhi team so that we become an unbeatable winning team – committed & united, driven by client & industry needs – known to provide services that set industry standards,” added Bose.

     

    Prior to joining Madison Media Plus, Bose spent 13 years at WPP and GroupM agencies like Mindshare as business director, Team LG and MEC North as general manager. She has also had stints with agencies like Starcom MediaVest, FCB Ulka and McCann Erickson.

     

  • Starcom MediaVest trains social media volunteers for SEA Games

    Starcom MediaVest trains social media volunteers for SEA Games

    MUMBAI: As the 28th South East Asian (SEA) Games nears, Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG), which is the social media agency for the games in Singapore, has started training volunteers to be on the ground reporters, reporting the game and in-venue activities through SEA Games’ Twitter handle.

     

    The reason: to ensure a consistency in the quality and type of content volunteers are producing on behalf of the SEA Games committee.

     

    The training includes:

    How best to use Twitter – character limitations, hashtags

    Type of content to be tweeting

    Type of photos, videos to include in their tweets that will interest followers of the SEA Games

    What kind of preparation work to do before the event itself to ensure they get the best and most content out of it on ground

     

    SMG has trained 20-25 volunteers as on ground reporters.

     

    “The content the volunteers will be producing will be pulled into the ‘Social Wall’ SMG has built for the Games to pull all social media content into one place where people can consume and enjoy the games even if they can’t be in venue,” said Starcom MediaVest Group associate director Brenda Chuah.

     

    Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee (Singsoc) deputy director of digital Harbans J Singh added, “These games will really see citizen journalism at its finest as user generated content will be on show through the unique social wall that the SEA Games Website will have. We’ve put the last three years of preparation with over 500 people involved in developing and fine tuning all the different aspects of this extraordinary digital experience for the region to enjoy through any platform, and share their experience in a variety of ways.”

     

    “We are in an era of creativity, content and data. Brands that are connected are brands where people, trends and culture are at that moment in time. Brands that are connected are not only part of that story but in a way creating and amplifying that story. The SEA Games will once again return to Singapore after 22-year long hiatus. SMG is part of that story; the story behind training volunteers, the story of Singapore’s 50 years,” said Starcom MediaVest Group CEO Southeast Asia and VivaKi country chair Jeffrey Seah.

  • Five agencies to pitch for Dabur’s Rs 350-400 crore media AOR

    Five agencies to pitch for Dabur’s Rs 350-400 crore media AOR

    MUMBAI: As many as five top media agencies are gearing up to pitch for Dabur India’s beefy media account, which is pegged in the range of Rs 350-400 crore.

     

    According to highly placed industry sources, media giants like Dentsu, Starcom, Lodestar and Maxus are speculated to be a part of this multi-agency pitch.

     

    Top level executives from two agencies that are going to take part in the pitch, confirmed the news to Indiantelevision.com.

     

    Dabur India is looking at consolidating its media duties under one agency. Currently, Maxus and Starcom Mediavest handle the brand’s media planning duties, whereas media buying is handled by Dabur’s in-house agency Adbur.

     

    The Rs 350-400 crore media business has opened up for a pitch across all categories of Dabur India and is expected to close in about a month or two.

  • Starcom MediaVest Group India bolsters its senior team

    Starcom MediaVest Group India bolsters its senior team

    MUMBAI: Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) India has bolstered its senior leadership team with the hiring of two key executives.  Natasha Kapoor joins the agency as SMG Mumbai VP and Gautam Surath as strategic planning VP.

     

    In a newly created role, Kapoor will be responsible for client service, product delivery and growth for the Mumbai market. Kapoor has more than 15 years of media experience. Her last job was at Samsung India, where she handled investment, brand activation and strategy for its media procurement and process audit division. Prior to that, she was a media purchases director at Mediacom where she handled television buying for the Procter & Gamble team. She also has worked on the Unilever business at Fulcrum and Mindshare.

     

     “I believe SMG offers a unique opportunity in the market for staff and clients alike. Nowhere else in India can you find a world class Digital and Data and Analytics practice coupled with great media tools, systems and thinking resulting in a great all round product. It is a wonderfully challenging assignment and I am looking forward to it,” said Kapoor.

     

    Surath will be responsible for strategic planning, training and guiding the digital transition of SMG’s clients across its offices. He is an SMG veteran having worked for the company from 2003 in both India and China. For the past four years he has been at SMG China business director, where he was strategy lead on multiple categories of the Procter & Gamble business. His responsibilities included the development of tools and systems to improve productivity and focus on product development. Prior to his posting in China, he spent six years on the P&G planning AOR team in India.

     

     “Quite frankly, having started my career at Starcom and having worked here ever since, moving back to the India office from China was a bit of a no-brainer. Having seen the company evolve with evolving consumer trends, I have no doubt that our vision is the right one. Exposure to the global marketplace has only strengthened my belief in this regard. Exciting times in India and it’s great to be back home!” said Surath.

     

     “Natasha and Gautam bring key skillsets to complement and enhance our offering to clients in India and both Malli and I look forward to working with them,” said SMG India chairman Hanley King.