Moves and Wins: Week of 07 July

Kia India appoints Atul Sood as senior vice president – sales and marketing

Kia India has announced the appointment of Atul Sood as senior vice president – sales and marketing, effective 11th July 2025. Reporting to Joonsu Cho, chief sales officer, Sood will oversee nationwide sales strategy and operations. He brings nearly 30 years of automotive experience, most recently serving as president and director at Toyota Mobility Solutions and Services India. His background includes leadership roles at Toyota Kirloskar Motors and Toyota Motor Asia Pacific. Sood holds a PGDM in marketing from SCMHRD, Pune, and a mechanical engineering degree from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Prasoon Pandey to make feature film debut with Movieverse Studios and Ellipsis Entertainment

Ad filmmaker Prasoon Pandey is set to direct his first feature film, a contemporary mythological thriller, in collaboration with MovieVerse Studios and Ellipsis Entertainment. Written by Vaibhav Vishal, the film blends modern storytelling with culturally rooted themes. The project marks Pandey’s transition from advertising to cinema, backed by producers Aditya Pittie, Vivek Krishnani, Tanuj Garg and Atul Kasbekar. The film aims to bring together cinematic scale with narrative innovation, with casting set to begin soon.

iLink Digital appoints Pitchfork partners as strategic communications agency

iLink Digital has named Pitchfork Partners Strategic Consulting LLP as its communications partner to lead integrated public relations and reputation-building efforts. The mandate involves strengthening iLink Digital’s visibility across client, investor and talent audiences. The agency will focus on promoting iLink’s leadership in AI-driven digital transformation and highlight the expertise of its senior team. Founded in 2002, iLink Digital works with Fortune 500 clients in areas including product engineering, data analytics, and managed infrastructure services.

Prohed wins digital marketing mandate for Navneet Toptech

Gurugram-based performance marketing agency Prohead has secured the digital mandate for Navneet Toptech, the EdTech arm of Navneet Education Limited. The agency will lead SEO and performance-driven campaigns to expand the reach of Navneet Toptec’s digital classroom offerings, including TopSchool, TopClass, and TopAssess. These solutions cater to schools affiliated with CBSE and Maharashtra State Board and are used in over 4,000 schools across more than 30 cities. The engagement aims to improve online visibility and drive user engagement.

Social Panga to manage Neo by Nippon Paint’s social media mandate

Social Panga has been appointed to handle the social media responsibilities for Neo, the painting services division of Nippon Paint India. The agency’s Bengaluru office will lead digital storytelling and campaign initiatives, including a campaign launched for World Painter Appreciation Day that introduced a professional identity kit and a painter anthem. Neo currently operates in Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu, offering painting services with added design elements. The collaboration includes developing Neo’s digital presence and identity within the painting community.

Consumr.Ai names Jaishree Agrawal as commercial lead – consumer insights

Consumr.ai has appointed Jaishree Agrawal as commercial lead for consumer insights. With over 16 years of experience, she previously held senior roles at NielsenIQ BASES. In her new role, Agrawal will focus on promoting the adoption of AI Twins, Consumr.ai’s AI-based tool for real-time consumer behaviour simulation. The platform aims to replace traditional research methods with observation-led insights and is expanding its presence across India, the Middle East, and Australia.

Social Donut marks 8 years with launch of Ai content studio

To mark its eighth anniversary, marketing agency Social Donut has launched an AI Content Studio to support content creation for influencer-led campaigns. The studio aims to simplify campaign processes, including briefing and creator selection. The agency, which has worked with brands across sectors including D2C and lifestyle, also operates an accelerator programme for emerging businesses. The announcement reflects the agency’s focus on integrating technology in creative workflows.

Screen launches Screen Academy to support filmmaking talent

Screen, in partnership with The Indian Express Group, has launched the Screen Academy to provide postgraduate fellowships to students from leading film schools in India. Supported by the Lodha Foundation and involving mentors such as Guneet Monga and Resul Pookutty, the initiative aims to offer financial aid and professional guidance to students who demonstrate filmmaking potential. The Academy will also oversee the Screen Awards and establish an expert panel for industry evaluation.

Famous Innovations onboards Shiv Sethuraman as transformation lead

Famous Innovations has appointed Shiv Sethuraman as chief transformation officer. In this role, he will focus on strategic growth, new capabilities, and business expansion. Sethuraman brings over two decades of experience, having held senior roles including managing director at Ogilvy Paris, group CEO at TBWA\India, and president at Cheil South West Asia. His career spans India, France, and Asia, and includes work on global brands such as Louis Vuitton, Cadbury, and adidas. The appointment is aimed at strengthening the agency’s leadership as it looks to scale operations across markets and broaden its service offering.

Hero Realty partners with VDO.ai to digitally engage premium homebuyers

Hero Realty, one of India’s fastest-growing real estate developers, partnered with VDO.ai, a leading advertising technology innovator, to launch a high-impact video campaign across Delhi-NCR using its proprietary online video (OLV) ad technology to engage high-intent homebuyers. Leveraging VDO.ai’s intelligent and immersive video ad ecosystem, Hero Realty connected with urban, aspirational consumers seeking quality, trust, and future-ready living spaces. The campaign enabled precise targeting and storytelling, helping Hero Realty deliver contextually intelligent video placements and drive meaningful engagement. Both teams hailed the partnership as a powerful blend of creativity, technology, and strategic delivery, aimed at modernising real estate marketing and reaching the right audience with messaging that matters.

Madison Media Sigma wins media AOR for the Sleep Company

Madison Media Sigma, a unit of Madison World, has secured the media AOR for the Sleep Company. The agency will manage traditional media, including TV and print. The Sleep Company is a comfort-tech brand known for its patented SmartGRID technology across products like mattresses and ergonomic chairs.
Madison Media Sigma chief executive officer Vanita Keswani said, "we are thrilled to partner with a disruptive and innovation-led brand like The Sleep Company. We look forward to leveraging our strategic media expertise to amplify their growth journey across traditional and emerging platforms."

Blackberrys appoints Greenhonchos to drive D2C commerce growth

Blackberrys, a premium menswear brand, has joined forces with Greenhonchos to enhance its digital commerce presence. Greenhonchos will lead performance marketing, website optimisation, social commerce strategies, and customer journey personalisation using AI. Established in 1991, Blackberrys continues to blend contemporary design with craftsmanship, catering to the modern Indian man.

Adlift to lead SEO and content marketing for Apna.co

Adlift, now part of Liqvd Asia, has been awarded the SEO and content marketing mandate for Apna.co, a top jobs platform in India. The agency will enhance Apna’s digital visibility and user engagement through strategic, data-driven campaigns. Apna.co uses AI to simplify career discovery and empower India’s workforce.

Binge Labs Returns as Content Partner for 'Elevator Pitch 2.0'

Binge Labs has renewed its partnership with All In Capital for the second season of the early-stage funding platform 'Elevator Pitch'. Binge Labs will continue leading content production and storytelling for founder pitches. Season 1 saw over 300 applications and more than one million digital views. The initiative aims to discover high-potential founders beyond traditional pedigrees.

Qoruz raises funding from The Chennai Angels in Pre-Series A round

Qoruz, a creator intelligence and collaboration platform, has received an undisclosed investment from The Chennai Angels as part of its ongoing $1 million Pre-Series A round. The round also includes participation from individuals in the marketing and advertising industry. The company plans to use the funding to develop its AI tools, enter new market segments, and extend its international operations, with a focus on the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Qoruz, which has previously raised capital from Dexter Angels and the IIM Indore Alumni Fund, works with over 1,000 brands and agencies and tracks more than 20 million creators across platforms.

Teamology assigned PR mandate for eyewear brand Rawbare

Teamology Softech and Media Services has been assigned the public relations and media responsibilities for Rawbare, a company operating in the premium eyewear segment. The scope of work includes handling the brand’s digital communications, media outreach, and influencer activities. Rawbare currently operates in both online and offline retail channels across multiple cities. The collaboration adds to Teamology’s existing work in sectors such as fashion, consumer goods, and lifestyle.

Ting to manage digital marketing for Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts

Ting, an advertising agency with operations in India, the UAE, and the UK, has been appointed to manage the digital and social media marketing for Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts, part of the Autograph Collection Hotels. The assignment involves overseeing creative content and social media strategy for the brand within the UAE. Representatives from both organisations acknowledged the start of the partnership and outlined plans to coordinate on upcoming marketing initiatives.

Dr. Anirban Chaudhuri joins BEI confluence as Director–Strategic Planning and Brand Management

BEI Confluence Communication, a major independent advertising agency based in North India, has appointed Dr. Anirban Chaudhuri as Director – Strategic Planning and Brand Management. With over 25 years of experience in brand management, account planning, advertising, and marketing research, Dr. Chaudhuri will operate from the agency’s Delhi NCR headquarters. His career includes leadership roles at Dentsu, IMRB, TNS, FCB Ulka, JWT, and most recently Innocean, working on a diverse range of brands including Aircel, Whirlpool, Hero MotoCorp, Hyundai, and Make My Trip. An MBA gold medallist from Jadavpur University, he also holds a doctorate in Management from IIEST, Shibpur.

Ashwin Sharma appointed cluster Director of Marketing and Communications at Fairmont and Raffles Jaipur

Fairmont and Raffles Jaipur have appointed Ashwin Sharma as Cluster Director of Marketing and Communications, where he will oversee integrated brand efforts across both properties. With 17 years of experience in hospitality, media, and advertising, Sharma aims to strengthen brand presence and guest engagement while driving commercial growth. His previous roles include work with Madison Creative, Ogilvy India, Zee Entertainment, and Havas Play, as well as leading the marketing strategy for the launch of Pullman and Novotel New Delhi Aerocity under the Accor group.

Chitra Painters secures exclusive railway advertising rights across Kerala cities

Chitra Painters has been awarded exclusive advertising rights for key railway sites across several major cities in Kerala, including Trivandrum, Kollam, Trichur, Kochi, and Kottayam. This marks the second consecutive term the company has secured the tender, reinforcing its leading position in Kerala’s Out-of-Home advertising sector. The locations offer high footfall and commuter engagement, providing strong brand visibility for clients. As the firm enters its 75th year, Director Amrithesh Chitraprakash emphasised the significance of this milestone in continuing the company’s legacy of high-impact, location-driven advertising solutions.

TBWA\India appoints Abhishek Chaturvedi to lead Gurgaon office

TBWA\India has named Abhishek Chaturvedi as executive vice president and branch head – Gurgaon. He will oversee the office’s strategic, creative and operational functions, reporting to chief business officer Namrata Nandan.

Chaturvedi’s last role was at Edelman India as head of strategy and SVP. He has previously worked at Digitas India, McCann and Ogilvy, leading campaigns for brands like Voltas, Saffola and Zomato. With over 20 years of experience across creative and digital, Chaturvedi is expected to align the agency’s Gurgaon operations with broader commercial goals. He holds a postgraduate degree in marketing and a background in psychology.

Ishan Chatterjee takes charge of Sports at JioStar

Ishan Chatterjee has been appointed CEO – Sports and Live Experiences at JioStar, following Sanjog Gupta’s exit to join the International Cricket Council as CEO. Chatterjee will continue in his role as chief business officer – Sports Revenue, SMB, and Creator. He joined JioCinema as chief business officer in October 2024, and took on an expanded mandate after the merger of Disney Star and Viacom18. Prior to JioStar, he was managing director at YouTube India, and has held positions at Google, McKinsey and Company, and Hindustan Unilever. Chatterjee holds degrees from The Wharton School and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi.

Madison Media Plus wins media mandate for Indian activewear brand Strch

Mumbai-based Madison Media Plus, part of Madison World, has secured the media mandate for Strch, a home-grown Indian activewear brand, following a competitive multi-agency pitch. Tasked with handling the brand’s complete media strategy, Madison aims to elevate Strch’s national presence by driving visibility and positioning it as a leading name in the functional-meets-fashion activewear category. Mimi Deb, COO of Madison Media Plus, emphasised the goal of crafting scalable strategies to build the brand’s appeal, while Strch founder Prithvi Bhagat expressed confidence in the partnership to power the brand’s next phase of growth.

Artemis Hospitals extends PR mandate with Grandeavour Communication for third consecutive year

Artemis Hospitals, a Gurugram-based healthcare group, has reaffirmed its PR partnership with independent consultancy Grandeavour Communication for the third year running. Saachi Sagar, senior consultant at the agency, highlighted the importance of empathy and storytelling in healthcare PR, while PR director Payel Banerjee reflected on the evolving mandate with a renewed commitment to delivering sharper strategies and impactful narratives.

Aisle founder launches ‘Heyyy’ – A new contextual link-in-bio social network

Able Joseph, founder of popular dating app Aisle, has launched Heyyy, a link-in-bio social network via his new venture, Jamm Labs. Designed to enable real-world connections, Heyyy turns static profiles into dynamic spaces for collaboration, networking, or spontaneous meetups. With features like Contextual DMs, event hosting tools, and project showcases, Heyyy removes awkward introductions by embedding intent into every interaction. Now live on iOS and Android, users can share their Heyyy profile across platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn, creating richer, more meaningful connections in both online and offline spaces.

Sujeet Behra elevated to president of Carat and CSO of Dentsu Media

Dentsu India has promoted Sujeet Behra to president of Carat while expanding his remit as chief strategy officer for Dentsu Media. Reporting to Amit Wadhwa, CEO of Dentsu Creative and Media Brands, South Asia, he takes on a dual role to drive strategic integration and innovation across media operations. With over three years at Carat in various leadership capacities, Sujeet has been pivotal in shaping its growth and future-readiness. His elevation follows the departure of Sanchayeeta Verma, former CEO of Carat.

Huella Services appoints Pankajj Rai as vice president for ad sales

Huella Services has appointed seasoned media professional Pankajj Rai as vice president – ad sales to steer strategic growth across its media portfolio. With over 18 years of experience spanning broadcast and digital networks such as Zee Media and Qyou, he will lead monetisation efforts for Newsroom AI and upcoming innovations in interactive, AI-led advertising. Based in Delhi NCR, he will also collaborate with the leadership team on long-term strategic initiatives including partner development and product-market fit.  

Fabian Cowan joins Connect Digital as director to lead DOOH expansion

Connect Network Inc. has welcomed Fabian Cowan as director of Connect Digital to lead the company's foray into the Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) media space. With over two decades of cross-platform experience in OOH, radio and print, his role will focus on building a tech-driven, accountable DOOH ecosystem under Connect’s established legacy in the OOH space.  

Afghanistan Cricket Board signs 10-year deal with ITW MEA to revive APL T20

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has signed a 10-year strategic partnership with ITW MEA to manage and deliver the Afghanistan Premier League (APL T20). The deal, inked by ACB and ITW MEA leadership, establishes a joint governing council to oversee venue selection and operational planning. The move aims to position the APL as a global tournament and vital talent platform, with ITW MEA bringing its proven media and sports expertise.