Moves and wins roundup: Week of 02 Dec

Mediascope appoints Meher Anand as vice president of partnerships 

Mediascope has named Meher Anand as vice president-strategic partnerships, positioning her to oversee advertising sales and drive strategic initiatives across TV, digital, print, and event platforms. Based in Delhi, she will also focus on expanding Mediascope’s footprint in South Asia’s emerging markets, bolstering the company’s leadership in the media industry. Her appointment reflects Mediascope’s commitment to innovation and growth as it continues its 45-year legacy. 

Meher brings extensive experience from her tenure at CNN International Commercial, where she played a key role in South Asia’s market expansion by aligning regional strategies with global objectives. Her expertise in domestic and international media sales, coupled with a forward-thinking approach, is expected to be instrumental in scaling Mediascope’s operations and fostering impactful partnerships in a rapidly evolving advertising landscape.

News18 Studios strengthens leadership to drive monetisation

News18 Studios, the branded content division of Network18, has appointed Sanjukta Kapoor and Neha Nagpal Chatterjee as vice presidents–revenue. Tasked with enhancing monetisation strategies for the network’s flagship editorial properties, they will report to CEO S Shivakumar.  

With a combined media experience of over 40 years, Kapoor and Chatterjee bring extensive expertise in crafting integrated media solutions and driving audience engagement across diverse platforms. Kapoor, formerly at Republic Network, will oversee revenue for West and South regions, while Chatterjee, previously at ShareChat, will focus on North and East markets. Their strategic leadership is expected to strengthen News18 Studios’ offerings and deliver enhanced value to brand partners seeking innovative ways to connect with audiences.

Tata Consumer Products re-appoints Wavemaker as media agency partner

Tata Consumer Products has re-appointed Wavemaker as its media agency partner for the financial year 2025, following a multi-agency pitch. This partnership will cover the strategic planning and execution of media campaigns for Tata Consumer Products’ brands in India, including Packaged Beverages, Foods, Ready to Drink, Tata Soulfull, and Organic India.

Wavemaker will continue to manage media planning and buying across TV, Print, Radio, and Digital channels. Puneet Das, president of packaged beverages at Tata Consumer Products, emphasised the company’s commitment to technology-driven marketing, while Ajay Gupte, CEO of Wavemaker, expressed excitement about continuing the long-standing partnership and creating impactful campaigns for Tata's diverse brands.

AdLift secures digital media mandate for King Koil

AdLift, a global digital marketing agency, has been appointed as the official digital media partner for King Koil. This partnership will focus on enhancing the premium sleep solutions company's online presence, increasing brand engagement, and strengthening customer connections across digital platforms.

AdLift will provide digital solutions, including search reputation management, content creation, content marketing, and paid media campaigns. Commenting on the collaboration, Prashant Puri, CEO of AdLift, expressed excitement about amplifying King Koil’s digital reach, while Archit Gupta, MD of King Koil, highlighted the agency's expertise in driving impactful results.

Infectious Advertising appoints Akshay Kapnadak as chief creative officer

Infectious Advertising has appointed Akshay Kapnadak as its chief creative officer. In this role, he will work alongside Ramanuj Shastry, creative chairman and co-founder, to enhance the agency's creative output.

With nearly 27 years of experience, Akshay has worked with top global and Indian brands like Coca-Cola, L’Oréal, Parachute, and Radio Mirchi. He spent 16 years at McCann Erickson Mumbai, rising to executive creative director, before consulting and mentoring startups. His work has earned awards, including a Gold at Cannes Lions.  

GRM Overseas appoints Barun Prabhakar as group chief marketing officer

GRM Overseas has appointed Barun Prabhakar as its group chief marketing officer (CMO). With over 20 years of experience in driving brand growth, he will lead marketing efforts for GRM’s diverse portfolio, including domestic and international brands. His role will focus on expanding GRM’s presence both in India and globally, especially in the Food FMCG sector.

Prabhakar has previously worked with brands like Leayan Global, Wildcraft, Woodland, and Liberty Shoes, where he revitalised brand identities through innovative campaigns.

Vigor Media Worldwide wins PR and social media mandate for Accurate Group of Institutions

Vigor Media Worldwide has won the PR and social media mandate for Accurate Group of Institutions in Greater Noida following a multi-agency pitch. The agency will manage the institution's public relations and social media to enhance its brand presence and reputation.

Poonam Sharma, chairperson of Accurate Group, praised Vigor Media's strategic approach, while Nikhil Singhal, founder of Vigor Media, expressed commitment to achieving the institution's communication goals. This win strengthens Vigor Media’s presence in the Indian PR and social media sector.

Varun Kohli joins Grey India as senior vice president, of business–north

Grey India has appointed Varun Kohli as senior vice president, business – north. With over 15 years of experience across marketing, strategy, and client leadership, Varun brings his expertise to strengthen Grey's presence in the North region. Previously Vice President at Leo Burnett, he has worked with agencies like JWT Group, Ogilvy, and Leo Burnett, managing global brands like Pepsi, GSK, Toshiba, and Nikon across EMEA and APAC.

Advertising Club Madras expands student chapter Initiative across Tamil Nadu

Advertising Club Madras has expanded its Student Chapter initiative to colleges in Tamil Nadu, including MEPCO School of Management Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University, and Trichy Government Arts College. The programme offers students workshops, guest lectures, and career guidance to enhance their knowledge of advertising, media, and communication.

Recently, 159 students from MEPCO joined, participating in sessions led by industry experts. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry, providing students with practical experience, skills, and networking opportunities to pursue careers in advertising and media.