Moves and wins roundup: Week of 19 Aug

HT Media Group names Mani James as head of Mosaic Digital Business 

HT Media Group has appointed Mani James as the business head of its Mosaic Digital Business, overseeing platforms such as Tech Circle, VCC Events, and training and platforms. He is tasked with driving growth and revenue initiatives within the digital business segment.

Bringing over 25 years of experience, James previously held significant roles at Markets and Markets, Frost & Sullivan, and Ramco Systems. At HT Media, he will focus on expanding the digital business's reach and impact under the parent company's umbrella, which includes brands like Hindustan Times, Hindustan, and Mint.

Godrej Consumer Products appoints Swati Bhattacharya as head of Lightbox 

Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) has named Swati Bhattacharya as the global head of Lightbox, its in-house creative lab. Starting on September 1, 2024, she will lead the creative campaigns for GCPL brands across regions, including India, Indonesia, Africa, and Latin America. Lightbox, established in 2023, has been pivotal in crafting campaigns for products like Goodknight, HIT, and Godrej Aer.

Bhattacharya, formerly the creative chairperson of FCB India, brings a wealth of experience in storytelling and brand engagement to her new role. At FCB India, she played a key role in transforming the agency’s creative reputation, securing over 180 awards. Her appointment aligns with GCPL's strategy to enhance its advertising efforts and strengthen consumer connections across its diverse markets.

Vita Student names Shayon Dasverma as head of marketing for key regions

Vita Student, a UK-based premium student accommodation provider, has appointed Shayon Dasverma as the head of marketing for South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the MENA regions. With over ten years of experience in digital marketing and a background from IIM Indore, he will focus on expanding Vita Student’s presence in these markets.

In his new role, Dasverma will develop and implement marketing strategies tailored to the needs of international students from various cultural backgrounds. His data-driven approach aims to ensure campaigns effectively reach and resonate with their target audiences.

Coca-Cola India appoints Greishma Singh as new marketing vice president

Coca-Cola India Southwest Asia (INSWA) has announced Greishma Singh as its new vice president of marketing, starting September 1, 2024. Singh, previously the vice president of Customer and Commercial Leadership for INSWA, succeeds Arnab Roy, who has moved to the role of global category president for Coca-Cola Trademark.

Singh has been with The Coca-Cola Company for over 15 years, holding various roles across marketing, strategy, and customer and commercial leadership in both Australia and India. Her recent achievements include driving significant commercial initiatives and expanding distribution. Singh will continue to be based in India as she transitions to her new role.

Primex Media Services to lead PR for JITO Youth Conclave 2024

Surat-based Primex Media Services has been appointed to handle the public relations for the upcoming JITO National Youth Conclave 2024. The agency will be responsible for communication initiatives, developing PR strategies, managing media presence, and overseeing the event's reputation.

Mohit Ahuja and Ankur Jain launch Magic Network 

Industry veterans Mohit Ahuja and Ankur Jain have launched Magic Network, a new agency designed to serve as a comprehensive marketing communications hub. It aims to provide strategic content creation and consultancy services for brands, while also offering an open-source platform for niche agencies.

Ahuja, with over 24 years of experience from agencies like Ogilvy and McCann, and Jain, an award-winning creative with 18 years in the field, bring their expertise to the new venture. Their focus will be on engaging top-of-the-funnel marketing and culturally resonant content, challenging the notion that effective marketing is solely transactional.

Swiss Beauty appoints Vidushi Goyal as chief marketing officer 

Swiss Beauty, an Indian cosmetics brand, has appointed Vidushi Goyal as its new chief marketing officer. She will oversee the marketing strategies for all Swiss Beauty brands, including emerging categories and sub-brands like Swiss Beauty Craze and Swiss Beauty Select. Her focus will be on carving out a distinct brand identity in the competitive beauty and personal care market.

Before joining Swiss Beauty, Goyal held the position of vice president of marketing at Mamaearth, where she played a key role in scaling the brand significantly. With her experience in digital marketing and brand building, she is expected to drive Swiss Beauty's growth by staying ahead of industry trends and introducing innovative marketing strategies.

AJAX Engineering names Gautam Eunny as chief marketing officer 

AJAX Engineering has appointed Gautam Eunny as its chief marketing officer. He brings 25 years of experience in business development, strategy, operations, and B2B sales and marketing. His career includes significant roles at Pidilite Industries, Lafarge India, and Larsen & Toubro, where he focused on driving business growth and strategic initiatives.

At AJAX Engineering, Eunny will lead the company's marketing strategies, business development efforts, and work to strengthen its market presence. His extensive industry experience and management skills make him a key addition to the leadership team.

Lowe Lintas takes on Amaron account

Lowe Lintas has secured the creative mandate for Amaron, a brand of Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Ltd, following a competitive pitch process. The Mumbai office of Lowe Lintas will handle the account, focusing on enhancing Amaron’s brand journey.

Amaron, a major player in the industrial and automotive battery market in India, provides batteries for automotive, industrial, and home energy solutions, including electric vehicles. Known for its advanced technology and reliability, Amaron is adapting to the automotive industry's shift towards sustainable technologies and has also expanded into lubricants. This new partnership is expected to boost Amaron’s brand visibility and market position.

SW Network, an integrated advertising agency, has appointed Alin Choubey as the business head of its Delhi office. he will be responsible for overseeing strategic initiatives, client management, and operations, with a focus on driving the agency's growth and enhancing its operational capabilities.

Choubey brings significant experience from his leadership roles at agencies such as Foxy Moron, Chimp&z Inc, and Herald Digital. In his new position, he will work closely with SW Network's co-founders Pranav Agarwal and Raghav Bagai to continue fostering a collaborative team culture and spearheading innovative campaigns.

Art-E secures marketing mandate for Firefox Cycles 

Art-E Mediatech, a creative and marketing agency, has been appointed by Firefox Cycles to develop and execute a 360-degree marketing strategy. This comprehensive plan will cover in-store promotions, offline marketing, media buying, social media management, and performance marketing, all coordinated by Art-E's Delhi branch.

Amit Dhawan, partner and CEO of Art-E, expressed confidence in the partnership, highlighting the agency’s focus on delivering strong brand outreach. Sriram Sundreson, CEO of Firefox Bikes, emphasised the long-term collaboration, aiming to leverage the agency's expertise in navigating the dynamic digital media landscape.

Wavar partners with Thought Process Communications to boost agricultural profitability 

Wavar, an emerging player in agricultural technology, has teamed up with Thought Process Communications to enhance its mission of increasing profitability for Indian farmers. Since its founding in 2019, Wavar has focused on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions, impacting over 250,000 farmers across eight states. Their network spans 300 dealers, with IPM practices covering approximately 40,000 acres, all geared towards sustainable farming and low-residue cropping.

This partnership with Thought Process Communications aims to increase Wavar's visibility and reinforce its brand narrative. By leveraging Thought Process’s expertise, the company seeks to expand its reach and solidify its position as a leading Agri IPM brand in India, targeting over 1 million acres of agricultural land and a broader farming community.

Awfis Space Solutions promotes Sheetal Vanwari to chief marketing officer 

Awfis Space Solutions has promoted Sheetal Vanwari to the role of chief marketing officer, where she previously served as head of marketing. She announced her promotion on LinkedIn. Before joining Awfis, she held the position of assistant general manager at Kalpataru Group and has prior experience with Webchutney and Arc Worldwide.

Tute Consult promotes Shweta Mehrotra to vice president 

Tute Consult has elevated Shweta Mehrotra to vice president. Since joining the independent communications and PR agency in 2020, she has led strategy and operations, securing key brand partnerships and crafting communications strategies across various sectors, including technology, luxury, and retail. With over 22 years of experience in the industry, Mehrotra has previously worked with agencies like Good Relations India and MSLGroup and also teaches PR and Communications at SCoRe.

Grapes Worldwide expands into UK market with London office 

Grapes Worldwide, an integrated communication agency, has opened its first international office in London, marking its entry into the UK market. Established in 2015, the agency has offices within India in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore.

The new London branch will initially focus on creative and technology solutions, with plans to broaden its services as the business grows. Grapes Worldwide, which now employs over 300 staff, continues to evolve from a creative agency to a full-service provider, offering solutions across creative, digital, media, and more.

Interactive Avenues wins creative and media mandate for Super League Kerala 

Interactive Avenues, the digital arm of IPG Mediabrands India, has been appointed to handle the creative and media responsibilities for Super League Kerala (SLK). The agency will oversee SLK’s brand identity, social media, TVCs, digital content, and cross-media campaigns, managing the account from their Mumbai office.

Backed by the Meeran Group, SLK chose Interactive Avenues for their expertise in sports marketing, with the aim of building a premium football league focused on community development, youth engagement, and entertainment.

Wardwizard Foods appoints Deepak Nambiar as corporate communications head 

Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Limited has appointed Deepak Nambiar as the head of corporate communications. With over two decades of experience, including a key role at The Indian Express Newspaper Group, he will lead the company's communication strategies to boost brand visibility and stakeholder engagement. He brings a strong background in both traditional and digital media, aiming to enhance Wardwizard’s corporate reputation and support its growth in the competitive food and beverage sector.

Prose Integrated to lead PR for retailtech firm Pathfinder Global

Prose Integrated has secured the public relations mandate for Pathfinder Global, a retail technology that offers solutions in customer engagement and business optimisation. As part of this partnership, the agency will manage all media and external communications for Pathfinder in India, focusing on enhancing the brand's presence across print and digital platforms.

The collaboration also involves the strategic launch of Pathfinder’s new Retail AI app in September 2024, further cementing the company’s role in advancing retail technology.

Pathfinder Global, established in 2000, supports over 150 shopping malls, 40 airports, and 1500 retail brands with its tech solutions. With India’s retail market projected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2027, Prose Integrated’s efforts will be pivotal in helping Pathfinder strengthen its position in this rapidly growing sector.

Howl Digital wins BSE Ltd's digital marketing mandate

HGS Interactive, a Mumbai-based digital marketing agency, has been chosen to manage the e-commerce launch of Streax Craft, a new sub-brand of Streax India. The agency will handle all aspects of the launch, including content creation, banners, and strategic communications, to introduce Streax Craft’s Repair and Strength range for damaged and treated hair to the market.

Streax Craft is an e-commerce exclusive brand aimed at the home-based professional hair care market. HGS Interactive's efforts will focus on effectively communicating the brand’s value proposition to consumers. The collaboration reflects Streax's commitment to expanding its product offerings in the personal care sector, with HGS Interactive driving the online strategy.

Kunal Sinha joins Ampersand Advisory as chief knowledge office

Kunal Sinha has joined Malaysian agency Ampersand Advisory as chief knowledge officer. With over three decades of experience in the advertising industry, he has held significant roles in leading agencies like JWT, Ogilvy, McCann, and data consultancies such as Kantar and The Futures Company. His expertise spans consumer and cultural trends, market innovation, and brand solutions for companies like Unilever, Intel, Diageo, and Google across key Asian markets.

Sinha has led projects on trend forecasting, AI, and market growth for major firms including Tata Sons and Mastercard. He has also delivered branding solutions for a diverse range of clients, including Amazon, UNICEF, and Spotify. An accomplished public speaker and educator, Sinha has shared his insights at global conferences and taught at institutions such as Harvard and Cambridge. He is also an author of six books and a prolific contributor to WARC, with over 40 published works.

Veritas Reputation PR wins PR mandate for Indian Overseas Bank

Veritas Reputation PR has secured a three-year public relations and investor relations mandate for Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), a nationalised bank based in Chennai. The selection followed a competitive pitch involving several top PR firms in India.

Veritas Reputation PR will focus on enhancing IOB's brand positioning and audience outreach through comprehensive corporate communications and PR strategies. The mandate also includes managing the bank's investor relations to improve its image among investors.