Moves and wins roundup: Week of 20 Jan

Google expands Vidhya Srinivasan’s role 

Vidhya Srinivasan, Google’s vice president of advertising, has taken on additional responsibilities as vice president of commerce. In her expanded role, in addition to heading the advertising division, she will also lead the company’s commerce division, which includes consumer shopping, merchant shopping, and payments.

Srinivasan, who joined Google from Amazon five years ago, has been instrumental in managing technical teams across ads products. Her work has included overseeing search and shopping ads, Google Analytics, ads measurement tools, and AI-driven campaign solutions. With this move, she will drive innovation in commerce and enhance AI-powered shopping experiences for consumers and merchants. 

Eularie Saldanha joins Publicis India as corp comms director

Publicis Groupe India has appointed Eularie Saldanha as its director of corporate communications. She has transitioned from FCB Kinnect, where she previously served as senior manager for corporate communications, contributing to the agency’s strategic communications and media presence. 

Saldanha brings over six years of experience as a trade-media journalist, having worked with publications including Campaign India and IMPACT Magazine. Her expertise spans media relations, communication strategies, and industry insights, enhancing Publicis Groupe India’s positioning in the advertising and media sector. 

Archana Hindocha to lead Value 360's Bengaluru operations

Value 360 Communications has appointed Archana Hindocha to lead its Bengaluru operations as part of its 2025 expansion strategy. Hindocha, with over 20 years of experience in corporate communications and PR, has worked with brands like Dell and AWS. 

The firm plans to enhance its capabilities across industry verticals, supported by a growing client portfolio including Tata Motors and Kia India. 

Gozoop wins Mad Over Donuts mandate 

Gozoop Creative Digital has been appointed as the integrated marketing partner for Mad Over Donuts (MOD). The agency will handle MOD’s branding, marketing strategies, and digital presence, aiming to enhance customer engagement and brand visibility. 

This collaboration includes innovative campaigns, community-building initiatives, and strategic content to strengthen MOD’s position in the quick-service restaurant market. 

Sideways Play launches outdoor campaign for Crossoku

Sideways Play has launched an outdoor campaign for its game Crossoku, targeting puzzle and word enthusiasts. The creative campaign integrates puzzles into its visuals, aligning with the game’s appeal to word lovers. 

Crossoku, available both online and offline, has recently gained attention from prominent figures, including Shashi Tharoor, boosting its recognition among word game fans. 

Curry Nation, Chlorosynth partner for AI advertising

Curry Nation and Chlorosynth have announced a partnership to integrate AI into their advertising solutions. The collaboration combines Curry Nation’s campaign expertise with Chlorosynth’s AI-driven branding capabilities.

The partnership aims to deliver innovative and effective messaging strategies for brands, leveraging generative AI to create impactful content across media platforms.

FCB India secures 14 clients in January

FCB Group India has added 14 new clients to its portfolio, generating over $2 million in business. The new partnerships span industries like FMCG, healthcare, food, beverages, and power, with brands such as Mountain Dew (Pakistan), Sanofi-Dulcoflex, Tasty Bite, Wagh Bakri, and Torrent Electricals joining the agency’s roster. This expansion underscores FCB’s ability to deliver transformative results through its blend of creativity, data, and technology.

Dheeraj Sinha, CEO of FCB Group India, highlighted the agency’s focus on combining innovation with data-driven insights to tackle real-world business challenges. He credited the trust of these brands in FCB’s ability to deliver impactful solutions that set new benchmarks in the industry. The agency aims to forge strong collaborations with its new clients, helping them achieve meaningful business outcomes.

Sintex appoints Sudeep Chawla as CMO

Sintex, part of Welspun World, has appointed Sudeep Chawla as chief marketing officer. Chawla brings nearly two decades of experience in sales and marketing roles at organizations like Cadbury/Mondelez and Pidilite. He has expertise in brand-building across both B2C and B2B spaces.

Chawla has a track record of driving category creation and strengthening brand equity. His commitment to nurturing the marketing community is evident through his weekly marketing podcast, teaching roles at colleges and online platforms, and TEDx talks on marketing’s evolving landscape.

Madison Turnt names Siddhartha Menon as deputy GM

Madison Turnt, an experiential marketing unit of Madison World, has appointed Siddhartha Menon as deputy general manager in Bengaluru. Menon will report directly to Sunny Vohra, CEO of Madison Turnt & Anugrah Madison. Menon is an industry professional with experience across agencies including CsDirekt, Salt, and George P Johnson.

He has held marketing leadership roles at companies such as YourStory and WebEngage. Menon’s background in organizing concerts through Rock Street Journal adds to his experiences, enhancing Madison Turnt’s reputation for delivering impactful and memorable experiences.

Wyndham Hotels hires Rahool Macarius as Eurasia MD

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has appointed Rahool Macarius as market managing director for Eurasia. This appointment underscores Wyndham's commitment to expanding its presence and strengthening operations in the hospitality market. Macarius will oversee regional operations and drive the growth of Wyndham's diverse portfolio across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and the Maldives.

Macarius returns to Wyndham, where he was previously Director of Commercial for the region. He brings over 25 years of experience, including financial acumen, operational excellence, and stakeholder relationship management, developed through leadership roles at various hotel groups.

Third Wave Coffee names Akshat Arora as marketing director

Third Wave Coffee has appointed Akshat Arora as its marketing director. Arora has over 14 years of experience in marketing and brand strategy working in organisations such as Tim Hortons, Bisleri, and Jaguar Land Rover. He will lead the company’s marketing activities to strengthen its presence in India’s specialty coffee market.

In his role, Arora will focus on expanding Third Wave’s digital and offline marketing initiatives, aiming to boost customer engagement and enhance brand visibility. His appointment coincides with the opening of the company's 125th café in India.

Schbang names Dipshika Ravi as digital national creative director for West and North

Schbang has appointed Dipshika Ravi as its new digital national creative director for West and North. With 17 years in the advertising industry, Ravi brings experience in creating campaigns for several brands. In her new role, she will lead the creative vision for Schbang’s portfolio.

Ravi has previously held roles at agencies including Creativeland Asia, Hungama, iProspect, and LS Digital and has worked on campaigns for brands such as PepsiCo, HDFC Life, and MakeMyTrip. She has received over 80 national and international awards.

Frido partners with Kaizzen for strategic communication goals  

OMD India secures HDFC Life media mandate  

OMD India has won the integrated media mandate for HDFC Life following a rigorous multi-agency pitch process. This life insurance provider offers a diverse portfolio of 80 products, including Protection, Pension, and Health solutions. With this partnership, OMD India will craft a consolidated media strategy across online and offline channels, aiming to bolster HDFC Life's growth and deepen customer engagement in a competitive market. 

The collaboration leverages OMD India's strategic expertise and Omnicom's Omni platform to enhance customer experiences and amplify HDFC Life's brand presence. Anisha Iyer, CEO of OMD India, highlighted the agency's commitment to delivering impactful marketing outcomes, while HDFC Life expressed confidence in OMD's tools, innovation, and customer-centric approach to accelerate its brand journey.

IndiGo appoints Rashmi Soni as communications vice president

Rashmi Soni has joined IndiGo as vice president of corporate communications, succeeding C Leekha, who departs after six years. Leekha was credited by CEO Pieter Elbers for her contributions during critical phases, including the COVID-19 crisis, and was lauded for her dedication to corporate and brand communication. 

Soni, previously with PayU, brings over 28 years of leadership experience with brands like Adobe, Tata Teleservices, and Vistara, where she was part of the airline’s launch team. A Stanford-certified project manager, Soni expressed enthusiasm for her new role, citing her passion for aviation and IndiGo’s dynamic growth as key motivators for joining India’s largest airline.