Market Research Society of India elects Nitin Kamat as president
Market Research Society of India (MRSI), an industry-led market research body, announced the formation of the managing committee for the tenure of 2024-2027. Nitin Kamat, chief growth and partnerships officer at TAM Media Research was elected as the new president. He takes over from Paru Minocha, managing director, South Asia, Insights Division at Kantar. He worked as the treasurer for MRSI’s managing committee 2022-2024 and was also part of the MRSI’s ISEC committee.
Additionally, Kantar’s senior executive director Puneet Avasthi and ITC’s chief digital marketing officer Shuvadip Banerjee were elected as MRSI’s vice-presidents. Hindustan Unilever’s CMI director Anila Vinayak was elected as secretary, and the treasurer is Parijat Chakraborty, country service lines group leader for public affairs and corporate reputation at Ipsos India.
The new managing committee was announced at MRSI’s 36th annual general meeting held on June 27, 2024 in Mumbai. It is represented by companies across research agencies, research users and service providers in the market research industry.
Ampverse DMI appoints Sona Mazumdar as general manager for marketing solutions, India
Ampverse DMI has appointed Sona Mazumdar as the head of its newly launched marketing solutions unit in India. Having collaborated with over 300 brands including Porsche, Samsung, Riot Games, KFC, and Coca-Cola across Asia, the e-sports influencer marketing solutions provider aims to replicate its Southeast Asian success in the Indian market.
Mazumdar will lead this new venture, driving growth for Ampverse DMI in India. In her new role, she will focus on building strong partnerships, leading innovative initiatives, and implementing strategies for the company. Incidentally, she was instrumental in forging the joint venture between DMI and Ampverse in the country.
Mazumdar has previously served as the chief partnership officer at Kidzania, where she was part of the leadership team for eight years. Her leadership is extended as an honorary member as the national president of the gaming, esports and digital entertainment council at Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI). Here, her role is to include more women professionals in this fast-growing gaming industry, laying out key action points and organising industry-expanding discussions.
Varun Kohli joins Times Network as chief operating officer for the news broadcasting business
Varun Kohli has joined the Times Network as chief operating officer for the news broadcasting business. He will report to the office of managing director, Vineet Jain, while working closely with N Subramanian, executive director and group CEO for non-publishing business at Times Group.
During this three-decade-long career, Kohli was responsible for P&L and operations management of broadcasting business to Times Network. He was instrumental in launching and organising several seasons of Pro Wrestling League and Big Bout Boxing League for his previous employer, iTV Network. , where he headed 10 channels along with two publications and digital ventures for over eight years.
Kohli has also worked with media houses including Network18, HT Media Ltd and Amar Ujala Prakashan in senior leadership roles in the past. His last assignment was as director and CEO of Bharat Express.
ASSOCHAM appoints Gaurav Ramdev as co-chair of National Council on Branding and Marketing
The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has reconstituted its councils for the year 2024-25 and appointed Gaurav Ramdev, CMO of Protean eGov Technologies, as the co-chairperson of the ASSOCHAM National Council on Branding and Marketing.
AdLift bags integrated digital marketing mandate for Mederma
Digital marketing agency AdLift has been tasked to overview the integrated digital mandate of Mederma. The company is part of industrialist Umesh Modi’s group healthcare company Win-Medicare.
One Source bags corporate communication mandate for Vitraya Technologies
One Source has won the corporate communication mandate for Vitraya Technologies. It will spearhead and build comprehensive communication strategies for the insurtech company across creative storytelling, online reputation building, and investor relations management.
Leading the account for One Source will be lead counsel, Niharika Sagar. She will report into Debaman Guin, co-lead, corporate communication at the integrated marketing consultancy.
Established in 2019, Vitraya Technologies partners with Indian brand like Star Health, Niva Bupa and Bajaj Allianz as well as Allianz, United Healthcare, and Cigna, globally. Its proprietary auto-adjudication systems can enable critical decision-making within 'one-millionth of a second', quickening the claim settlement process.
BlackCab Agency Network wins digital mandate for Hyatt Centric Juhu Mumbai
Digital marketing agency BlackCab has bagged the creative and digital mandate for Hyatt Centric Juhu Mumbai. It will work on amplifying the hotel's brand strategy across digital channels, by creating and distributing strategic content with an aim to increase desirability, and potential customers as well as further develop brand loyalty.
BlackCab's Secret Sauce Studios, a food and beverage content lab, will highlight the quality and uniqueness of the Hyatt Centric Juhu Mumbai’s offerings through visually appealing content and targeted outreach.
Kaapi Machines appoints Anurag Das as head of marketing
Kaapi Machines, a provider of coffee equipment and solutions, has appointed Anurag Das as its head of marketing. An alumnus of National Institute of Advertising, he has worked with several consumer electronics, automobile, alcobev, food and beverage and FMCG companies for around 15 years. These include Sony Electronics, Maruti Suzuki, Carlsberg, Rasna Buzz, IBM, Hakuhodo Percept and Franchise India.
Dentsu Creative Webchutney wins digital mandate for Godrej Professionals
Dentsu Creative Webchutney has won the digital mandate for Godrej Professional, the professional hair brand from Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL). The account was won following a multi-agency pitch and will be serviced from the agency’s Mumbai office.
As per the mandate, Dentsu Creative Webchutney will lead the digital marketing strategy and execute innovative campaigns for Godrej Professional. Leveraging expertise in data, technology, and advanced marketing, the agency will deliver digital solutions and memorable brand engagements. This partnership aims to establish Godrej Professional as the preferred choice of brand in salons, driving growth and enhancing consumer loyalty.
Dentsu Creative India recently reimagined its creative business to align with the evolving needs of its clients. Dentsu Creative India now encompasses three portfolio brands—Dentsu Creative Webchutney, Dentsu Creative Isobar, and Dentsu Creative PR. Dentsu Creative Webchutney delivers creative solutions across both traditional and digital media.
Pearson India appoints IAM Group to lead strategic marketing
The IAM Group of Companies has been appointed by learning company Pearson India to lead its strategic marketing initiatives in higher education. This association aims to foster deeper connections with educators and learners across India through 360 degree marketing initiatives backed by data-driven marketing strategies.
Through this collaboration, IAM Group of Companies will apply its full marketing capabilities to craft engaging digital campaigns, impactful social media strategies, and compelling content that resonates with both educators and learners.
DEPT strengthens India operations with two senior hires
Global digital agency DEPT has announced two senior appointments in India as it expands and strengthens its presence in the market. Joining the agency is Monica Ledwani who comes on board as director of customer experience. With a strong track record in leading digital transformation, she has worked across diverse categories including IT, BFSI, edtech and manufacturing with companies like Edelweiss and Ceat Tyres.
In her new role, Ledwani will be based out of Mumbai and spearhead all aspects of digital transformation for DEPT clients. This includes overseeing the delivery of projects related to the Adobe platform and marketing services.
Meanwhile, Rishi Bhargava joins the team as the head of solutions consulting. He has more than two decades of experience in managing enterprise customers across multiple verticals.
In his previous roles at IBM and Adobe, Bhargava was instrumental in the adoption and implementation of customised digital experience solutions, user experience optimisation and customer acquisition strategies. Based out of Bengaluru, his mandate will be to expand and strengthen DEPT’s Adobe practice while building newer competencies and innovating its existing practices and solution areas.
Ledwani and Bhargava will both report to Yash Mody, CTO of DEPT APAC.
Max Level bags PR mandates of Nodwin Gaming and SuperGaming
Max Level has secured the PR mandates of two gaming and esports companies, Nodwin Gaming and SuperGaming. As a marketing and PR agency founded by gamers, the company specialises in offering B2B services tailored for gaming and esports audiences. Its portfolio includes brands like Krafton, Saudi Esports Federation, ESL Faceit Group, Asus Rog, Jio Games, TVS and HyperX.
As the official PR and communication partner of Nodwin Gaming and SuperGaming, Max Level will leverage its expertise to curate impactful PR strategies that will resonate with gaming audiences and also establish deeper engagement, and accelerate brand growth.
Established in 2014, Nodwin Gaming is a gaming and esports company and a key subsidiary of Nazara Technologies with footprint across South Asia, Singapore, the Middle East, and Turkey. It specialises in the development and monetisation of gaming and esports intellectual properties such as leagues, tournaments, and reality shows.
SuperGaming is a Series-A funded game developer with titles like MaskGun and Battle Stars. They are currently building Indus, an Indo-futuristic Battle Royale with 11 million pre-registrations.
Gaurav Banerjee is Sony Pictures Networks India’s new MD and CEO
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has appointed Gaurav Banerjee as managing director and chief executive officer (CEO), effective on or before August 26, 2024, pending regulatory approvals. He will succeed NP Singh who has been associated with the media company for 25 years. Singh will move into the role of non-executive chairman with this appointment and will support this transition through the end of the fiscal year.
Banerjee previously held the positions of head of content for Hindi entertainment and Disney+ Hotstar and business head for Star Bharat, Hindi and English movies, kids and infotainment, and regional (east). In these roles, he oversaw content curation across multiple languages and spearheaded original series and films.
His media journey started as an assistant producer and anchor at Aaj Tak. From there he moved to Star News, where he started producing and anchoring prime time news shows. Banerjee holds a master's degree in filmmaking and TV production from Jamia Milia Islamia University and an undergraduate in history from St. Stephens, Delhi.
Salt Worldwide wins social media mandate for MM Poonjiaji Spices
Demand generation agency Salt Worldwide has won the social media management mandate for MM Poonjiaji Spices in a multi-agency pitch carried out over weeks. The mandate is to change the brand perception, focusing on new ways to target the millennial and Gen Z consumer category.
The 140-year-old MM Poonjiaji Spices’ product portfolio includes a wide range of chutney, pickles, condiments, pastes, spices and ready-to-eat Chinese bhel. To meet the needs of global palettes, these can be used in Indian, Arabic, continental and western cuisines.
IdeateLab is now The Outcome People
To stay in sync with the evolving business and marketing ecosystem, independent marcom solutions provider IdeateLab has repositioned itself as The Outcome People. The company claimed that while most agencies and collaborations stop at output, it aims to deliver outcomes that truly matter to its clients.
It is partnering clients in bringing this mindset shift to help reshape their thinking about their products and services in order to achieve business outcomes. The refreshed brand identity and digital assets are aimed at reflecting this new focus and its digital-first approach.
Anupama Chopra joins The Hollywood Reporter India as editor
The Hollywood Reporter India, published by RPSG Lifestyle Media, has appointed Anupama Chopra as editor, effective August 16, 2024. A well-known film critic, Chopra has covered cinema since 1993 and is a National Award-winning book author, chairperson of the Film Critics' Guild, and Director of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.
The Hollywood Reporter (THR) is a weekly entertainment media magazine and also organises live events, and video series including the Emmy-nominated ‘Off Script With the Hollywood Reporter.” Part of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, RPSG Lifestyle Media currently publishes celebrity magazine HELLO! India, and has announced its plans to publish Esquire India in the next few months.
ICCPL bags Bayside Corporations’ account
Operating in Goa, Chandigarh-Tricity, and Dubai (UAE), BCS expects gross sales revenue of over Rs 100 crores from its Goa operations alone. Additionally, it aims to expand its workforce significantly, with plans to hire more than 400 employees for its Indian offices by the end of FY 2025.
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