Moves and wins roundup: Week of 7 Oct

Organic by MSL promotes top leaders

Organic by MSL, the digital communications arm of MSL India, has announced key promotions to strengthen its top leadership. Vidhi Thakur has been elevated to the post of chief operating officer, while Srishti Gairola will serve as national creative director. These moves aim to boost the agency’s strategic and creative capabilities in a competitive media landscape.

Thakur will now integrate core capabilities across the digital team and drive business growth. She continues to lead the firm’s social sector practice, Mobilise. Gairola, with extensive experience in India and Singapore, will spearhead the agency’s creative direction, driving innovative solutions for marketing and corporate communications.

Dentsu BX India rehires Vishal Nicholas

Dentsu India has announced the return of Vishal Nicholas as EVP and head of strategy and solutions for Dentsu BX. Previously with fintech startup Jupiter, Vishal will now lead Dentsu BX’s business transformation practice, working with the top leadership to strengthen the network’s strategic solutions business in India.

Vishal’s return is seen as a step in enhancing Dentsu BX’s focus on delivering transformative, outcome-driven strategies. His prior experience includes senior roles at agencies such as Lowe Lintas and McCann, where he led campaigns for major brands and won multiple EFFIE awards.

Dentsu BX aims to grow its presence as a consulting powerhouse, combining marketing and technology.

Entrust Family Office hires The Media Manifest for PR

Entrust Family Office has announced a partnership with The Media Manifest, a PR agency. This collaboration aims to strengthen Entrust’s media presence, focusing on highlighting its advancements in family office services and personal finance.

Founded in 2013, Entrust provides succession planning, real estate management, taxation, and personal investment management services. A SEBI-registered advisory, Entrust currently manages assets worth INR 10,000 crore and serves high-net-worth individuals, including Forbes-listed families.

The Media Manifest, established in 2021, offers PR, digital solutions, and influencer marketing, specialising in sectors like wealth management, technology, and personal finance.

Prasanth Kumar re-elected AAAI president

Prasanth Kumar, CEO of GroupM Media, has been re-elected as the president of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) for 2024-25. The decision was made during the AAAI’s annual general meeting, where Rana Barua, Group CEO of Havas India, was also unanimously elected as vice-president.

The AAAI board includes several industry veterans, including representatives from Madison Communications, Everest Brand Solutions, BEI Confluence Communication, Matrix Publicities, Havas Media, and others. Anupriya Acharya, the immediate past president, will serve as an ex-officio board member.

Other elected board members include Sam Balsara, Madison Communications, Tanya Goyal, Everest Brand Solutions, Tapas Gupta, BEI Confluence Communication, Vishandas Hardasani, Matrix Publicities and Media India, Mohit Joshi,  Havas Media India, Santosh Kumar, Innocean Worldwide Communications, Kunal Lalani, Crayons Advertising, Rohan Mehta, Kinnect, Chandramouli Muthu, Maitri Advertising Works,  Kochi, Vikram Sakhuja, Platinum Advertising, Kalyan Sarkar, Standard Publicity, and K Srinivas, Sloka Advertising,  Hyderabad.

Creative Aura launches Coffee and Kangaroo

Creative Aura, a creative production and consulting agency, has launched Coffee and Kangaroo, a creative production division. The new venture aims to deliver campaigns for global brands. Founded by industry leader CK Vignesh, Creative Aura’s track record includes 800% revenue growth for startup The Feb30.

With co-founder Sathya Narayana as chief business officer, Coffee and Kangaroo will offer services ranging from brand strategy, creative production, to digital marketing. The launch follows Creative Aura’s recent expansion into the UAE, where it partnered with Al Futtaim Group for ToysRUs MENA campaigns.

House of Communication bags PR mandate for Prakash Hospital

House of Communication (HoC) has been appointed to manage the PR and communications for Prakash Hospital, a healthcare provider in Noida. The PR agency will focus on elevating the hospital’s brand through strategic media relations, thought leadership, and storytelling.

Prakash Hospital operates advanced medical facilities in Noida and Greater Noida, specialising in cardiology, orthopaedics, and critical care. The hospital also runs institutes dedicated to Ayurvedic and physiotherapy education, contributing to healthcare education in India.

FreshBox Media to lead UCAM’s campaigns

European university UCAM has partnered with FreshBox Media to expand its presence in India, focusing on offering a range of educational programmes to Indian students. FreshBox Media will handle UCAM’s digital marketing efforts, aiming to strengthen the university’s brand positioning in the competitive Indian market.

FreshBox Media’s expertise in digital marketing is expected to enhance UCAM’s visibility and connect with the Indian student audience. The partnership indicates UCAM’s focus on innovation in academics.