Jaibeer Ahmad, who was recently elevated to the role of Chief Transformation and Growth Officer at Havas India, is moving on from the company.

Havas India confirmed the news with Storyboard18, and an official spokesperson said, "Yes, Jaibeer Ahmad is moving on due to personal reasons.”

Ahmad who was managing partner – north at Havas Worldwide India was elevated to chief transformation and growth officer in January 2024. In this newly created role in India, Jaibeer was set to introduce transformative strategies, driving business growth through integration and collaboration across all 18 Havas India agencies.

Ahmad was reporting to Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, South East Asia & North Asia (Japan & South Korea).

Ahmad joined Havas Worldwide India in December 2022. Under his leadership, the agency secured key accounts and welcomed renowned clients, reinforcing Havas India's position in the market. Known for his business growth acumen, Ahmad has been a driving force behind Havas Worldwide India's new business growth in the North India market. He managed some of the biggest accounts of the agency including Reckitt, Suzuki 2 Wheelers, Dabur and IFB, and won some marquee clients including Mamaearth, IFB, Badshah, Blinkit, IQOO, amongst others, contributing significantly to brand strategy, creative development, and overall revenue expansion.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/job-scams-in-adland-continue-havas-india-calls-for-caution-19669.htm">Job scams in adland continue: Havas India calls for caution</a>

Havas India's transformation chief Jaibeer Ahmad on his way out

Jaibeer Ahmad was reporting to Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, South East Asia & North Asia (Japan & South Korea).

How Indian politicians are leveraging influencer marketing for Lok Sabha Elections

Dish TV revamps strategy to combat OTT challenge, targets increased subscriber base  and market share

Supreme Court questions IMA President: What kind of example are you setting for doctors?

Mumbai “illegal hoarding” collapse; BMC to take legal action against ad agencies

Patanjali misleading ads case: SC reserves order in contempt plea

Mandatory anti-fake review rules for e-commerce firms soon

Representational image via Unsplash

Zee-Sony merger saga ends: Timeline of the failed merger

Why are Indian brands advertising in NYC's Times Square?

What Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick teaches us about leadership

Advertising is in the position where tobacco was: IPG's Arun Kumar 

Biz Moves: Interactive Avenues, Verve Media, Foxymoron and Grapes

There is an opportunity for building a better agency, not just a different one: Manja's Prajato Guha

"Imagine if there was a baby oil messaging on the billboard. And it falls and kills a few mothers"

Advertisers alarmed by Mumbai hoarding collapse; ad agencies, brands call for audits and action

Mumbai billboard collapse: Scope of Disaster Management Act in providing accountability and relief

Mumbai ad hoarding collapse: “Regulatory machineries like OOH Association have failed to recognise importance of public safety,” says ad veteran

Piyush Pandey

Adtech regulation a priority for Modi govt in third term: MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Credibility of news and platforms are as important as monetisation challenges: Anurag Thakur

HUL: Meet the leaders who have emerged from "The CEO Factory"

Punit Goenka addresses Zee employees; ensures no layoffs due to failed merger

Disney's strategic sale to Viacom18 set to boost market share to 40 percent

The Leader's Edge: Storyboard18 in conversation with leaders, decision makers and disruptors

Nobody’s Perfect Retro Porsche Ad

In Conversation With Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard

Shahid Kapoor And Varun Ganjoo Speaks On PokerBaazi's Campaign

In conversation with IHCL’s Puneet Chhatwal & GroupM’s Kate Scott-Dawkins

Why are brands including e-sports in their sports marketing itinerary?

Storyboard18 x The English Nut: How to pronounce these 10 brand names

Experts' Take On Reinvention Of Ad Campaigns Through Technology

Experts Speak On Key Emerging Trends In Cannes Lions Entries

Leaders of the future have to be outstanding human beings: Nestle MD

In conversation with VMLY&R’s Hari Ramanathan

Google chief Sundar Pichai shared his first-ever post on LinkedIn, a platform owned by Microsoft. Pichai shared, "For my first-ever LinkedIn post, I thought I’d share a sneak peek of the Shoreline Amphitheatre stage, as we put some finishing touches on our keynote for Google I/O tomorrow. Can’t wait to see those seats filled with developers from around the world who are building the next generation of AI experiences." 

He added, "Excited to join Demis Hassabis Elizabeth Reid Sissie H. James Manyika and others on stage. We'll share how our Gemini models are bringing breakthrough AI capabilities to people through our products, as well as innovation across safety, research, infrastructure…we’re going to talk about it all. Tune in if you can — 10 a.m. PT tomorrow!" 

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LinkedIn connects the world’s professionals, has more than 1 billion members and has offices around the globe. 

Earlier this month, Microsoft Corp. and LinkedIn released the 2024 Work Trend Index, a joint report on the state of AI at work titled, “AI at work is here. Now comes the hard part.” The research — based on a survey of 31,000 people across 31 countries, labor and hiring trends on LinkedIn, trillions of Microsoft 365 productivity signals, and research with Fortune 500 customers — shows how, just one year in, AI is influencing the way people work, lead and hire around the world. 

Microsoft also announced new capabilities in Copilot for Microsoft 365, and LinkedIn made free more than 50 learning courses for LinkedIn Premium subscribers designed to empower professionals at all levels to advance their AI aptitude.

“AI is democratizing expertise across the workforce,” said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft. “Our latest research highlights the opportunity for every organization to apply this technology to drive better decision-making, collaboration — and ultimately business outcomes.”

Sundar Pichai's first-ever LinkedIn post: What did the Google boss say?

Firstpost has issued an alert about fraudulent ads involving the misuse of the name and image of its Managing Editor, Palki Sharma by cyber criminals. Individuals have been deceived through false ads on social media, particularly Facebook and Instagram, claiming to offer stock market courses by Palki Sharma.

Bringing attention to the false ads, Palki Sharma posted on X and alerted the users. In her post, she said, “This is a scam. A lot of you have shared these posts with me in the last few days. (Thanks for flagging!) My photos are being misused and such fraudulent ads are being circulated on Facebook. Despite complaints, @Meta has not taken action.”

Palki Sharma does not provide any investment advice or stock market course through WhatsApp or any other social media platform. She is not associated with any group offering stock recommendations or financial advice, and people are urged to exercise caution and report any suspicious activities immediately.

To avoid falling victim to such fraud, it is recommended to ignore advice from unknown sources, verify information from official sources, and maintain secure practices for personal and financial transactions. It is important not to trust any information shared through unofficial channels and sources. In case of any suspicious activity, Firstpost advises people to report it to the appropriate authorities immediately.

For further information and to report fraudulent activities, please visit <a href="https://www.cybercrime.gov.in/">www.cybercrime.gov.in</a> or contact the helpline number – 1930 or the cyber cell of the local police department.

Link to the post on X: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is a scam. A lot of you have shared these posts with me in the last few days. (Thanks for flagging!) My photos are being misused and such fraudulent ads are being circulated on Facebook. Despite complaints, <a href="https://twitter.com/Meta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Meta</a> has not taken action. <a href="https://t.co/B5zkQkDwGH">pic.twitter.com/B5zkQkDwGH</a>&mdash; Palki Sharma (@palkisu) <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu/status/1787546496956596362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Scam alert! Fake ads impersonating Palki Sharma of Firstpost

Games24x7 announced the elevation of Tridib Mukherjee to the position of Chief Data Science & AI Officer. In his new role, Tridib will continue to drive Games24x7's data-centric approach, leveraging his extensive expertise in data science and artificial intelligence to drive innovation and enhance user experiences.

Having served as the Vice President of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Games24x7 for over six years, Tridib played a pivotal role in implementing cutting-edge algorithms and AI-driven solutions that propelled Games24x7 to the forefront of the online gaming industry. Tridib will continue to spearhead data science & AI teams and enable product teams to create personalized and engaging experiences for players.

Commenting on the announcement, Bhavin Pandya, Co-CEO and Co-founder, Games24x7 said, “Our scientific approach to running business really goes all the way back to our inception and has been the primary force behind our success. We are delighted to announce Tridib's promotion to Chief Data Science & AI Officer. With his expertise and the exceptional talent of our AI and data science team, which has grown significantly over the past five years, we've continuously raised the bar when it comes to offering personalised gameplay experiences including responsible gaming.  We are confident that the organization will continue this tradition of innovation under his leadership, and we wish him the very best as he spearheads our data-driven journey to new heights.”

Tridib Mukherjee, now the Chief Data Science & AI Officer, Games24x7 said, “At Games24x7, we have always worked for the players and our operating ethos of 'Science of Gaming' has been the guiding principle behind every decision we make. Over the past six years, I've had the privilege of working alongside an incredibly talented team dedicated to advancing the frontiers of gaming through the lens of data science. And I look forward to many more years of collaboration and innovation as we continue our mission of leveraging technology to create even more engaging and enjoyable gaming experiences for our users.”

With over two decades of experience and a distinguished academic background, including a PhD in Computer Science & Engineering from Arizona State University, Tridib Mukherjee is uniquely positioned to lead Games24x7's data science initiatives to new heights. His prolific record as an author of over 70 research papers and multiple patents in AI and data sciences reflects his deep expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, and more. The talented team at Games24x7, along with Tridib's leadership and award-winning contributions, positions the organization to shape the future direction of the industry and deliver unparalleled gaming experiences to its users.

Games24x7 elevates Tridib Mukherjee as Chief Data Science & AI Officer

Unilever's Chief People and Transformation Officer, Nitin Paranjpe, took to LinkedIn to share a story about defying self-doubt and finding unexpected joys in embracing a personal challenge, even if the results are... well, let's just say entertaining.


“I am musically challenged. I struggle with rhythm; I don’t have any natural talent. Around twenty years ago, I decided to test this. I wanted to see, if you are challenged in a particular field, what can you do with effort and discipline,” he said in his post.


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Almost 20 years ago Paranjpe found someone to teach him the keyboard. “If you want to know the outcome of that study, I still play badly. That’s how I challenged I am,” he said.


But then it was still a win for him because he always thought he wouldn't be able to string together a tune even if he was given the notes. Paranjpe goes on about his tryst with music. 


He didn’t find a lot of success in his learning story but definitely found joy. “Anyone who listens to me today could well say-My god! After so many years you still suck,” he said.


And to that he’d say, “Yeah, and that's okay. You have no idea where I was compared to where I am now.” Paranjpe ended the note with a profound thought. He said, “What started off purely as a challenge has turned out to be a lot of fun.”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/hul-appoints-vipul-mathur-as-executive-director-personal-care-takes-over-from-madhusudhan-rao-30619.htm">HUL appoints Vipul Mathur as Executive Director, Personal Care</a>

Unilever’s Nitin Paranjpe shares an endearing story about his lack of musical talent

The marketing industry plays a dynamic role in influencing consumer behaviour and fostering economic growth. After the grand success of the first two editions of Storyboard18 Visionaries, held in Gurugram and Bengaluru, the program is now gearing up to be in the city of marketing and creative excellence, Mumbai. 


The third edition of Visionaries to be held on Friday, April 26th will witness some of the biggest names in brand marketing come together to celebrate the brilliance of marketing mavens.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/sustainability-at-heart-and-purpose-defines-the-path-diageos-hina-nagarajan-24779.htm">Sustainability at heart and purpose defines the path: Diageo India's Hina Nagarajan</a> 


Storyboard18 Visionaries celebrates luminaries from the world of brands and marketing who have disrupted and revolutionised the way we approach media and advertising. The Visionaries is a one of its kind platform that presents opportunities for the sharpest minds in the business to convene, celebrate excellence and exchange ideas that power growth. It is a night of gala celebration shaping the future of marketing in India.


The city chapters of Visionaries aim to bring together meaningful conversations, spotlighting path-breaking achievements and future gazing strategies.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/storyboard18-visionaries-britannias-varun-berry-shares-leadership-lessons-24840.htm">Storyboard18 Visionaries: Britannia's Varun Berry shares leadership lessons</a> 


The Mumbai event promises to be an evening to remember, with the coming together of iconic leaders and new-age marketers. The event will feature a keynote address by Bharat Puri, CEO, Pidilite Industries and a special address by Santosh Iyer, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India Pvt Ltd. The evening will spotlight leading marketers from a wide-range of brands including HDFC Bank, P&G, Mercedes, Hindustan Unilever, Visa, L'Oreal, Mondelez, Spotify, UltraTech and Mahindra Group, among others. It will also feature engaging conversations with Nishant Kalra, Country Vice President, Salesforce, and MVS Murthy, CMO, Federal Bank, among others. The Visionaries programme for CXOs and executives brings a ringside view into ways of shaping consumer behaviour.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/storyboard18-visionaries-bengaluru-chapter-blockbuster-celebration-of-marketing-brilliance-24771.htm">Storyboard18 Visionaries - Bengaluru chapter: Blockbuster celebration of marketing brilliance</a> 


The Visionaries programme for CXOs and executives provides unparalleled insights of how the best and brightest function in complex times. So, meet us at the point where cutting-edge ideas and visionary leaders who are changing our approach to media, marketing and advertising, converge to power transformation.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/the-visionaries">The Visionaries</a>

Storyboard18 Visionaries Mumbai Edition is here!: Join the celebration of marketing mavens

The Derma Co., an active ingredient backed skincare brand from Honasa Consumer Limited, marked a milestone of achieving an annual revenue rate of INR 500 crore. "This achievement underscores Honasa Consumers’ capabilities to craft and scale new brands with strategic innovations, delivering exceptional skincare solutions to consumers across India," Honasa Consumer said in a statement. The milestone demonstrate the strength of the brand's on-trend, data-based innovation strategy, the company stated. 

Its focus on leveraging data for product innovation and responding swiftly to emerging trends continues to be a cornerstone of the strategy, the company added. 

Commenting on this milestone, Varun Alagh, Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Honasa Consumer Limited, says “The Derma Co.'s remarkable achievement of INR 500 crore annual run rate is a strong testament to our strategic brand-building approach at Honasa Consumer Limited. Our success is an output of in-depth consumer study of the evolving consumer demands and being able to innovate swiftly to deliver differentiated propositions to our consumers. This focus on excellence has helped us set new benchmarks across the active ingredient-based skincare segment. At Honasa, we are committed to continue our quest towards fueling our innovations and offer brands that serve the evolving consumer demands.”

Last month, Honasa Consumer Limited, the parent of Mamaearth, also launched ‘Staze’, a colour cosmetic line in a bid to enter the segment currently dominated by the likes of L'Oreal, Lakme, Sugar. “Staze is poised to carve its niche with a distinct emphasis on performance and innovation. We firmly believe that Gen Z consumers, who are seeking value and innovation, and Staze is uniquely positioned to meet and exceed their expectations", said Ghazal Alagh, Chief Innovation Officer, Honasa Consumer Ltd.

Varun Alagh added, “Honasa has always been at the forefront of innovation and being the pioneers in the BPC industry, we recognised a vital opportunity to address the burgeoning demand for innovative yet accessible colour cosmetics. And with the colour cosmetics segment boasting a remarkable CAGR of 12 percent and a substantial size of Rs 15,000 crore, it became evident that there was a gap in the market. These factors paved the way for Staze…”



Mamaearth-maker Honasa Consumer's second brand, The Derma Co., enters the Rs 500 crore ARR club

For Nidhi Mehta, director - finance, GOZOOP Group, Chief Financial Officers’ role extends beyond traditional finance boundaries. They are responsible for the finance and accounting professionals who perform operational functions and services in a strategic advisory role to the CEO and the rest of the C-suite peers. 


In a conversation with Storyboard18, she added, “A CFO's role commands a lot of respect in the ad agency as they advise other department heads, assist them in maximising revenues and controlling expenses without sacrificing customer needs and the agency's reputation.”


Edited Excerpts


Tell us about your career trajectory and journey. Where and how you started and what got you here.


I am a chartered accountant by profession. Post my three-year article ship, this is my first corporate job at GOZOOP Group. Years back I had not heard of GOZOOP but there was definitely a vibe when I entered the office for an interview. 


Digital Marketing was a thriving industry then and the core management at GOZOOP was impressive. The job profile offered was perfect and hence, there were no second thoughts. It's been years since that decision and since then there has been no looking back. 


What led you to join the advertising agency ecosystem in finance? What were your initial impressions and thoughts of the ad agency business? 


Advertising is always an exciting industry. In this new emerging era, where there is a wave of entrepreneurship and brand building, marketing today plays the most pivotal role for any new business start-up. Digital marketing helps thousands of new business entrepreneurs push boundaries and drive impact. 


How has the role of a CFO in an ad agency changed over the years? What does the job entail today? Where have you seen the biggest changes in what the role and function mean to the business? 


The CFO's role is extending beyond traditional finance boundaries and an increasing number of finance leaders view it as a pathway to the CEO position. The modern CFO is aspirational. 


Once mere observers in the boardroom, they are now crafting long-term strategies that ensure organisational stability. They are integral members of the top executive team, possessing a profound understanding of the company's vision. 


How do other departments and functions in the agency view the role of the CFO and the finance function? 


A CFO's and finance team's role in an ad agency is viewed as the most challenging role as they oversee the company's financial activities. This includes being responsible for the finance and accounting professionals who perform operational functions and services in a strategic advisory role to the CEO and the rest of the C-suite peers. 


A CFO's role commands a lot of respect in the ad agency as they advise other department heads, assist them in maximising revenues and controlling expenses without sacrificing customer needs and the agency's reputation.


How has the agency business model evolved? What have been the key changes and disruptions according to you and the impact of these shifts on the ad agency business model? 


Advertising agencies have evolved by leaps and bounds. It began with a simple printed ad in a newspaper and evolved into radio and television, commercials, billboards and digital advertising in the modern era. Advertising techniques have also become more sophisticated, incorporating psychology and consumer behaviour studies to create persuasive and effective campaigns.

 
Agencies are facing threats from all places. Is the business model future-ready? 


It is definitely future-ready as today the focus has shifted from the product to address consumer needs. With the emergence of new technologies and data-driven approaches, agencies can remain indispensable by tapping into this potential. 


However, with the pace of changes happening across the industry, agencies that do not develop a framework and plan for modernising their operational model that's inclusive of AI and technology will likely encounter increased challenges with both client and talent retention. 


From your observation, do you see any gender inequality or disparity in the finance function across levels? Agency leadership has traditionally been male dominated and advertising was seen as a boys club. Does that hold true for finance as well and the CFOs in advertising?


Not at all. The finance department at GOZOOP was and is always driven by women leadership. As far as the industry is concerned, there are several factors that lead to one's leadership goal.


What are the steps ad agencies must take to advance CFOs' role in advertising?


Agencies should enhance better communication between CFOs and other departmental heads. Regular meetings between them are needed to negotiate and discuss expenses and budgets that are aligned to the company's goals. 


A CFO should be made an integral part of all important decision-making of the agency as finance and marketers think and behave very differently. A combination of their brainstorming where marketers are driven by creativity and finance is driven by numbers and budgets could lead to some amazing outcomes for both the client and the agency.


What according to you are the biggest threats facing the advertising agency business today?

In-housing and talent retention are two of the biggest pressures that agencies face today. The threat remains that a brand will bring certain functions in-house, leaving agencies without that business. Brands are in-house because they believe they can do better work in a cheaper, faster and more transparent way. The other big issue is around both recruitment and retention of talent. There has always been volatility for agencies around talent. 


What are the trends you are currently witnessing in advertising, and what is the role of a CFO in such a scenario?


The rapid emergence of AI and the increasing role of technology within business operations is the current trend. CFOs should follow a test-and-learn approach where with their ability they are ready to take a smart risk and foresee how certain trends will impact their business. 


They should encourage the team to begin taking steps now to experiment with AI, explore how technology can drive operational value for the business, and help them understand how internal talent is spending their time and how to maximise their value for the business. 


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/managing-your-mind-at-work-and-beyond-isnt-easy-it-takes-a-lot-of-maturity-and-wisdom-says-bajaj-autos-deepika-warrier-16913.htm">Managing your mind at work and beyond isn't easy; it takes a lot of maturity and wisdom, says Bajaj Auto’s Deepika Warrier</a>

CFOs breaking boundaries, crafting long-term strategies for organisational stability: Nidhi Mehta, GOZOOP Group

Anupam Mittal, the founder and CEO of People Group and Shaadi.com, and a prominent investor on Shark Tank India, is widely recognized for his strategic investments in renowned startups and unicorn companies such as Ola Cabs, BigBasket, Druva, among others. Mittal is also one of the leading voices to take on big tech firms like Google and Meta, slamming them for their "unfair" monopolistic practices in markets like India. 

On April 9, Meta "arbitrarily" disabled his company's account, prompting Mittal to call out the Mark Zuckerberg-led company on social media. Mittal also tagged Meta's India operations' head Sandhya Devanathan in the post. 

A frustrated Mittal said, "So, shockingly our Meta account was arbitrarily disabled this morning with nobody in the know or able to help, even at our scale. This is the dysfunction of Big Tech & monopolies, something hashtag#cci must take note of. Sandhya Devanathan" 

Netizens chimed in with sympathies and suggestions. Relating to Mittal's frustration users said Meta is "only sale no support" while some urged Mittal to assemble all the Sharks and create their own Made-in-India social media platform like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. 

When Mittal took on Google 

On March 1, Google announced it would remove apps from 10 Indian developers, including Shaadi.com, Naukri.com, jeevansathi.com, and Bharat Matrimony, from its Play Store in India for non-compliance with its billing policies. Among the most prominent voices that spoke out against Google's practices, was Anupam Mittal. 

“Today is a dark day for India Internet,” Mittal said as he came out hitting hard against Google’s action of delisting Indian apps. 

Mittal wrote on X, “Google has delisted major apps from its app store even though legal hearings are underway @CCI_India & @indSupremeCourt Their false narratives & audacity show they have little regard for India. Make no mistake - this is the new Digital East India Co and this #Lagaan must be stopped! Pls RT and #SaveOurStartups”.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/anupam-mittal-asks-is-google-evil-as-the-battle-between-google-and-indian-app-developers-rages-on-25363.htm">Read more: Anupam Mittal asks, "Is Google evil?", as the battle between Google and Indian app developers rages on</a>

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/interactive-avenues-anupam-mittals-first-investment-as-an-angel-investor-25997.htm">Read more: Interactive Avenues: Anupam Mittal’s first investment as an angel investor</a>

Angry Mittal?: Anupam Mittal "shocked" after Meta disables his company's account

DTDC Express Ltd., a leading express logistics provider in India has elevated Abhishek Chakraborty as its Chief Executive Officer. In his new role, Chakraborty will continue to propel DTDC forward, solidifying its position as a front-runner in the logistics industry with the aim to drive substantial growth and innovation for the company.

Chakraborty said: “Encapsulating our direction of “Building a NextGen DTDC for GenNext DTDCians”,... together we will continue to foster a culture of shared success and excellence.”

Before assuming the role of CEO, Chakraborty led DTDC as Executive Director for 15 years. He played a pivotal role in establishing a strategic partnership between DTDC and Geopost (owned by La Poste). He also spearheaded the DTDC and Amarex partnership and introduced many initiatives like launching the MyDTDC app and introducing DTDCShipAssure™, DTDC’s 100 percent money-back guarantee service that enabled the company to achieve new heights. His strategic leadership expanded the company’s network to 16,000+ partners, serving 96 percent of India’s population and the larger South Asian diaspora globally.

DTDC operates India’s largest physically accessible express logistics Network and has over 16,000+ exclusive channel partners that contribute to its sales and service capabilities.

DTDC Express promotes Abhishek Chakraborty to the CEO position

MakeMyTrip has achieved a significant milestone in its two-decade-long journey by becoming accessible worldwide, the company said in an announcement this week. 

MakeMyTrip has now expanded its reach to over 150 countries, including major travel markets such as the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, France, and others, besides the US and the UAE. 

“The rigorous standards of compliance and commitment to data protection we have in place for our Indian business helped us transition smoothly towards stringent international compliances,” said Rajesh Magow, co-founder and chief executive officer of MakeMyTrip.

“We are indebted to the trust and affection that we have received from Indian travelers for over two decades and continue to hold ourselves to higher standards and standard operating procedures (SOPs) on a regular basis. Our decision to make MakeMyTrip accessible globally is a result of this very goal – testing our processes against rigorous protocols across the world to enable our travelers to book or modify their travel purchases on the platform without any roadblocks wherever they are geographically,” he said.

MakeMyTrip said the platform has also ensured compliance with various international regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), to accomplish this expansion.

Magow added, “Our global accessibility will help us reach the vast Indian diaspora. Importantly, this expansion will enable us to cater to a broader audience, fostering increased inbound travel to India. Our extensive coverage, offering accommodations in more than 2,000 cities, will assist international tourists in discovering the hidden gems of India.”




MakeMyTrip CEO on expansion in 150 countries: Global accessibility will help MMT reach Indian diaspora

Recently seen on Shark Tank India, Push Sports, a sports-tech start-ups, has announced the appointment of Vishal Gaba as its new chief marketing officer (CMO). Gaba was previously working with Bira 91 where he was leading marketing and communications for the brand and played a pivotal role in driving key business objectives to create brand awareness, generate trials, enhance corporate reputation, and drive sales for Bira’s merchandise store.


With over 16 years of experience across various marketing verticals, in his new role at Push Sports, Gaba will be at the helm of crafting brand stories for consumers, scaling demand, enhancing consumer engagement and overseeing marketing initiatives across multiple channels. This would include leading all strategic marketing efforts, focusing on brand, activation, advertising, and consumer advocacy to foster awareness, engagement, and loyalty among diverse customer segments.

 

Commenting on his appointment, Gaba said, “I look forward to helping build the Push Sports’ brand, scale the business nationwide and create a platform where individuals with love for sports can thrive and pursue their passion.”


Puru Singh, founder and chief executive officer of Push Sports, added, "We anticipate him (Gaba) to play a central role in helping scale the business. His strategic insight and leadership will help us fast-track growth as one of the top players in the Indian sports-tech sector.”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/gaming-news/sony-restructures-leadership-of-games-business-playstation-gets-hideaki-nishino-and-hermen-hulst-as-new-ceos-31395.htm">Sony restructures leadership of games business; PlayStation gets Hideaki Nishino and Hermen Hulst as new CEOs</a>

Bira 91’s Vishal Gaba joins Push Sports’ as CMO

Rita Verma, who was the head HR - DDB Mudra Group and Interbrand India, Leading - Diversity and Inclusion, has joined Omnicom Media Group as chief talent officer.

In her previous role, Verma's role was to handle agile and diverse workforce and the development activities around the people to optimise the continuous growth of their talent. She aligned an evolving people strategy with their business strategy to drive transformative change in support of their company growth goals. 

She spearheaded the agency’s stewardship of Omniwomen (an Omnicom initiative to drive the advancement of women to senior leadership roles) and OPEN Pride (an Omnicom initiative for LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace, and in the community at large). Another key aspect of the Diversity & Inclusivity agenda has been the framing of the Gender Neutral Policy to ensure equal opportunity and no discrimination within the organisation.

Verma began her career at market solutions, and went on to work across Career Graph and Willis Towers Watson.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/gaming-news/sony-restructures-leadership-of-games-business-playstation-gets-hideaki-nishino-and-hermen-hulst-as-new-ceos-31395.htm">Sony restructures leadership of games business; PlayStation gets Hideaki Nishino and Hermen Hulst as new CEOs</a>

Omnicom Media Group appoints Rita Verma as chief talent officer

FCB India, part of the FCB Group agencies in India, appointed Mayuresh Dubhashi as the new chief creative officer. 


Dubhashi brings over twenty years in the advertising industry working on some of the biggest brands in the country from The Times of India, Airtel, Pepsi Co, P&G, Oreo, Flipkart, Amazon etc. 


Dubhashi's work has been consistently recognized and celebrated at national and international award shows, including multiple Grand Prix. His Oreo #BringBack2011 campaign was not only a creative success but also recognised as India's most-awarded campaign for 2023 by WARC.


As the new CCO, Dubhashi will be at the forefront of FCB India's creative efforts, partnering closely with FCB India's CEO Ashima Mehra. His role extends beyond FCB India, as he will also be a key member of FCB Group India's creative leadership, collaborating with leaders across agencies to continue to elevate the work across the network.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/wondrlab-network-appoints-ritika-malhotra-as-head-digital-31333.htm">Wondrlab Network appoints Ritika Malhotra as head - digital</a>

FCB India appoints Mayuresh Dubhashi as CCO

Wondrlab Network, India's platform-first martech network, has announced the appointment of Ritika Malhotra as the head of digital. Malhotra's last stint was at FCB Kinnect as VP – West, where she was responsible for the P&L for their largest region and leading solutioning for the brands managed from the region.


With nine Cannes Lions under her belt, Malhotra has worked with Future Group, P&G, Google, Shiseido, Amazon and HDFC Bank to name a few. She’s been instrumental in driving the digital transformation for brands, helping them transition from offline-centric approaches to digital-forward strategies. She’s also worked on marketing new-age platforms like TikTok and Disney+ Hotstar to enhance their digital presence and drive meaningful engagement, highlighted the agency.


On the appointment, Sanju Menon, chief operating officer, Wondrlab said, “We are thrilled to welcome Ritika to the Wondrlab Network. Her impressive track record, forward-thinking approach and leadership skills make her the perfect fit to lead our platform first thinking. Her key focus areas would be to create phenomenal value for our existing clients and shape the digital practice of Wondrlab to set new benchmarks. Her addition strengthens our team's capabilities and reinforces our dedication to pushing boundaries in the digital landscape by unleashing and delivering full-funnel solutions for our partners.”


Commenting on her new role, Malhotra said, "I am thrilled to join the Wondrlab Network and lead its digital efforts in this dynamic landscape. Driving innovation, creating exceptional value for our clients, adding momentum to Wondrlab's digital practice to set new benchmarks of excellence is what I am going to focus on. Harnessing the power of technology and creativity to deliver impactful solutions that propel our clients' businesses forward is going to be my core area of focus. The power of the Wondrlab Network with its full stack offering excites me, and I’m so looking forward it .”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/danone-india-appoints-shashi-ranjan-as-md-31318.htm">Danone India appoints Shashi Ranjan as MD</a>

Wondrlab Network appoints Ritika Malhotra as head - digital

Shashi Ranjan, who had led Sebamed India as president and country head, has joined Danone India as managing director.

During his stint at Sebamed India, he established Sebamed as an honest & bold organization and scaled it as India’s fastest growing & most profitable FMCG company across beauty, baby, food & nutrition. Further, he drove 10X mission leveraging organic & inorganic routes.

He stated, "After over 5 years of wonderful stint at Sebamed, I am embarking on a new chapter with Danone, world's leading food and beverage company. I am thrilled by the prospect of positively impacting the lives of millions of consumers across the country."

Ranjan began his career at the Government of India and went on to work across IBM, McKinsey & Company and Johnson & Johnson.

As the global business executive at Johnson & Johnson, he was responsible for US$2Bn Asia Pacific consumer portfolio (Johnson's baby, Clean & Clear, Neutrogena) and in addition global P&L responsibility for nutrition business.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/lt-elevates-r-shankar-raman-to-the-position-of-president-31182.htm">L&T elevates R Shankar Raman to president role</a>

Danone India appoints Shashi Ranjan as MD

Keep up with all the key people movements in the brand marketing ecosystem in Storyboard18’s CXO Moves. Here’s a round-up of the executives who've moved jobs, got bigger roles, switched industries and more.

Sapna Arora

Previous: Chief client officer, Dentsu

Sapna Arora has departed from Dentsu. She has worked across Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, Nestle and OLX Group.


Mayur Hola

Previous: Chief marketing officer, Culinary Brands

Present: Vice president - brand, Swiggy

Mayur Hola has joined Swiggy in a new role. He has worked across McCann Erickson, Contract Advertising, Grey Worldwide, TBWA\Delhi, Havas and Oyo.


Havas India

Havas India, part of Paris-headquartered global communications network Havas, has announced a leadership transition across three key agencies under the Havas Creative Network India umbrella, including Havas Worldwide India (creative), Conran Design Mumbai (brand design), and Havas CX India (customer experience).

Kundan Joshee, Managing Partner, Havas Worldwide India, has been promoted as Managing Director of the India operations.

Anupama Ramaswamy, Chief Creative Officer, Havas Worldwide India, will also mantle the additional responsibility of Joint Managing Director along with the CCO profile.

Geet Nazir, Managing Partner of Conran Design Mumbai, has been elevated to Managing Director of the agency.

Prashant Tekwani, Managing Partner, Havas CX India, has been elevated to Managing Director of both Havas CX India and Ekino (technology) India.


Aparna Purohit

Previous: Head of India & SEA Originals, Amazon Prime Video

Aparna Purohit, who led Amazon Prime Video as the head of India & SEA Originals, as confirmed by a media report, has stepped down.

Reportedly, she will be joining Aamir Khan Productions in a leadership role.

She has been in the industry for over 17 years with stints at Cinestaan Film Company, Mumbai Mantra Media, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), BIG Pictures and UTV Motion Pictures, as per her LinkedIn profile.


Tata Digital

Tata Digital is undergoing an organisational restructuring in its senior management under the leadership of its chief executive officer, Naveen Tahilyani, who had taken up the position in February.

Modan Saha, who led Tata Digital’s fintech business as its CEO is moving to Tata Sons. Bhanu Pathak, Shoumyan Biswas and Gaurav Porwal will step down after serving their notice period. They were brought on board by former president Mukesh Bansal.


Leo Burnett

Leo Burnett India, part of the Publicis Groupe India announced changes to its senior creative leadership with the elevation of Vikram Pandey and Sachin Kamble from National Creative Directors to Chief Creative Officers for Leo Burnett, South Asia. 

As CCOs, they will lead the creative growth for the agency across its offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru to elevate its creative output and contribute to the agency’s strategic initiatives.


Anurag Gupta


Previous: Chief operating officer, ada


Present: CEO, The Womb Communications


Anurag Gupta has joined The Womb Communications in a new role. He has worked across O&M, DDB Mudra Group, WPP and Wunderman.


Sanchita Johri


Previous: Director Digital Activation, Media & CRM -Emerging Markets MENA, India, South Africa, Turkey & Israel, adidas


Present: Head of Media, CRM and Consumer Experience, Abbott

Sanchita Johri has joined Abbott in a new role. She has worked across IBM, 92.7 BIGFM, SVG Media, Reliance Digital Retail and Johnson & Johnson.


Salim Ali


Previous: Chief marketing officer, Wordpress VIP


Present: CMO, Gupshup


Gupshup has appointed Salim Ali in a new role. He has worked across Network Equipment Technologies, DoDots, Veritas Technologies, SAP and Avalara.
 

Rajashree Ivaturi


Previous: Vice president, Quess Corp


Present: Partner, Ipsos Strategy3


Rajashree Ivaturi has joined Ipsos Strategy3 in a new role. She has worked across ADMAR Service, Feedback Business Consulting Service and LabourNet Services India. 


Meenakshi Samantaray


Previous: Vice President Marketing & Communications, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises (B2B)


Present: Head of marketing, Metro Brands


Metro Brands has appointed Meenakshi Samantaray in a new role. She has worked across Hindustan Unilever, Future Group India and Acc Cement.


Abhinay Bhasin


Previous: Head of product marketing, ProfitWheel


Present: Senior vice president - product and technology, Dentsu


Dentsu has appointed Abhinay Bhasin in a new role. He has worked across Deloitte, The Economist, Isobar, Google, Carat and Dentsu International.


R Shankar Raman


Present: President, Larsen & Toubro


Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has promoted R Shankar Raman to the position of president - engineering and construction. Raman will also continue to hold the designation of chief financial officer and whole-time director.


Niladri Datta


Present: Senior advisor- business and growth, Buffalo Soldiers


Advertising agency, Buffalo Soldiers, has announced the appointment of Niladri Datta as senior advisor - business and growth. In his new role, Datta will be focusing on driving business growth and shaping strategic initiatives. 


Bimaljeet Singh Bhasin


Previous: President, Enterprise Business India, NIIT Limited


Present: CEO, Adda 247


Adda 247 has appointed Bimaljeet Singh Bhasin in a new role. He has worked across Wipro and Manipal Global Education Services. 

Compiled by Kashmeera Sambamurthy

CXO Moves: Exec movements across Dentsu, Swiggy, Havas, Leo Burnett and more

Advertising agency, Buffalo Soldiers, has announced the appointment of Niladri Datta as senior advisor - business and growth.  

In his new role, Datta will be focusing on driving business growth and shaping strategic initiatives. His expertise in leading cross-functional teams and understanding of the Indian market dynamics are expected to bring fresh perspectives and robust growth strategies to the table.

Buffalo Soldiers’ is a sector-agnostic agency, with B2C, B2B and Sports verticals and Datta’s role is said to involve guiding the agency through new challenges and identifying growth opportunities.

For nearly fifteen years, Datta was a pivotal figure at LG Electronics, including stints as CMO as well as heading products/ modern trade/e-commerce etc. As a leader of the washing machine business for a decade, he ensured LG as the leading brand in the consumer durable industry. Before joining Buffalo Soldiers, Datta also made contributions at IFB, a home-grown appliances brand. He served in different positions before becoming all India marketing head for seven years and later joined back as vice president – head of marketing and strategy for two more years.

"Niladri is a powerhouse of strategic acumen and market savvy. With him on board, we're all geared up to redefine the way brands engage with their audiences," said Sumon K Chakrabarti, Co-founder and CEO, Buffalo Soldiers.

With Datta’s strategic guidance, the agency is said to enhance its services and expand its footprint in the competitive landscape of advertising. Chakrabarti added, "Because with Niladri, we're about to take things to the next level."



Buffalo Soldiers appoints Niladri Datta as senior advisor- business and growth

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has promoted R Shankar Raman to the position of president - engineering and construction.

Raman will also continue to hold the designation of chief financial officer and whole-time director.


Subramanian Sarma, who is currently the senior executive vice president, energy, has been promoted to the position of whole time director and president - energy.


Raman, as per media reports, had joined L&T in 1994, and on took up the position of a CFO. In 2011, Raman had joined L&T's board.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/dentsu-appoints-abhinay-bhasin-as-senior-vice-president-product-and-technology-31167.htm">Dentsu appoints Abhinay Bhasin as senior vice president - product and technology </a>

L&T elevates R Shankar Raman to president role

Abhinay Bhasin, who led ProfitWheel as head of product marketing, has joined Dentsu as senior vice president - product and technology.

Prior to joining ProfitWheel, Bhasin was the vice president (Asia Pacific) - data & product solutions, data sciences, at dentsu international.

As the founding employee of the data sciences team, his team and I grew the Data Sciences division of dentsu India from a three member team to over 5x its size and then took it to APAC. He was a part of the Global Product workstream of dentsu. He contributed and co-authored industry thought leadership content to help marketers address a Cookieless world in advertising (writing one of its first whitepapers); launched and lead DMC Insights - an insights division focused on Behavioral and survey led insights of audiences.


He started his career at Deloitte India, and went on to work across The Economist, Isobar, Google and Carat.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/metro-brands-appoints-meenakshi-samantaray-as-head-of-marketing-31143.htm">Metro Brands appoints Meenakshi Samantaray as head of marketing </a>

Dentsu appoints Abhinay Bhasin as senior vice president - product and technology

Meenakshi Samantaray, who worked as vice president - marketing and communications, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises (B2B), has joined Metro Brands as head of marketing.

She stated, "After spending an enriching half decade with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, it was time to take the next strategic career move. As a protege of Unilever and Future Group India, my heart and core have always been in the lifestyle and retail category. A large part of me has always been inclined to return to a space that could allow me to amalgamate my experience in live entertainment and sports marketing."

The post further added, "And it seems destiny was on my side! I am thrilled to announce that I am joining Metro Brands Limited as the Head of Marketing for their Sports Division."

She started her career at Hindustan Unilever, and went on to work across Future Group India and Acc Cement. At HUL, under the brand management division, she looked after brand building and media planning- ATL/BTL, media ( Digital and mainstream), public relations, Assisted shopper's selling program in store for Body lotions category.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/leo-burnett-india-elevates-vikram-pandey-and-sachin-kamble-as-chief-creative-officers-31089.htm">Leo Burnett India elevates Vikram Pandey and Sachin Kamble as chief creative officers</a>

Havas India's transformation chief Jaibeer Ahmad on his way out

Jaibeer Ahmad was reporting to Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, South East Asia & North Asia (Japan & South Korea).

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