Havas India promotes Anupama Ramaswamy to managing director, CCO
Havas India has promoted Anupama Ramaswamy to managing director and chief creative officer. She joined the network in 2022 as chief creative officer at Havas Worldwide India. Ramaswamy began her career at FCB Ulka and went on to work at Rediffusion Y&R, Euro RSCG, Lowe Lintas and JWT in senior creative roles. At Cheil Communications she was executive creative director, and later served as managing partner and national creative director at Dentsu Creative, where she managed client accounts including Maruti Suzuki, Ikea, Vivo, Paytm and Subway, along with overseeing creative, digital and social media strategy.
Zee launches ‘Zee spotlight’ with Hyundai as inaugural partner
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has launched ‘Zee Spotlight,’ a high-impact advertising innovation under the ‘Z’ Rise initiative, designed to enhance brand visibility across general entertainment and movie channels, along with OTT platform ZEE5. The offering integrates branded windows, in-show placements, QR-code astons, stings, tags, and carousels to engage audiences at every stage of the AIDA model through an omnichannel approach. Hyundai Motor India has partnered as the first brand to leverage this platform, aiming to deepen consumer connections through innovative storytelling and high-frequency brand integration across Zee’s extensive entertainment ecosystem.
Fun Flips partners with Media Care to drive digital transformation
JK Foods’ iconic snacking brand Fun Flips has partnered with integrated marketing agency Media Care to strengthen its digital presence. The mandate includes social media marketing, seasonal campaigns, influencer activations, and performance-driven initiatives aimed at reviving nostalgia while positioning Fun Flips as a contemporary choice for modern consumers. Media Care will focus on digital storytelling and quick commerce growth to amplify visibility and engagement, ensuring the brand continues its legacy of trust while adapting to evolving snacking habits.
SquadStack.AI partners with Stage to transform customer support
SquadStack.AI has partnered with regional OTT platform STAGE to deploy its Humanoid AI Agent Stack, achieving 55% call deflection, 86% customer satisfaction, and a 70% reduction in support costs within six weeks. The AI agents, trained on over 600 million conversations, enabled natural, empathetic, and multilingual interactions, addressing refund and payment concerns while also personalising recommendations. The collaboration has helped STAGE scale support for its fast-growing user base across Haryanvi, Rajasthani, and Bhojpuri audiences, setting new benchmarks for AI-driven customer engagement in India.
Divyanshu Singh elevated to ceo of JSW Sports
JSW Sports has announced the elevation of Divyanshu Singh as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Mustafa Ghouse who has launched Centre Court Capital but will continue as Director at JSW Sports. Singh, who joined the company in 2017, has played a key role in expanding its commercial footprint, scaling the Inspire Institute of Sport, and driving success for franchises like Bengaluru FC and Haryana Steelers. Previously Chief Operating Officer, Singh now takes charge of leading the company into its next phase of growth and innovation in Indian sport.
DDB Tribal names Anusheela Saha as creative head
DDB Tribal, part of the DDB Mudra Group, has appointed Anusheela Saha as creative head in Gurugram. She moves from FCB India, where she was national creative director. With over two decades of experience, Saha has worked at Cheil, FCB India and partnered with brands such as Unilever, KFC, Mahindra Automobiles, Uber, Google, Samsung, UN AIDS and Times of India. She takes over from Iraj Fraz, who will move into a new role within the group. Saha will report to Rahul Mathew, chief creative officer, DDB Mudra Group.
Dentsu wins Papa Johns India integrated communications mandate
Dentsu has been appointed integrated agency partner for Papa Johns India following a multi-agency pitch. The mandate covers creative, media, and PR. The chain is preparing to launch in Bengaluru. Dentsu Creative Webchutney will handle brand identity and campaigns; iProspect will lead digital media and performance marketing; Posterscope will manage out-of-home and activation; and Dentsu Creative PR will oversee earned media, influencers, and reputation. Papa Johns India is operated by PJP Investments Group as master franchisee.
FTA Global secures HombaleVerse digital marketing assignment
FTA Global has been awarded the digital marketing mandate for Hombale Films’ merchandise label, HombaleVerse, after a multi-agency review. The agency will manage SEO, paid marketing, and digital campaigns to drive awareness and sales across product categories. The partnership aims to expand the brand’s reach, boost engagement, and strengthen performance through targeted strategies. The appointment is designed to build visibility for HombaleVerse merchandise and enhance fan connection with the label’s offerings.
Divo Music launches Loopd for independent artists in India
Divo Music, part of Warner Music India, has launched Loopd, a label dedicated to independent music. Loopd will support artists with resources and distribution, aiming to grow original non-film music across India and global audiences. The launch comes as demand for independent music rises through streaming platforms. Warner Music Group will provide international reach. Loopd has begun operations with the release of Nizhal by Adhithya RK and plans additional releases featuring artists including Tuhin, Junaid Kumar, Samuel Paul, and Pradeep Kumar.
Flipkart acquires majority stake in digital platform Pinkvilla
Flipkart has acquired a majority stake in Pinkvilla India, a digital infotainment platform, as part of its strategy to expand its content portfolio and strengthen engagement with younger audiences. Pinkvilla focuses on movies, celebrities, and lifestyle, areas that attract significant consumption among Gen Z and millennials. The acquisition is expected to give Flipkart access to consumer trend insights, which can support its commerce initiatives. By integrating content with shopping, Flipkart aims to build deeper connections with users and consolidate its market position in India.
Truecaller Ads appoints Athul Prabhu as product director
Truecaller has appointed Athul Prabhu as product director for Truecaller Ads, where he will shape the product vision and strategy for the global communications platform’s advertising. His last role was at Glance, where he spearheaded the development of its ad-tech infrastructure from the ground up, enabling global monetisation of the lock-screen app through both programmatic and direct advertising. Prior to that, Prabhu held senior positions at TikTok, Viacom18, and Nielsenc. He holds an MBA from the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad and a B.Tech from IIT Kanpur.
Grey India appoints Mahesh Ambaliya as group creative director
Grey India has appointed Mahesh Ambaliya as group creative director. He will work across the agency’s three offices and strengthen its creative leadership. Ambaliya has over 11 years of experience within the WPP network, having worked at Ogilvy and VML. His portfolio includes global campaigns and work in digital storytelling. He has been involved in projects that achieved wide online reach and industry recognition. With this appointment, Grey India aims to reinforce its creative team structure following recent leadership changes and to build further on its integrated work for local and international clients across categories.
Adfactors PR names Desai senior vice-president for BFSI
Adfactors PR has appointed Shilpa Desai as senior vice-president – digital and innovation, BFSI and capital markets practices. She will work with the leadership team to build digital capabilities, integrate data-driven insights and strengthen client engagement in the financial services sector. Desai has over two decades of experience in marketing and digital transformation across organisations such as ICICI Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, IDFC Bank, Fullerton India and HDFC ERGO. At IDFC Bank, she was part of the founding team and led digital business and marketing analytics. Her most recent role was head of marketing at HDFC ERGO.
Madison Media appoints Vivek Das as chief digital officer
Madison Media has appointed Vivek Das as chief digital officer. He will report to Ajit Varghese, partner and group CEO, Madison Media and OOH. Das brings more than two decades of experience in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, media and digital transformation. Most recently, he was part of the India leadership team at EssenceMediacom, where he managed the Google India and Southeast Asia account. He has also worked at Mindshare, VML and was chief executive officer at FoxyMoron. Alongside his corporate roles, Das mentors startup founders and supports LGBTQIA+ initiatives. His appointment signals a stronger focus on digital growth.
V Spark Communications expands with new F&B mandates
V Spark Communications has taken on marketing mandates for four food and café brands—SGF India, The Malabar Coast, Roots Café and Galli Gully Café. The consultancy will provide services spanning branding, public relations, creative development, influencer outreach, digital amplification and outdoor visibility. The partnerships reflect the increasing demand for integrated marketing within India’s food and beverage sector. Each brand represents a different segment: SGF India is a vegetarian quick-service chain, The Malabar Coast offers coastal cuisine, Roots Café follows a farm-to-table approach, and Galli Gully Café focuses on street food in a modern format.
McCann Worldgroup India wins Smart Bazaar brand campaign
Smart Bazaar has awarded its brand campaign to McCann Worldgroup India. The campaign highlights the shift in Indian households towards more intentional and aspirational living, positioning quality as an everyday requirement rather than a luxury. It depicts evolving home environments, including kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces, as reflections of this trend. The work emphasises the role of women in shaping household aspirations. For Smart Bazaar, the campaign supports its positioning as a retailer providing value while enabling consumers to upgrade their lifestyles. The account win strengthens McCann Worldgroup’s retail portfolio in India.
Vigor Media Worldwide wins PR account for Joint Solar
Vigor Media Worldwide has secured the public relations mandate for Joint Solar, a producer of solar photovoltaic modules. The agency will manage communications strategy, digital visibility, and stakeholder engagement for the brand. The collaboration includes handling brand narrative and reputation management. Manufacturing renewable energy products for both institutional and consumer markets, Join Solar wants to strengthen its positioning in the sector through integrated communication support. Vigor Media Worldwide works across industries including energy, infrastructure, and technology, and has been steadily building its portfolio in India’s renewable energy space.
Nothing appoints Himanshu Tandon as VP of business for CMF
London-based technology firm Nothing has appointed Himanshu Tandon as vice president of business for its sub-brand CMF. He will lead global strategy, growth, and go-to-market planning, with India positioned as a central hub. CMF relocated its global marketing operations to India earlier this year to drive international expansion. Tandon previously served as country head at POCO India, part of the Xiaomi Group, where he held senior leadership responsibilities for growth and operations. He has over eight years of experience in business and marketing leadership and has also received industry recognition for his contributions to the technology sector.
PVNA Group names Piyush Lilaramani as head of communications
PVNA Group, an auto component manufacturer, has appointed Piyush Lilaramani as head of communications. In this position, he will oversee brand, corporate communications, public relations, digital engagement, and internal communication across all group companies, including Padmini VNA Mechatronics, Padmini E-Drive, and PV Clean Mobility Technologies. Lilaramani has more than 14 years of experience working with automotive brands such as Suzuki, Toyota, Ferrari, Maserati, Bajaj Auto, Volvo Cars and JCB. His career spans both corporate and agency roles with expertise in strategic communication and reputation management. PVNA Group has operations across multiple areas of automotive engineering and clean mobility.
TukTuki launches app offering short-format drama episodes
Entertainment start-up Tuktuki has launched a mobile app featuring micro-drama series delivered in short episodes of two to three minutes. The vertical-format content is targeted at mobile-first audiences seeking quick and relatable stories. Each series is structured as a one-hour film broken into smaller episodes for on-the-go consumption. At launch, the platform will offer content in Hindi, with plans to expand into Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati and other regional languages. The app will initially feature family-oriented storylines and allow users to view content without mandatory logins. Upcoming updates are expected to add new genres such as sports and mythology.
TrucksUp appoints Abhijay Ratan chief marketing officer
TrucksUp, a Gurugram-based logistics aggregator, has appointed Abhijay Ratan as chief marketing officer. Ratan has over two decades of experience in sales, marketing and growth roles across industries, including a leadership position at logistics aggregator Blackbuck. At TrucksUp, he will oversee marketing strategy and brand positioning, with a focus on customer engagement and digital transformation in the trucking ecosystem. The company aims to strengthen its presence in India’s logistics market, which is increasingly shaped by technology-driven platforms. Ratan’s appointment comes as TrucksUp expands its operations and seeks to build scale in the competitive logistics aggregation segment.
Mahatta & Co appoints Flash Communications as PR partner
Mahatta & Co, a photography house established in 1915, has appointed Flash Communications as its communication and public relations partner. The firm will handle PR campaigns, media outreach and storytelling initiatives. Mahatta & Co has documented key moments in India’s history, including Partition and Independence, as well as cultural events such as early fashion shows. The company continues to operate in both heritage and contemporary photography projects. Through the new partnership, it aims to strengthen its communication strategy and broaden its reach. Flash Communications works across sectors providing PR and media advisory services to clients in India.
Creativefuel acquires Onemotion Group to expand Reddit expertise
Creativefuel, a cultural content and meme marketing agency, has acquired Onemotion Group, a Reddit-focused marketing agency, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition will add Reddit strategy, AMA orchestration, answer engine optimisation and large language model-era reputation management to Creativefuel’s capabilities. Onemotion Group specialises in online community engagement, primarily through Reddit campaigns, and will now operate as part of Creativefuel’s expanding services. Creativefuel works with brands to deliver culture-driven digital marketing campaigns and has been growing its portfolio in community engagement. The deal reflects a broader trend of agencies scaling specialised skills in platform-specific and AI-driven marketing practices.
