Moves and wins roundup: Week of 17 Feb

Rana Barua joins the AME Awards advisory board

Rana Barua, Group CEO of Havas India, Southeast Asia, and North Asia, has been appointed to the 2025 AME Awards Advisory Board. The board, which celebrates global advertising effectiveness, will benefit from Barua’s nearly three decades of experience in the industry.

Since joining Havas India in 2018, Barua has transformed the company, earning a wider regional leadership role in 2024. He also plays a significant role in India’s advertising industry, serving as President of The Advertising Club and Vice President of the AAAI.

Barua has been an advocate for gender equality in advertising and has led efforts to combat stereotypes through Havas India’s partnership with the UN Women Unstereotype Alliance. He joins other global leaders to provide guidance and insights for the AME Awards, ensuring the celebration of effective and creative advertising. The 2025 AME Awards competition is open for entries until June 15, 2025.

KYN names Lavina Rodrigues as brand communications AVP

KYN, (Know Your Neighbourhood), a neighbourhood discovery and connectivity app by KYNHOOD technologies, has appointed Lavina Rodrigues as the assistant vice president of brand communications. Rodrigues will work with KYN leadership to shape the brand’s marketing strategy.

Rodrigues’ experience in B2B marketing, public relations, and corporate communications is expected to help KYN enhance its brand narrative. She brings over 15 years of expertise across various sectors, having previously worked with Cleartrip, PVR, and Network18.

KYN’s platform aims to help users discover local events and businesses, enhancing community connectivity in urban areas. The app has seen over seven lakh downloads since its launch in February 2024.

FCB Kinnect wins full-funnel mandate for Prega News

Prega News, India’s pregnancy detection brand from Mankind Pharma, has appointed FCB Kinnect as its full-funnel creative agency. FCB Kinnect will handle all aspects of Prega News’ brand communication, including creative, digital, influencer marketing, production, and SEO.

As a brand Prega News is expanding into expert pregnancy care solutions, and its new partnership with FCB Kinnect aims to strengthen its market position further. With its integrated approach, FCB Kinnect, in collaboration with FCB/SIX India, will develop campaigns designed to resonate with Prega News' target audience.

The agency aims to increase brand affinity and support business growth through culturally relevant and idea-driven marketing strategies.

Saurabh Srivastava rejoins Housr as CBO

Housr has announced the return of Saurabh Srivastava as chief business officer. Srivastava, who has extensive experience in business growth and marketing, previously served as chief growth officer and CMO at Housr. In his new role, he will oversee business operations, marketing, and expansion strategies.

Housr, known for its luxury co-living spaces and serviced apartments, has a growing presence across key cities in India. With plans to expand further, the company aims to enhance user engagement and drive scalable growth, reinforcing its position in the co-living market.

Happilo renews 1702's digital strategy contract

1702 Digital has been reappointed as the digital agency of record for Happilo, a leader in the healthy snacking market, to enhance its digital strategy. The partnership aims to improve search rankings, user experience, and overall online visibility for the brand. Happilo, focusing on a growing digital-first audience, recognises the need for a strong digital presence, including a high-performing website and engaging digital media strategies.

1702 Digital will work to optimise traffic, boost visibility, and provide a seamless user experience on Happilo’s online platforms. The agency’s expertise in digital marketing will help position Happilo as a leader in the healthy snacks sector. Happilo’s return to 1702 Digital underscores the agency’s reputation for driving long-term impact in digital marketing.

Experience Commerce wins social media mandate for Invecto Technologies

Experience Commerce has secured the social media mandate for Invecto Technologies, an IT solutions provider focused on digital transformation and enterprise services. The agency will develop and execute a social media strategy to enhance Invecto’s brand presence and industry positioning.

Founded in 2022, Invecto Technologies has expanded its client base and service offerings across various industries. The company aims to strengthen its brand voice and increase industry influence through this collaboration.

Experience Commerce, a digital marketing agency within the Cheil Network, will implement a content-driven strategy incorporating trend analysis, campaign storylines, stakeholder communication, and digital execution. The approach will include formats such as Reels, LinkedIn Thought Leadership, and interactive content to maximise brand engagement.

Mangal Electrical undertakes brand revamp

Mangal Electrical Industries has undergone a brand overhaul, introducing a new logo, tagline, and identity across digital and offline platforms. The rebranding, executed by DigiStreet Media, marks a shift in the company’s communication strategy while maintaining its legacy in transformer core and component manufacturing. 

The new logo incorporates a clover leaf concept, with three leaves representing quality, reliability, and precision. The brand name "Mangal" replaces the fourth leaf, emphasising sustainability. The colour palette includes green, symbolising growth, and blue, representing trust and reliability. 

The company’s tagline has been changed from "Promoting Higher Values" to "Serve & Conserve," reflecting its dual focus on providing industry solutions and promoting sustainability in manufacturing practices. The rebranding aligns with Mangal Electrical’s commitment to innovation and global positioning. 

With over 35 years in transformer component manufacturing, the company has expanded its services, including EPC solutions for electrical substations. The rebranding aims to reinforce its presence in the power infrastructure sector while integrating sustainability into its operations.

Roarrr Media bags GNH India's social media and PR mandate

GNH India Pharmaceuticals has awarded its social media strategy and communications mandate to Roarrr Media.

GNH India Pharmaceuticals exports rare and complex medicines globally. Through this deal, the company aims to enhance its brand presence in Indian healthcare sector. Under the terms of the contract, Roarrr Media will focus on expanding GNH India’s reach through digital content while ensuring its messaging aligns with the company's values. 

Roarrr Media specialises in healthcare PR and communication and expects the collaboration to support its growth in the sector. It has previously worked with Medtech Life, Suburban Diagnostics, Shri Venkatesh Eye Institute, and Natural Capsule Limited.

Somesh Tripathi joins Anugrah Madison as deputy GM

Anugrah Madison, the rural marketing unit of Madison World, has appointed Somesh Tripathi as deputy general manager. Based in Delhi, Tripathi will report to Sunny Vohra, CEO of Madison Turnt and Anugrah Madison.

In his new role, Tripathi will be responsible for leading Anugrah Madison's rural marketing initiatives, aiming to strengthen the company’s presence in rural India. The company focuses on delivering solutions that connect clients with underserved markets.

With over 23 years of experience in rural and small-town retail and digital communication, Tripathi has worked with major industry players, including MART Rural, Ogilvy Outreach, and Starcom. His previous roles involved collaborating with high-profile clients such as ITC, Marico, Castrol, and Mondelez. Tripathi is known for his expertise in rural marketing, having developed women-centric distribution channels and contributed to last-mile distribution efforts, particularly in remote areas.

Anugrah Madison, part of Madison World, works with clients like Parle Agro, Caltex, Pepsico, and Mahindra. The company specialises in rural and retail marketing and is part of India’s largest homegrown communication agency, Madison World, which has been operating since 1988.

Parksons Cartamundi partners with Assiduus Global for e-commerce expansion

The playing cards manufacturer Parksons Cartamundi has partnered with Assiduus Global to strengthen its online presence. The collaboration will help the brand integrate with popular Indian e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart, enhancing visibility and customer satisfaction.

The partnership leverages Assiduus’ platform, known for its data analytics and advanced technology, to offer Parksons Cartamundi’s popular products, including Bicycle and COPAG cards, through online marketplaces. This alliance marks a strategic step as the company seeks to expand its reach beyond the 4,000 wholesalers and 300,000 retail touchpoints it currently serves.

Tuhin Arya, Neel Nigam launch creative agency

Seasoned professionals Tuhin Arya and Neel Nigam have launched Tune, a creative agency. The new agency combines the strengths of Bandstand Videos and Tikdum Studios. With a decade of experience, the agency aims to reshape the advertising landscape by focusing on bold, idea-first campaigns.

The agency's production arms, Bandstand Videos and Tikdum Studios, have successfully delivered over 200 award-winning campaigns and innovative product films for brands like Urban Company, Mamaearth, and SUGAR Cosmetics.

Tune aims to bring back the era when creativity took precedence over algorithms, ensuring impactful storytelling aligned with data-driven insights. The agency has already secured new accounts, with more partnerships expected soon.

PR Professionals bags PR mandate for Heritage Aviation

PR Professionals, an integrated communications firm, has secured the PR mandate for Heritage Aviation, a leading helicopter and aircraft charter company. Founded in 2009, Heritage Aviation provides services ranging from search and rescue operations to leisure tours. The company is expanding its presence in the aviation sector and seeks to enhance its brand visibility.

With this partnership, PR Professionals aims to elevate Heritage Aviation’s communications strategy and strengthen its position as a trusted name in aviation. Heritage Aviation operates a fleet of private aircraft, providing seamless air travel solutions to major corporations and businesses.

OMD India wins Piramal Pharma's media mandate

Piramal Pharma has awarded its integrated media mandate to OMD India after a multi-round pitch. OMD will manage media and strategic marketing for Piramal Pharma’s over-the-counter brands, such as Lacto Calamine, Little’s, Tetmosol, Polycrol, and Women’s intimate health products like I-pill and I-activ. The agency will operate from its Mumbai office.

Through digital and media strategies, OMD India will boost brand visibility, drive consumer engagement, and help fuel Piramal Pharma's business growth. This deal follows recent developments regarding OMD India, including the media mandate for HDFC Life in January 2025 and being named South Asia Agency of the Year at the Campaign Asia 2024 awards.

Battrix partners with WolfzHowl for rebranding to GeOn

Battrix, a manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries, has rebranded to GeOn, reflecting its broader focus on green energy solutions. The shift allows GeOn to provide end-to-end green energy solutions for mobility and storage.

WolfzHowl, a brand strategy consultancy, has been appointed to guide the transformation. The agency will help craft GeOn’s brand purpose and position it effectively in the market. WolfzHowl will also integrate this purpose into GeOn’s sales processes and employee culture.

Through this rebranding, GeOn aims to position itself as a leader in sustainable energy. WolfzHowl, with its experience in sustainability and human insights, will guide the brand’s development in both the consumer and business sectors.