Moves and wins: Week of 04 Aug

Ipsos names Suresh Ramalingam as ceo for India

Ipsos has appointed Suresh Ramalingam as the new chief executive officer for India, effective immediately. He moves from his previous role as chief client officer for Ipsos APEC. This leadership transition follows Amit Adarkar’s decision to step down to pursue personal interests, including writing. As one of Ipsos’ key priority markets, India remains central to the firm’s global growth strategy. Ramalingam is expected to build on the strong momentum established under Adarkar’s tenure.

Coinswitch launches ‘Creator labs’ to build responsible crypto content ecosystem

CoinSwitch has introduced Creator Labs, India’s first accelerator programme aimed at empowering credible crypto content creators. Running from August to September 2025, the eight-week initiative includes expert-led masterclasses, peer collaboration, content challenges, and brand opportunities. It seeks to address the scarcity of trustworthy voices in the crypto space by equipping aspiring creators with essential skills and tools. The top three participants will receive brand collaboration prospects, while all graduates earn certification and rewards. Through this programme, CoinSwitch aims to reshape India’s crypto narrative by fostering responsible, consumer-first storytelling.

Hashtag Orange wins digital mandate for Aparna Venster and Okotech

Hashtag Orange has bagged the digital marketing mandate for Aparna Venster and Okotech, flagship UPVC brands under Aparna Enterprises Ltd. The agency will lead digital efforts including social media, SEO, and performance marketing to strengthen the brands' national visibility. Aparna Venster and Okotech, currently strong players in South India, are looking to expand across regions. With manufacturing units in Hyderabad and Bangalore, the brands are well-equipped to scale. Hashtag Orange aims to craft a strategic digital narrative aligned with the brands’ quality and innovation, supporting Aparna Enterprises’ next growth phase.

Milind Pande appointed AWS India marketing head

AWS has appointed Milind Pande as head of marketing for India and South Asia. Pande, who has been with AWS for six years, previously led marketing for the Independent Software Vendors customer segment and also served as chief of staff to the AWS India president. In his new role, he will oversee brand positioning, demand generation, thought leadership, and go-to-market strategy across the region. Prior to AWS, he held roles at Vodafone India and Viacom18. He holds an MBA in strategy and marketing from the Indian School of Business and is also involved in climate and social impact initiatives.

Hoopr Smash partners with Turnkey Music to expand licensing library with 1250+ english tracks

Hoopr Smash has partnered with Turnkey Music & Publishing to add over 1250 English-language tracks to its music licensing platform, crossing the 20,000-track milestone. The collaboration aims to provide Indian content creators and brands with greater access to high-quality, legally licensable global music. Turnkey, led by music veteran Atul Churamani, brings a diverse catalogue across genres such as soul, indie rock, and pop. The partnership addresses the growing demand for English tracks in branded content while promoting fair artist compensation. Hoopr Smash, known for its automated, self-serve licensing platform, continues to bridge the gap between creators and legal music access in a market facing significant losses due to unlicensed usage.

Treize Communications returns as pr partner for EMERGE 2025

Treize Communications has been announced as the official PR partner for EMERGE 2025, marking the second consecutive year of collaboration with Ad Tech Today. The event, set to take place on 7th August at Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels in Gurugram, celebrates independent agencies, digital innovation, and bold marketing ideas. As part of their role, Treize will support media outreach and strategic visibility for the property. EMERGE 2025 will feature sessions led by industry leaders covering short-form content, performance marketing, tech disruptions, and the challenges of running independent agencies, culminating in The EMERGE Awards.

Lifafa Studios appoints Archana Iyer as senior producer

Lifafa Studios has appointed Archana Iyer as senior producer to strengthen its in-house production capabilities. With over a decade of experience across advertising, feature films, and documentaries, Iyer has worked on campaigns for brands such as British Airways, Datsun, Coke Studio, Perfetti, and MTR. Her addition marks a step forward in enhancing Lifafa’s storytelling and production craft. The Mumbai-based studio has previously delivered campaigns for Orient, India iStore, Dabur, KIA, and Vivo.

Bhavit Sheth and Nikhil Bansal to lead IAMAI's digital gaming committee

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has appointed Bhavit Sheth, co-founder and COO of Dream Sports (Dream11), as chairman of its Digital Gaming Committee, with Nikhil Bansal, industry head – gaming and eServices at Google, taking over as co-chairman. They succeed Bhavin Pandya of Games24x7, and outgoing co-chairs Dilsher Malhi (Zupee) and Ankush Gera (Junglee Games). Representing developers, platforms, and technology providers, the committee advocates responsible gaming and drives policy dialogue for the sector's sustainable growth. Sheth brings experience in building a major sports tech brand, while Bansal offers a global perspective on monetisation and industry trends.

Food Square appoints Bhavana Singh as cmo ahead of national expansion

Premium grocery brand Food Square has named Bhavana Singh as chief marketing officer as it prepares for nationwide expansion beyond its two Mumbai stores. Singh, with over 15 years of experience across India and the US, was previously head of marketing at Bombay Shirt Company and has held roles at Burson India and Ketchum New York. At Food Square, she will lead brand, marketing, and growth strategy, aiming to position the brand at the intersection of curated global ingredients, food discovery, and evolving consumer behaviour.

JCDecaux, VIOOH launch programmatic DOOH at Bengaluru airport

JCDecaux India has partnered with digital out-of-home (DOOH) supply-side platform VIOOH to offer programmatic advertising at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. The collaboration gives advertisers access to 64 digital screens across the airport, which recorded 41.88 million passengers last year—an 11.6% rise. The initiative targets domestic and international business travellers and high-income flyers. It uses JCDecaux’s Airport Audience Metrix and the VIOOH Trading Manager platform to enable precision targeting and programmatic efficiency.

Gaurav Banerjee takes over as BARC India's chairman 

Gaurav Banerjee, managing director and chief executive officer of Sony Pictures Networks India, has been appointed chairman of BARC India, succeeding Shashi Sinha of IPG Mediabrands India. The decision was made during BARC’s board meeting on 1st August 2025. Banerjee brings over 20 years of experience in media and entertainment and currently serves as vice president of the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation.  

Bigtrunk Communications wins digital mandate for Soframycin

BigTrunk Communications has secured the digital marketing mandate for Soframycin, the legacy antiseptic brand from Encube Ethicals, marking the brand’s foray into the digital realm. The agency will oversee Soframycin’s digital strategy and social media presence across India, aiming to connect its trusted legacy with today’s digitally active audience. Through data-driven storytelling and purpose-led campaigns, BigTrunk will reintroduce the brand to a new generation while maintaining its core association with wound care and trust.

Spek Digital to revive Birdy’s patisserie with modern branding mandate

Spek Digital, part of the Schbang Network, has been appointed as the creative brand and marketing partner for Birdy’s. With over 40 outlets across Mumbai and MMR, the legacy patisserie brand owned by Grill Splendour Services is undergoing a major revamp aimed at modern consumers, focusing on wellness, inclusivity, and social media appeal. Spek will lead a full-scale transformation covering digital marketing, influencer engagement, store rebranding, and brand activations. The partnership begins with ‘Birdy’s BFF Bash’ in August 2025, a community-driven initiative designed to build emotional connect with families, children, and pet lovers across Mumbai.

Abbas Mirza joins WYP as content lead at Wondrlab

Wondrlab has appointed Abbas Mirza as content lead at its platform-first creative agency, WYP (What’s Your Problem). Reporting to Amit Akali and working alongside Dipti Rode, Mirza will co-lead content and creative across key accounts. With over 15 years of experience, Mirza has crafted award-winning campaigns for brands including Colgate, Ariel, HDFC Bank, and Gillette, with notable work such as 'Share the Load' and 'Pregathon'. His appointment aims to strengthen WYP’s creative leadership as the agency continues to innovate at the intersection of culture and technology.