Moves and wins: Week of 6 October

EssenceMediacom retains Bayer’s South Asia media mandate

EssenceMediacom, under WPP Media, will continue managing the integrated media mandate for Bayer Consumer Health across South Asia following a global review. The renewed partnership focuses on leveraging AI, automation, and data-driven insights to drive growth in markets including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The agencies aim to strengthen consumer engagement and optimise media efficiency through integrated digital and e-commerce initiatives.

FCB India names Hari Krishnan as chief growth officer

FCB India has appointed Hari Krishnan as chief growth officer. Based in Mumbai, he will report to Dheeraj Sinha, group CEO of FCB India and South Asia. Krishnan will be responsible for driving growth across the network and developing new business opportunities. He brings over two decades of experience across advertising, marketing and consulting, having worked with agencies such as MullenLowe (India and Sri Lanka), Grey Group, JWT and Tilt Brand Solutions. He has worked with brands including Britannia, Unilever, Tata Tea, Tanishq, Titan, Maruti Suzuki, Audi, Havells, Dell, Myntra and Flipkart. In his new role, Krishnan will focus on building and scaling new areas of expertise across FCB’s group agencies.

Monks names Sonali Khanna India head of business and integration

Monks, the digital-first brand of S4Capital, has appointed Sonali Khanna as India head – business and integration. She will work with Ketan Desai, managing director, Monks India, to lead business solutions and integration strategy. Khanna previously served as president and branch head at Lowe Lintas South and has also worked with MullenLowe Lintas Group and Grey Worldwide. With over 25 years of experience across FMCG, e-commerce, luxury retail, telecom and digital-native brands, she has handled accounts including Britannia, Tanishq, Fastrack, Unilever, Flipkart, Swiggy, Unacademy, CultFit, ITC Dairy, Reliance Trends, Dabur and Nestlé.

Watertec India appoints PHD India for integrated media duties

Watertec India has appointed PHD India, part of the Omnicom Media Group, to handle its integrated media mandate following a competitive multi-agency pitch. PHD India will be responsible for the company's media strategy, planning, and buying, managed from its Mumbai office. The move comes as Watertec expands its presence across categories and geographies. Founded in 1997 in Coimbatore, Watertec provides a range of plumbing and bathroom solutions and operates through 34 branches and over 34,000 channel partners across India.

Bridgers signs MoU with IIT Kanpur E-Cell as official media partner for UpStart 2025

Bridgers, an integrated communications agency, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IIT Kanpur’s Entrepreneurship Cell to serve as the official media partner for UpStart 2025, the institute’s flagship startup pitching event. Under the partnership, Bridgers will provide end-to-end communication support, including media strategy, storytelling, and reputation management, to amplify the event’s reach and impact. UpStart 2025 will be held across Delhi (Oct 11), Hyderabad (Nov 1), Bengaluru (Nov 8), and Mumbai (Dec 6), culminating in the finals at IIT Kanpur from January 23–25, 2025. The collaboration aims to strengthen IIT Kanpur E-Cell’s national positioning and support India’s startup ecosystem through enhanced media engagement and visibility.

Rodim India appoints Amresh Khar to lead growth strategy

Rodim India, a BASF brand, has appointed Amresh Khar as senior vice president – sales and marketing. He will oversee sales, finance and warranty functions while leading the brand’s expansion in Indian and international automotive markets. Khar has over two decades of experience, having worked with Mahindra First Choice Wheels, Volkswagen Group Sales, Castrol India and Honda Cars. He also founded Mad About Wheels. An IIM Bangalore alumnus, he holds an MBA from UBI Brussels and an engineering degree from Maharashtra.

Adgcraft expands presence with new Bengaluru office

Adgcraft has expanded its presence with a new office in Bengaluru, in a move to strengthen its business verticals — Adgcraft Communications, Adgcraft AI and Adgcraft Global. Located at Awfis, Samrah Plaza, the office will focus on serving startups, corporates and technology companies, particularly in the artificial intelligence sector. The company aims to build a 25-member team by 2026. The expansion will also support Adgcraft’s operations in social media, performance marketing, video production and event management.

The Marcom Avenue wins CII’s IREE 2025 PR mandate

The Marcom Avenue has secured the public relations and social media mandate for the Confederation of Indian Industry’s 16th International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE) 2025, scheduled at Bharat Mandapam from 15 to 17 October 2025. The agency will plan and execute communication strategies across traditional PR, media outreach, and digital channels. IREE, organised by CII with the Ministry of Railways, is Asia’s largest rail transport event. The Marcom Avenue will manage media visibility and digital amplification to strengthen stakeholder engagement for CII.