Advertising News India
From disappearing faces to a boardroom run by pink wigs, this week's ads bet big on the absurd
Amid demand for a ban on adult ads during cricket, e4m analyses the debate over legality, suitability and ad placement during family-viewing events
According to media reports, the organisation has requested Jay Shah to take up the matter at the next ICC Board meeting and establish clear guidelines within 30 days
Suraj Nedungadi, AVP - Strategy at YAAP, shares how Atul gave him an opportunity when he was a fresher, nurtured his ideas, and shaped the professional he is today
At a time when the Indian media agency landscape was dominated by established networks, Sohrabji embraced the challenge of building a new agency from the ground up
Dr Annurag Batra remembers Atul Hegde as a visionary entrepreneur and a trusted friend whose warmth and generosity touched many lives
The Founder of Ackerman and former Chairman of Equus Red Cell has spent over three decades shaping Indian advertising, one story, one brand and one bold idea at a time
Despite rapid advances in Generative AI, experts believe agencies cannot treat AI as a legal shield
As Sourav Ganguly turns 54 today, we revisit the TVCs that captured his charisma, from Pepsi's emotional comeback story to his cheeky Google Googlies
Truecaller’s Hemant Arora remembered Atul Hegde not only for his entrepreneurial achievements, but also for his humility, approachability and the warmth he brought to every industry interaction
Nirmalya Sen, Founder and CEO of The Rethink Company, has paid heartfelt tribute to Atul Hegde, reflecting on his leadership and lasting contribution to India’s digital advertising and media industry
The Gozoop co-founder recalls Atul Hegde's bold vision, entrepreneurial conviction and generosity, months after the landmark YAAP–Gozoop deal brought the two independent agency groups together
Sowmya Iyer, Founder & CEO of DVio Digital, shares that while Hegde's demise is a big loss for the industry, for her, it is the loss of a dear friend
Peers recall his humility, entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering belief in digital innovation, saying his absence leaves a void in both the industry and their personal lives
Adman Prabhakar Mundkur remembered Atul Hegde’s contribution to the advertising ecosystem
The last rites will be conducted at 6:00 pm at Oshiwara Hindu Smashan Bhoomi
Rajiv Dubey, Head of Media at Dabur India, said Hegde’s death is a significant loss to the marketing and advertising industry
Pankaj Sharma, CEO & Director MGID India, remembers Atul Hegde as a pioneer who recognized the transformative power of influencer marketing well before it became an industry cornerstone.
Nikhil Kumar, media & tech leader and former CGMO of Affle, remembers Atul Hegde as someone who operated with immense grace, deep empathy, and a genuine passion for guiding others
Arnab Mitra remembers Hegde as a man who corrected you without making you feel corrected
From the ‘Helicopter Shot’ to ‘Bole Jo Koyal’, here are the campaigns that captured Captain Cool's charm, wit and mass appeal over the years
Hari Krishnan, Managing Partner & Chief Business Officer at McCann India, fondly remembers advertising veteran Jishnu Sen, recalling their shared moments in a heartfelt tribute
Disha Singh, Independent Creative Consultant, pays tribute to Jishnu Sen, recalling how his sharp wit, compassion and encouragement left a lasting impression
Jayshree Sundar, Ex President-North of Leo Burnett, recalls how Jishnu Sen was thriving in today’s work environment, blending modern thinking with old-world hospitality and charm
Guest Column: Soumitra Karnik, Independent Creative Consultant, Lintas, JWT, Dentsu, remembers his friend and industry veteran Jishnu Sen
Honouring a respected industry veteran whose legacy of leadership, mentorship and brand-building continues to inspire advertising professionals
Guest Column: Sunil Gupta, marketing veteran and independent consultant, shares heartfelt memories of late industry stalwarts Jishnu Sen and Samir Gangahar
Swapan Seth pens a tribute for advertising and marketing veteran Jishnu Sen
Sitars to spleens, buffaloes to Barcelona: this week's ads prove brands will chase any story that sticks
On July 1, 1941, a 10-second Bulova ad before a baseball game quietly launched the business of television advertising as we know it
Guest Column: Dr. Sandeep Goyal decodes the ‘democracy of advertising awards’
Rochelle Chhaya, President, UM & Initiative, APAC, spoke to e4m on taking over the leadership, growth in India, the focus on AI and more
The appointment includes media planning and buying responsibilities across the Americas, EMEA, Japan and APAC regions
Stuart Bowden, President of Strategy and Capabilities for Global Clients, WPP, speaks to e4m on working differently with communities for engagement, distinction between paid and organic, and much more
From leading Dentsu India to founding The Unlock Company, Arijit Ray has spent over two decades shaping Indian advertising and inspiring professionals to lead from within
From restaurant bills to AI futures, this week's best ads leaned into humour, nostalgia, and storytelling that had something real to say
According to media reports, Di Fei, who served as chief investment officer at GroupM's China operations, was found guilty in March of accepting illegal payments from brokerage firms
The move reflects an increasingly common collaboration model in India's advertising ecosystem, where lead agencies partner with specialist media networks to deliver large, integrated mandates
Guest Column: Adman Prabhakar Mundkur decodes whether there is such a thing as ‘creative that sells’ and ‘creative for creative's sake’
According to COMvergence Final 2025 Global & Regional Billings Rankings, the combined entity reported $75.6 bn at the end of 2025, ahead of WPP by $11.8 billion and Publicis Groupe by $13.2 billion
The move is consistent with Hakuhodo's strategy of expanding through acquisitions and strategic partnerships across Asia and India
Experts argue that while criminal liability may strengthen deterrence, it should be reserved for egregious cases involving deliberate deception
The two sportswear giants have turned the 2026 FIFA World Cup into a creative slugfest, featuring star-studded mini-movies, huge budgets & a numbers war that has reignited advertising's oldest rivalry
Anupriya Acharya, CEO, Publicis South Asia, spoke to Neeta Nair, Editor of IMPACT, on how they cranked up the volume and pushed the growth agenda for the Group in half a decade
This year's Father's Day campaigns redefined fatherhood with humour, heart, and a little unconventional love
MOMS Outdoor is the specialised Out-Of-Home (OOH) advertising division of Madison World
Lodestar UM will lead AMFI's end-to-end media strategy, planning and buying responsibilities
For broadcasters and media companies, the challenge lies in aligning the interests of multiple industry segments that often operate under different business realities
WPP Media’s TYNY Midyear 2026 report forecasts India’s ad revenue to grow 8.8% this year with digital, commerce and AI-led formats driving momentum but total TV advertising to decline 6.8%
Guest Column: Adman Prabhakar Mundkur shares that the agencies that will thrive in the future will be those that stop selling labour and start selling intelligence
Guest Column: Adman Prabhakar Mundkur explores the third dimension to the discussion about Amul congratulating PM Modi on becoming India's longest-serving Prime Minister
WPP Media’s 'This Year Next Year 2026 Global Midyear forecast' is an upward revision from the 7.1% forecast in December
Self-serve advertising is being viewed in the industry as a natural extension towards in-house control, reshaping of media planning, and an attempt to reduce friction for smaller players
Messi meets AI, SRK meets aspiration, and a baniyan gets its moment. This week's best ads sell feelings more than products
Industry experts say the Airtel-Vodafone debate highlights a shift in India's telecom sector, focusing on brand philosophies and consumer values over technical claims
As Founder-Director of Nett Value Media, Janardan Pandey has established himself as a respected media strategist, known for combining business understanding with an instinct for emerging opportunities
The acquisition expands Havas Play’s offering across sports marketing, live experiences, branded partnerships, creator engagement and experiential activation
People familiar with the development say Pernod Ricard India has awarded ZeroFifty Mediaworks a three-year creative mandate following a competitive multi-agency pitch process
Grey 82.5 will collaborate closely with the Imperial Blue leadership team, led by Ahmed Rahimtoola and Ishwindar Singh, to strengthen the brand
Pernod Ricard India’s creative responsibilities are currently shared between Ogilvy and FCB India (now part of Omnicom Advertising India)
Pernod Ricard India's marketing spends stood at nearly Rs 864 crore in FY25
WPP's latest move looks less like an internal reshuffle and more like a response to where the market is heading, decodes Dr. Annurag Batra, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, e4m
From Nike's genre-defying 'RIP the Script' to Coors' one-trick chant, here's how the biggest FIFA World Cup 2026 campaigns stack up
As part of the new reporting structure, the leadership teams of the consolidated agencies will report into Rajesh VR, Group CEO of Ogilvy India
In 2002, Pepsi and Roberto Carlos staged a World Cup ad so cleverly cultural that it still lives rent-free in advertising memory
As per reports, the pitch is likely to see WPP's Open X and Publicis Groupe compete in most international markets, except North America, Japan and Korea
Guest Column: Communication Consultant Ganapathy Viswanathan writes on how Cheil has spent years within the Samsung ecosystem & understands the brand’s processes, product hierarchy & priorities
Guest Column: Ganapathy Viswanathan, Independent Communication Consultant & Author, reflects on how this honour celebrates a visionary who reshaped Indian advtg through empathy & cinematic brilliance
From nostalgia and qawwalis to algorithm-age fashion and Parkinson's empathy: Indian advertising finds its cultural footing this week
As per the report, of the 1,609 influencer ads processed 97.3% required modification, with over 54% promoting categories prohibited by law or where advertising is restricted
Under the mandate, Havas Media India will lead integrated media strategy, planning and buying for Matrimony.com across online and offline platforms
Guest Column: Dr. Sandeep Goyal writes on what Goafest can borrow from other global festivals of media and creativity
The agency will lead integrated creative duties for the QSR brand, following a multi-agency competitive pitch
Guest Column: Ganapathy Viswanathan, Independent Communication Consultant & Author, shares how Piyush Pandey transformed advertising from polished corporate messaging into something deeply emotional
The award was received by his wife, Neeta Joshi, at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Srinivasan Swamy, president of AAAI, said the association had fully cooperated with investigators but refrained from commenting on specifics as the matter remains sub judice
Guest Column: Dr. Sandeep Goyal shares his take on the recently concluded Goafest 2026 - what worked and what could be improved
Apart from advertising, Dhondy has remained closely associated with sports, photography, writing and culture
Rohit Ohri, ad veteran and Founder of OHRIGINAL, writes why AAAI must reinvent itself for a younger, AI-driven and rapidly evolving advertising ecosystem to remain relevant
From Bajaj's century of trust to Nike's locker-room laughs, this week's ads prove great creative has no single formula
The agency network outpaced Omnicom Media and Publicis Media as global media reviews touched $7 billion in Q1 2026
#e4mExclusive: AMFI shortlists Lodestar UM, OMD India, Madison & WPP Media for Rs 300-cr media pitch
The winner of the media mandate will be announced next week, e4m has learnt
Jitender Dabas, CEO of BBDO Group India, speaks to e4m on the impact of AI-led consolidation on the ad industry, effect of rising fuel prices on the broader economy & consumer spending, and much more
The Madison World Chairman says agency consolidation is inevitable after years of talent build-up, believes AI investments are now non-negotiable for relevance, and more
Anupriya Acharya, CEO of Publicis Groupe, South Asia, at AAAI’s 80th anniversary celebrations, reflected on leadership, industry evolution, resilience, and the future of advertising
Speaking at the 80th anniversary celebrations of AAAI, Balsara said the single body representing the advertising agencies/industry served a useful purpose of dealing with the government
Guest Column: Ad industry veteran Ramesh Narayan reflects on his journey with the AAAI, recalling leadership roles, key industry decisions, and more
As platform logic rewrites the creative brief, industry voices debate whether the scroll has replaced the story and what that means for long-term brand memory
Independent agencies have been able to understand internet culture due to leaner teams, faster decision-making and deeper immersion in online behaviour, share industry players
Guest Column: Shantomoy Ray, Founder and Director of K Factor Communications, on why in the age of AI driven advertising the brands that retain human emotion will be the ones consumers truly remember
While APAC saw organic decline of 7.5% and Americas declined 3%, Japan and India achieved organic growth
In an interview, Srinivasan Swamy says that the festival’s real purpose has always been equal parts celebration, networking, and learning
Veteran industry leader Srinivasan Swamy lays out why he believes Goafest still matters — and what must evolve for it to stay relevant in the years ahead
From backyard pitches to mothers' smiles, this week’s best ads found meaning in the moments that last
Webpages on AAAI’s official website was found displaying content linked to a betting and gambling platform, instead of archival material related to the association’s legacy
As feeds grow noisier and user behaviour becomes more reflexive, advertisers are rethinking what meaningful attention actually looks like
Ogilvy's 'The Boy Who Learnt to Smile' for Colgate uses Prateik Smita Patil's real story to craft one of this Mother's Day's most affecting brand films
Guest Column: Adman Prabhakar Mundkur writes that the future will not belong to independent agencies that merely offer services but to those that build networks
As curated aesthetics and moodboards shape creative inputs, advertising is shifting from real-world observation toward reference-led expression, which may narrow originality
While many brands have started holding back budgets, others are seeking greater flexibility in media plans to retain room for recalibrating investments as market conditions evolve, say ad execs
ASCI’s draft guidelines push for focusing on consumer outcomes rather than regulating the technology itself
The BCI filed a strongly worded additional affidavit in the Delhi High Court challenging the competition regulator’s authority to frame rules affecting advocates and legal representation
Neeta Nair, Editor of IMPACT Magazine, in conversation with Amer Jaleel, Co-Founder and Chairman of Curativity with Aarti Srinivasan, Chief Creative Officer and Anand Krishna, Chief Growth Officer
Marketing veteran Shubhranshu Singh reacts on the criticisms around Goafest, but asks - What is the alternative institutional infrastructure?
From emotional realism to chaos and humour, Indian brands redefined Mother's Day this year, moving well past the tears-and-sacrifice template
This is a notable increase from former CEO Mark Read’s $10.8 million compensation
The company’s advertisement expenses stood at Rs 103.8 crore in Q4 FY26, down nearly 30% from Rs 148.2 crore in Q3 FY26
Guest Column: Yesudas S Pillai, Advertising and Marketing Strategist, Investor & Founder at Y&A Transformation, writes how the almond campaign confuses interactivity with effectiveness
Long before influencer marketing had a name, Michael Jackson was doing it at scale and rewriting the rules of celebrity endorsement forever
As the debate around minors in advertising heats up, industry heads say that the terrain around minors is murky and the grey zone begins when minors are used less as real consumers and more as shields
Guest Column: Veteran adman Prabhakar Mundkur explains why quiet firing may protect short-term optics, but can damage long-term culture
Industry conversations suggest that beneath the celebratory veneer of the event lies a growing unease over whether the platform still serves the ecosystem it claims to represent
On a quarterly basis, ad spends were down 2% year-on-year. Sequentially, the spending was down 10%
After dismantling its holding structure, consolidating brands and targeting £500 mn in savings, WPP CEO Cindy Rose is now pushing a leadership reset rooted in wellness and performance psychology
Advertising gave Prasoon Joshi precision and the ability to distill complexity into a few memorable words, writes Shubhranshu Singh
Colleagues and industry peers remember him as a thoughtful leader who combined strategic clarity with a deep understanding of consumer behaviour
From Fevicol's power-play on the 'kursi' to Budweiser's World Cup fever, this week's ads remind us why great creativity never shouts, it simply sticks
A report by The Guardian claims WPP played a central role in executing billion-dollar US ad campaigns for major oil firms following the Paris Agreement
The Federal Trade Commission in US has accused major global agency networks of coordinating advertising boycotts against certain media platforms under the umbrella of ‘brand safety’
Advertising and promotion spends for the March quarter stood at Rs 1,509 crore
As brands chase presence across every platform, the pressure to produce is quietly drowning out the thinking that once made campaigns matter
Myntra’s existing retainer partner, Tilt Brand Solutions, has confirmed it will sit out this round of pitching
The expansion builds on the successful consolidated media business awarded to WPP last year across Europe
For the March quarter, revenue was up 6% quarter-on-quarter, and 196% year-on-year
Guest Column: Ganapathy Viswanathan, Independent Communication Consultant & Author, draws a parallel between Dinshaw’s legacy and Kambli’s emotional connect with fans
Revenue from operations in the first quarter of 2026 increased 6.7% to $5.6 billion as compared to the first quarter of 2025
In a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Annurag Batra, Prasanth Kumar, CEO of WPP Media South Asia, lays out how consumer shifts, AI acceleration and outcome-driven models are reshaping media services
Madhur Sugar, on the lookout for a creative partner, has called for a pitch in Mumbai; incumbent agency - Dentsu Creative Webchutney - not participating
From Cannes Lions to One Show, a parallel economy of campaigns built for juries only is quietly corroding creative credibility
While it will take time to outpace historical losses, our Q1 results are in line with expectations and ahead of Q4 2025, CEO Cindy Rose says in Q1 trading update on Tuesday
Under this new mandate, Curativity will spearhead the brand’s creative strategy
Kenneth Roman joined Ogilvy in 1963 and was Chairman and CEO from 1985 to 1989
In a wide-ranging conversation, Harsha Razdan, CEO of dentsu South Asia, spoke to Dr. Annurag Batra on the agency’s operating model, bundling of services, AI and more
The mandate covers brand strategy, digital, social media, packaging, experiential and retail communications
Omnicom Media’s “negative reach” thesis signals a shift—where overexposure erodes impact, raising questions around content evolution, flawed metrics and frequency fatigue
As agencies race to claim the 'AI-first' badge, a harder question is emerging: is the technology actually changing how work gets done, or just how it gets sold?
From Ranveer Singh's Superstar moment to Sprite's minty cool-down, this week's campaigns blend cultural insight with creative craft
Over the last two decades, Tribes Communications' Gour Gupta has built a reputation as a leader & founder with rare business clarity, creative instinct and the ability to scale ideas into institutions
The account is currently handled by Dentsu, which is also part of the pitch
Claude Design raises a bigger question for India’s agencies: not how impressive it is, but which part of the creative workflow gets squeezed first
With WARC flagging $94bn in global ad growth at risk amid US–Iran tensions, India’s market may see sharper volatility, as auto joins aviation, real estate & fashion in cutting Q1 spends by 10–50%
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