Mastercard’s Raja Rajamannar named WFA President
Philip Myers, SVP Global Public Policy and Government Affairs at PepsiCo, to be new Deputy President

WFA has announced a new leadership team and has elected Mastercard’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Raja Rajamannar as its new President. He will serve a two-year term as WFA President, with the option to extend for a further two years.
Rajamannar has worked for Mastercard since 2013 and has led the company’s marketing transformation, including the integration of Marketing and Communication functions, evolution of its experiential platform, and creation of marketing-led business models.
Rajamannar recently pioneered Mastercard’s move to become a symbol brand and the launch of its breakthrough sonic brand platform. He also serves as President of Mastercard’s Healthcare Division in addition to his role as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer.
With more than 30 years of experience as a global executive across multiple industries, his previous roles include Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer, WellPoint (now Anthem Inc.); Chief Executive, International and Chief Innovation & Marketing Officer, Humana; Global Chief Marketing Officer, Cards and Payments, Citigroup; and CEO of Diners Club North America. Rajamannar started his career with Asian Paints in India. He is also the winner of the 2018 WFA Global Marketer of the Year award.
Rajamannar replaces David Wheldon, CMO at RBS, who has been President since 2015. Wheldon will continue to serve on WFA’s Executive Committee as Regional Vice-President for Western Europe.
“The opportunity in front of marketers today to make a difference for their brand, their business and even the world is tremendous. I am honoured to pick up and carry the torch as President of WFA, an organisation committed to elevating and advancing the activities of our profession, and a role I am convinced will become even more important in the years to come,” said Rajamannar.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Raja as our new President. He’s one of the very best in the business and his work at Mastercard demonstrates how marketers can deliver unrivalled business and social impact when they’re at the top of their game,” said Stephan Loerke, CEO of WFA. “I’d also like to thank David for his invaluable service as President. He is nothing short of a giant in the global marketing industry and he has helped lift the organisation to another level in terms of its relevance to CMOs, its strategic focus and its global expansion. We’re delighted he’s agreed to stay on our Executive Committee and help steer the organisation through future challenges.”
The Deputy President's role has been attributed to Philip Myers, Senior Vice-President, Global Policy and Government Affairs at PepsiCo, who takes over from Matthias Berninger, former Vice-President, Public Affairs at Mars.
Philip leads PepsiCo’s government and stakeholder relations. Previously, he oversaw public policy and communications across the company’s Europe Sub-Saharan Africa business and before that he led the European Retail Round Table, which brought together Europe’s leading retailers on public policy issues. His appointment reflects the dual nature of WFA’s mission working with both marketers to ensure marketing effectiveness and policy professionals to protect brands’ licence to operate.
The new President, Deputy President and Regional Vice-President roles are part of a wider change in WFA’s leadership team which also includes a number of new executive committee members:
- Jean-Luc Chétrit, CEO, French Advertisers Association (UDA) & WFA Treasurer
- Edward Bell, General Manager Brand, Insight and Marketing Communications, Cathay Pacific Airways
- Adam Mohamed Wee Abdullah, Group Chief Marketing Officer, CIMB
- Valérie Hernando-Presse, Chief Marketing Officer, Danone
- Gerhard Louw, Head of International Media Management, Deutsche Telekom
- Allyson Park, Global Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Mars
- Francesco Tramontin, Director, Global Public Affairs, Mondelez
- Lynette Pang, Assistant Chief Executive, Marketing Group, Singapore Tourism Board
- Atul Agrawal, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Brand and Marketing, Tata
- Jan Morten Drange, CEO, Association of Norwegian Advertisers (ANFO)
Loerke added: “It’s always gratifying that so many senior marketers are willing to serve on WFA’s committees and forums. We couldn’t do half the work we do without these vital contributions and the wisdom of so many senior marketers and policy professionals is critical in identifying upcoming issues and potential solutions to the many challenges faced by brands today.”
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Unlocking the Future of HR: BW People HR Excellence Summit & Awards 2023
The BW People HR Excellence Awards 2023 will honour organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of HR
By exchange4media Staff | May 27, 2023 8:42 AM | 2 min read
The BW People HR Excellence Summit & Awards 2023, an event dedicated to shaping the future of HR, will take place on May 27th, 2023, starting at 10 a.m. at Aloft, New Delhi, Aerocity.
The summit aims to bring together HR professionals and thought leaders from all domains to explore emerging trends, strategies, and innovations in human resources. With the theme "Unlocking the Future of HR," the event will provide a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and recognizing excellence in HR practices.
The BW People HR Excellence Awards 2023 will honour organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of HR. The awards will celebrate excellence in various categories, including Best HR Strategy, Best Emerging HR Strategy, Best Place of Work, Equal Opportunity Employer, Best HR Team of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and more.
"This summit is an extraordinary chance for HR professionals to acquire profound insights, exchange innovative ideas, and unveil the cutting-edge trends that will intricately mould the future of HR. We are thrilled to be the hosts of this esteemed event, where we wholeheartedly acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of exceptional HR leaders," said Mr. Talees Rizvi, Director of BW People.
The event will cover panel discussions revolving around 'Navigating the Future of Talent Management: Strategies for Success in the 2030s', 'The Digital Learning Revolution: Transforming L&D for the Future of Work' and other trending topics and there will be Keynote speakers such as Ms Sonica Aron, Founder & CEO of Marching Sheep talking about 'Creating a Human-Centric HR Strategy' and many more. The event will also provide a platform for HR solution providers to showcase their innovative products and services.
For more information, please visit - https://bwevents.co.in/bwpeople/bw-people-hr-excellence-summit-awards-2023/
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RCPL completes acquisition of 51% controlling stake in Lotus Chocolate Company
Has taken sole control of Lotus with effect from May 24, 2023
By exchange4media Staff | May 25, 2023 4:10 PM | 1 min read
Reliance Consumer Products Limited, the FMCG arm and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL) has completed the acquisition of 51% controlling stake in Lotus Chocolate Company Limited, the company has said in a press release.
“The stake has been acquired for an aggregate consideration of Rs. 74 crore. The company has subscribed to non-cumulative redeemable preference shares of Lotus for an aggregate consideration of Rs. 25 crore. RCPL has also completed the acquisition of equity shares pursuant to the open offer made under SEBI Takeover Regulations,” read the release.
RCPL has taken sole control of Lotus with effect from May 24, 2023.
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Tribes acquires full ownership of Ignite & The Max
The agency, promoted by Gour Gupta, buys 100% stake from DDB Mudra
By Ruhail Amin | May 24, 2023 5:34 PM | 2 min read
In a major milestone, Tribes has acquired full ownership of Ignite and The Max after a 100% stake buyout from DDB Mudra.
Tribes’ journey began in 2015 under the leadership of Gour Gupta. As the former CEO of Clear Channel Mudra and CEO of DDB Mudra Max OOH and Experiential, Gupta acquired Clear Channel's stake in the joint venture with DDB Mudra. With this bold move, he rebranded the company as Ignite Mudra, setting the stage for the emergence of the parent brand—Tribes.
Gour Gupta
Since its inception, Tribes has expanded its portfolio of services, encompassing a diverse range of cutting-edge offerings. In 2018, the agency acquired a 51% stake in DDB Mudra Max, a prominent Experiential & OOH agency, expanding its reach and leveraging a wider network of resources and expertise. The company was rebranded as The Max.
Now, in a momentous development, Tribes has successfully bought 100% stake from the venture with DDB Mudra, achieving full ownership and control over its operations, signifying a new chapter in the agency's evolution.
"We are thrilled to announce our successful 100% acquisition of Ignite and The Max from DDB Mudra," said Gour Gupta, Chairman, Tribes. "This strategic move further strengthens our position as India's largest OOH and experiential agency, and we are excited about the opportunities it brings for growth and innovation."
A DDB Mudra Group's spokesperson, meanwhile, said, "We wish Gour and his team the very best in the future. It has been a fruitful partnership and we've done some good work together. As we focus on our core brand, creative and digital businesses, we have been rationalizing our portfolio - starting with the move to a minority holding in this business five years ago. Now that the Max Publicity team is doubling down on their ambitious expansion plans, we are happy to have them take full ownership of our shareholding."
As a fully integrated agency Tribes has a slew of specialist brands under it including Ignite, The Max, Insync, The Tech Company which offer a comprehensive suite of services, including OOH advertising, experiential marketing, activation, digital solutions, and more.
Tribes now has an extensive client roster with over a 100 clients which includes industry giants such as Amazon, Facebook, Google, Honda, Swiggy, Diageo, Michelin, Phillips, OnePlus, Pepsi, Jockey, Yamaha, Kotak Bank, HDFC ERGO, Marks & Spencer, H&M, Godrej, WNS, Aditya Birla, Real Me, HP, Microsoft, Schneider, Government Of India, ITC, Deloitte, PWC, Legrand, MG motors and many more.
The agency currently has a turnover of Rs 521 crore, revenue of Rs 68 crore and consolidated capitalized billing of Rs 680 crore.
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exchange4media celebrates India's business leaders in brand new series
The monthly column will profile some of the most distinguished leaders who have been leading India's success story from the front
By exchange4media Staff | May 23, 2023 4:44 PM | 1 min read
India's entrepreneurial landscape is as diverse as its terrains and its cultures. Like opportunities, it is also fraught with many challenges. It took the mind and might of a few brave industrialists to shape India's economy and change the course of its economic trajectory.
As a tribute to these visionary business leaders who have contributed immensely to India's success story, exchange4media has started a monthly column "Leading From The Front."
We begin our series with Punit Goenka, The MD & CEO of ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.
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The Minimalist awarded digital creative media mandate for Schwarzkopf
Mandate wonfFollowing a competitive multi-agency pitch
By exchange4media Staff | May 23, 2023 3:59 PM | 1 min read
The Minimalist has been onboarded by Henkel Consumer Brands to lead the digital creative mandate for Schwarzkopf India. Following a competitive multi-agency pitch, The Minimalist has come on board as the digital partner with the mission of building Schwarzkopf’s social community and leading the creative communication mandate for the brand.
On the mandate win, Sahil Vaidya, Co-Founder, The Minimalist shared, “Schwarzkopf has established itself as a leading brand in the premium hair care and color category. With their latest offering in India of expert inspired at-home hair color formulations, they continue to bring beauty shoppers never-seen before technologies for superlative results and experience. We are thrilled to be associated with the brand as their creative partners and look forward to building inventive campaigns and engagement ideas. Together, we aim to create a powerful digital community that will add to the legacy of the brand.”
Shama Dalal, Head of Marketing - Henkel Consumer Brands India commented on the partnership, “Our mandate for the recently launched Schwarzkopf Consumer Business Line required a robust strategy that resonated with digitally forward audiences. We’re delighted to partner with The Minimalist and look forward to leveraging their creative delivery & digital prowess to bring alive our brand vision.”
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Tenure of Vikram Sahay as joint secretary, I&B Ministry, extended
The extension has been given for a tenure of two years
By exchange4media Staff | May 22, 2023 6:43 PM | 1 min read
The Union government has extended the tenure Vikram Sahay as joint secretary of the information and broadcasting ministry, according to media reports. The extension is for a period of two years. The current tenure will expire on May 23 until further orders, an official statement has reportedly said.
The tenure extension has been notified by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
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Union minister Bhupendra Yadav to be the chief guest at BW Sustainable World Conclave 2023
The 3rd edition of BW Sustainable World Conclave will be highlighting the critical role India plays in the global economy & its positioning as the fastest-growing major economy in the world
By exchange4media Staff | May 19, 2023 8:08 AM | 2 min read
BW Businessworld in association with Sustain labs Paris is all set with the 3rd edition of Sustainable World Conclave. The two-day summit assembles experts, leaders, policymakers, and activists from different parts of the country to discuss the theme of India’s big leap with the G20 presidency. The concept behind the conclave highlights the critical role India plays in the global economy and its position as the fastest-growing major economy in the world.
We are honoured to announce Shri Bhupendra Yadav, Hon'ble Union Cabinet Minister of Labour & Employment, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, as our Chief Guest for the BW Sustainable World Conclave 2023.
The summit will include of thought-provoking sessions, panel discussions, and keynote speeches from eminent speakers, covering a wide range of matters in regard to the importance of India’s position in the global economy and its role as a significant player in international development initiatives, sustainable agriculture, digital transformation, global governance, renewable energy, responsible consumption, climate change, circular economy, and much more. Furthermore, the summit will also comprehend upon the prospects and challenges of India’s G20 presidency and the aspects of its position in contributing to sustainable development goals.
Navigating the path towards a sustainable tomorrow, BW Sustainable World Conclave 2023 is back with its 3rd edition and is on the look out for business leaders, investors, industry experts, policymakers, social entrepreneurs, NGOs, academics, and students who are passionate about creating a sustainable future for the planet.
Limited seats available: Reserve yours now at bit.ly/BWIMSC2023
The summit is to take place on 20th June 2023 in New Delhi.
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