Network18’s Basant Dhawan moves on as CEO, English & Business News

On the morning of Thursday, May 16, the industry mourned the loss of media veteran, Naresh Mohan. He was 82.

Mohan was taken to the hospital a few days ago and suffered a multi-organ failure. 

He served as the President of Indian Newspaper Society from 1990 to 1991, when he was associated with Hindustan Times as its Executive President. 

He also served as the Chairman of United News of India and was a member of the Press Council of India. Formerly, he was also the member of The Tribune Trust. 

Reminiscing Mohan, Anant Nath, Executive Publisher, Delhi Press shared, “For decades, Naresh ji was the guiding light for newspaper and magazines industry, steering the industry’s direction through each and every major aspect of publishing- legal and policy, advertising, newsprint,  laws pertaining to media, and so on. He was the ultimate source for guidance for the industry in any moment of crisis.”

He added, “Naresh ji was one of the rarest leaders who understood each and every aspect of news publishing, across editorial, management, and policy matters, and was a one man encyclopaedia about the industry over the last 50 years. Most importantly, he was the most affable person, with an infectiously warm persona, and with friends across generations of media professionals.”

Rakesh Sharma, President, Indian Newspaper Society, shared, "He was the lion of the industry and also matchless in the history of Indian media in the past five decades. He was a human encyclopedia and worked dedicatedly for the industry. Naresh always stood for the cause of the industry and gave his valuable inputs on every ticklish issue. He remembered all the dates of various important happenings in the industry and was able to tackle the most difficult situations when we met the bureaucrats and the ministers." 

Sprect, a C2C consulting marketplace, announced that it has raised Rs 50 lakhs in Angel funding from seasoned industry veteran, Siddarth (Sid) Shetty, Chief Business Development Officer at ServiceChannel. With this funding, Sprect plans to accelerate product development, expand its team, drive marketing efforts, and boost sales. Launched by Mohit Khadaria and Vishal Rupani in August 2023, Sprect (short for Super Connect) aims to bridge the gap between individuals and professionals across diverse fields, making them readily accessible to each other online. Sprect's web platform directly connects users with the world's leading PROs (Professionals) for one-on-one interactions. Sprect incentivizes PROs to take calls while maintaining their privacy through its comprehensive turnkey system, which streamlines brand building, scheduling, payment processing, and video calls.

With over 15 years of leadership experience spanning Operations, Business Intelligence, Global Services, Business Development, and Marketplace Strategy, Siddarth (Sid) Shetty brings a wealth of expertise to Sprect's journey. His pivotal role at ServiceChannel, which contributed to its eventual acquisition by Fortive for $1.2 billion in 2021, underscores his exceptional ability to build high-functioning teams and foster innovation within tech-driven ventures. Siddarth is also the host of the industry podcast ‘Elevating Brick and Mortar’, where he interviews industry leaders and discusses how world-class brands deliver compelling customer experiences.

As a leader with strategic expertise in driving growth and building successful marketplaces, his role as an investor and advisor will be invaluable as Sprect charts its course towards revolutionizing digital connections between individuals and professionals.

"Sprect's innovative approach to democratizing access to expertise deeply resonates with me," said Siddarth Shetty. "I see significant untapped potential for consumer-to-consumer advisory services, and it’s great to see that Sprect has already built an impressive pool of professionals without spending a penny on advertising. I'm excited to support their vision of empowering people by enabling them to connect with professionals seamlessly while unlocking new monetization opportunities for PROs from all backgrounds and walks of life. I firmly believe Mohit and Vishal embody the passion and vision necessary to lead this transformative journey, and I am honored for the opportunity to be part of it.

"We are thrilled to welcome Sid to our exciting journey," expressed Mohit Khadaria, Co-founder of Sprect. "His impressive track record in building exceptional teams, coupled with his pivotal role in contributing to the success of a company achieving unicorn status, is truly inspiring. What truly ignites our excitement is his unwavering passion for developing purpose-driven technology and a vision that seamlessly aligns with ours. We firmly believe Sprect has the potential to revolutionize how people connect and share knowledge, and we eagerly anticipate the transformative journey ahead."

Sprect's marketplace boasts a roster of PROs from renowned companies like Airtel, Google, Times Internet, and WarnerBros.Discovery; prestigious educational institutions like IIM, IIT, ISB, and UCLA; government officials including Principal Income Tax Commissioner and Mumbai Police Commissioner; and even Indian Olympians. This diversity ensures you can connect with someone who has the exact experience you need to help you take that next step to achieving your own goals.

Vishal Rupani, Co-founder of Sprect, remarked, "Sid's investment represents a significant validation of Sprect's potential to revolutionize the digital connectivity landscape. His backing reinforces our dedication to reshaping interactions between individuals and professionals, cultivating a culture centered around knowledge sharing and guidance. We deeply appreciate Sid's trust in our vision and are excited to embark on this journey together."

Sprect believes every individual is an expert in the life they’ve lived. We invite everyone to sign up today and make their knowledge accessible to the masses. PROs can create a free profile to offer paid consultations, complimentary sessions, or even charity calls, catering to a wide range of needs. On the other hand, users can freely browse profiles and book calls without creating a profile

Dentsu India has entered into a strategic partnership with Ripplr. Under the joint leadership of Narayan Devanathan, President & Chief Strategy Officer, South Asia at dentsu, and Abhishek Nehru & Santosh Dabke, Co-Founders of Ripplr, this industry-first collaboration will leverage the distinct expertise of each party to deliver client-led solutions that effectively bridge the gap between demand and supply chains.

The alliance will cater to clients seeking a comprehensive range of distribution and customer-facing solutions. Dentsu's expertise lies in providing strategy, growth solutions, and execution for consumer-facing business operations while Ripplr will concentrate on delivering strategy and execution, encompassing technology and fulfilment, for full-funnel distribution and logistics.

Initially, the alliance will provide customizable end-to-end solutions across the value chain for clients in FMCG, retail, D2C, and other distribution-intensive sectors across India. As time progresses, the partnership will extend its reach into additional markets and sectors, showcasing its dedication to addressing evolving industry demands.

Commenting on the alliance, Narayan Devanathan said, “Ripplr stands out as the unparalleled digital-first leader in distribution and logistics solutions, facilitating the most efficient movement of products from factory to retail. Moreover, when it comes to motivating consumers to engage with products across various channels—be it offline, online, or omnichannel—nobody does it better than dentsu. With our comprehensive suite of solutions at the intersection of marketing, technology, and consulting, this alliance will enable businesses to pinpoint the sweet spot between demand and supply, creatively and effectively bridging gaps across the entire value chain.”

Abhishek Nehru added, “Ripplr is one of the largest FMCG authorised distribution companies, and our platform services more than one lakh retailers across 10+ cities. We have built a robust tech-enabled playbook for all FMCG brands, along with smart data analytics, helping brands to scale up in the ever-changing omnichannel market. With dentsu as a partner, which is a powerhouse of research, analysis, and strategy, and Ripplr's execution and reach capability, the combined synergy will enable us to launch and scale brands faster and more efficiently across multiple geographies."

Harsha Razdan, CEO South Asia, dentsu remarked, “In today's dynamic business landscape, where time is of the essence, we understand the urgency of responding swiftly to client needs. We firmly believe that complementary solutions are paramount to not only meeting these demands but also overcoming challenges and fostering sustainable growth. Our partnership with Ripplr marks a significant milestone in our journey. By joining forces, we are empowered to offer a comprehensive spectrum of distribution and customer-facing solutions that cater to the evolving needs of our clients. This collaboration enables us to provide unparalleled value and innovation, ensuring that our clients remain ahead of the curve in an ever-changing market landscape.”

With its exceptional strategic insights and creative prowess, Madison World has reaffirmed its position as a trailblazer in the media industry. The business units of the media agency have been on an impressive winning streak, securing back-to-back wins for their outstanding work. From compelling storytelling to cutting-edge digital strategies, Madison World’s business units continue to set new benchmarks for creativity and innovation that resonate with audiences across diverse platforms.

At the e4m Prime Time Awards 2023 held on April 30, Madison Media was named ‘Media Agency of the Year’. The agency won a total of 16 metals including 4 golds, 9 silver and 3 bronze metals across categories for the exemplary and impressive content marketing campaigns.

Another winning streak was at the recently held e4m NEONS OOH Awards 2024, where Madison OOH bagged the ‘OOH Media Agency of the Year’ title. The agency also won 20 metals in total which included 9 golds, 6 silver and 5 bronze metals across categories for their path-breaking work.

Beyond advertising, Madison's influence extends into diverse arenas such as public relations, digital media, and entertainment. Madison World offers integrated and specialist services in different areas of Communication like Media, Out-of-Home, Sports, Mobile, Business Analytics, Advertising, PR and Entertainment through these 24 units.

Omnicom announced the expansion of its Global Solutions Centers of Excellence with the opening of three new campus locations in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Gurugram. A fourth location will be opened in Hyderabad in October. This significant investment reaffirms Omnicom’s commitment to expanding its presence in India’s fast-growing economy, tapping into its diverse talent, and continuing to drive innovation and enhance client services across the company. 

Designed to accommodate Omnicom’s expanding footprint and global client solutions capabilities, these centers of excellence will house a diverse talent pool of over 5,500 colleagues. The newly built, state-of-the-art offices will provide best-in-class collaborative environments for Omnicom’s talent in India. Through their expertise in media, data and analytics, creative, digital commerce, marketing technology, and AI, Omnicom’s Global Solutions Centers will support our agencies around the world, driving more value and efficiencies for our clients. 

“India is a country of creativity and technology with diverse, dynamic and talented people,” said John Wren, Chairman and CEO, Omnicom. “Our India operations are helping us transform from within, improving our client offerings and providing operating efficiencies. We are rapidly scaling and will continue to increase the number of colleagues in Omnicom’s Global Solutions Centers over the next few years, making them a key component of Omnicom’s growth.” 

Wavemaker India, a part of GroupM, has retained the integrated mandate for Luminous Power Technologies. Wavemaker has been entrusted with the brand’s traditional and digital media responsibilities since 2021. These include media strategy and planning, media investment, media activation, and content creation.

Wavemaker retained the mandate after a competitive multi-agency pitch. Wavemaker’s Delhi office will continue to oversee the seamless execution of all services for Luminuous Power Technologies, stated a press release.

Neelima Burra, Chief Transformation Strategy and Marketing officer, Luminous Power Technologies, said, “Our association with Wavemaker has been since 2021 and it is an exciting time to extend this partnership. As a brand that gains massive consumer appeal and recall value in consumers’ minds, we need an agency partner that would further strengthen Luminous’ presence in offline and online mediums at all stages. Our partnership has helped us create that relevant engagement value and we look forward to further building the brand’s growth in the future as well.”

Talking on the retention Ajay Gupte, CEO – South Asia, Wavemaker said, “Our partnership with Luminous has flourished over the past two years, and our continued collaboration is a testament to the remarkable results we have achieved together. We have successfully demonstrated exceptional capabilities in enhancing the brand's image, and our joint efforts have yielded innovative media strategies and campaigns.”

As their media partner, we are immensely grateful for Luminous' trust in us. We are thrilled to work alongside such a dynamic category leader and look forward to continuing our successful partnership for years to come.” 

Shekhar Banerjee, Chief Client Officer and Office Head, West, North, and East said, “We are thrilled to have retained this association. This retention not only represents our unwavering commitment but also reflects our shared vision for excellence as we strive to reach unprecedented heights. We are extremely grateful to Luminous for entrusting us with their faith and confidence.”

FCB Interface has won the creative mandate for the Philips Kitchen Appliances and Philips Garment Care business of Versuni India Home Solutions Limited (formerly Philips Domestic Appliances India Limited). 

Under this mandate, FCB Interface will spearhead the marketing and communication strategies for a range of innovative Philips products, including Garment Steamers, Steam irons, Airfryers and Mixer Grinders.

Speaking on the association, Pooja Baid - Chief Marketing Officer, Versuni India Home Solutions Limited (formerly Philips Domestic Appliances India Ltd.), said, "We are thrilled to announce our partnership with FCB Interface to enhance our presence in the Kitchen Appliances and Garment Care sectors across all touchpoints. Their innovative approach and creative prowess align perfectly with our vision for scaling the Airfryers and Garment Steamer categories in India. Together, we are poised to redefine consumer experiences and elevate our brand presence to new heights. We eagerly anticipate the boundless creativity and strategic insight that FCB Interface will bring to the table, driving impactful engagement and fostering meaningful connections with our audience."

On the win, Gaurav Dudeja, CEO of FCB Interface, expressed, "Philips is a brand with an incredible legacy, both in India and globally. And it's amazing how its equity has withstood the test of time and the multiple categories it straddles. With innovation at its core, the brand constantly aims to open up new categories and behaviours, and that's a fascinating challenge to take up. Our mandate is to deliver full-funnel solutions across the entire range of home appliances that drive growth for the brand and build brand love. Personally, this is my second stint on this amazing brand, and I'm grateful and excited in equal measure for the opportunity that lies ahead. There's some amazing work already in the pipeline, so watch this space for more."