Author: Delshad Irani

IPG Mediabrands chief Shashi Sinha’s succession plan revealed; ‘It has to be someone from within…’

Shashi Sinha, CEO of IPG Mediabrands India, said, "We have leaders who have been with us for years. The culture fosters it. Given half a chance I will promote a person from inside rather than get someone from outside."

In a candid chat with Storyboard18, IPG Mediabrands India chief Shashi Sinha revealed his succession plan for the first time as he shared his outlook on cultivating talent.

Laxman Narasimhan, CEO Starbucks: This quarter’s results do not reflect the power of our brand

Narasimhan’s efforts to turnaround decline in the same-store sales didn’t reap results, worsening the situation as the company cut guidance in April as US sales declined and China business’ growth decelerated.

Starbucks Reports Q2 Fiscal 2024 Results: Q2 consolidated net revenues down 2% to $8.6 billion, driven by a complex operating environment, the company said.

Yum! Brands, Inc.’s worldwide digital sales approached $8 billion in the March quarter

First-quarter unit growth was robust with over 800 new unit openings, leading to 6% unit growth and positioning Yum Brands to surpass 60,000 restaurants this year, the company stated.

David Gibbs, CEO, said “Despite a difficult operating environment, we delivered 6% Core Operating Profit growth demonstrating the resilience of our business model.”

Leading auto battery brand Amaron’s creative business on pitch: Exclusive

Amara Raja Batteries, maker of Amaron, officially rebranded itself as Amara Raja Energy and Mobility Limited (ARE&M) in 2023, marking the culmination of a two-year journey aimed at transitioning from a battery manufacturer to a comprehensive solutions provider in the Energy and mobility sector.

Battery major Amaron’s creative account is up for grabs, as per sources. The incumbent ad agency is Ogilvy, which has been associated with the brand for over two decades.

Maruti Suzuki starts pre-bookings for new Swift; Marketing head Partho Banerjee says it’s an “iconic brand”

Partho Banerjee said, “Its 29 lakh strong customer base and numerous awards and accolades are a testament to how the iconic Swift has gone from strength to strength."

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “The Swift has been an iconic brand for Maruti Suzuki, one that has evolved with changing times to redefine customer expectations.”

“No controversies, just all clean like their soaps,” says Harsh Goenka on Godrej family’s pact to split the conglomerate

Adi (pictured here) and brother Nadir will keep the listed entities while cousin Jamshyd gets the control of unlisted companies and the land bank, as per the pact shared with the stock exchanges on April 30. (Harsh Goenka image source: Moneycontrol)

Adi and Nadir Godrej will control listed companies while cousin Jamshyd gets the control of unlisted entities and the land bank. The agreement submitted to the exchanges addresses issues of Royalty, Brand Usage and Land Bank development.

Global advanced smartwatch market expected to see 15 percent annual growth in 2024

Major brands that will drive Wear OS volumes include Samsung, Google, OnePlus, OPPO and Xiaomi, according to Counterpoint. (Image: Alvan Nee via Unsplash)

The global HLOS* (or advanced) smartwatch market is expected to see a healthy annual growth in 2024. While Apple WatchOS dominates, the market is witnessing growing adoption of HarmonyOS and Google Wear OS platforms this year.