Author: Kashmeera Sambamurthy

G.O.A.T Brand Labs acquires Chumbak, four other D2C brands

With these acquisitions, G.O.A.T Brand Labs' portfolio now includes 20 brands including The Label Life, TrueBrowns, Pepe InnerFashion, Abhishti, Neemli Naturals, NutriGlow, Voylla, Pet Crux, etc.

G.O.A.T Brand Labs, a roll-up e-commerce startup, plans to make Chumbak a Rs 500 crore brand by 2025.

ZEE signs key advertisers for inaugural edition of DP World ILT20

The co-developed framework allows GroupM Nexus’ team of commerce experts to evaluate where marketers are in their respective Amazon Marketing Cloud journeys. (Representative image: Vardan Papikyan via Unsplash)

Paytm, Kurkure Playz, Kent RO, Gulf Oil are some of the advertisers for the first season of the tournament that kickstarts on 13 January.

Edtech Advertising: ASCI’s report on bad practices in edtech ads points to deeper issues

The industry body states in the latest report that like traditional education ads, edtech ads overemphasise marks and ranks, with mathematics and science dominating the subjects depicted in advertisements. (Representative Image: Ahmed Hindawi via Unsplash)

ASCI flagged off edtech brands for ads full of tall claims, stereotypes, over-emphasis on marks/ranks, perpetuating an unhealthy view of education.

Edtech ads: ASCI flags off edtech brands’ advertising for tall claims, stereotypes, focus on marks and ranks

ASCI's report states that while the marks-linked narrative is not unique to EdTech, spending crores of rupees in perpetuating this narrative can be considered undesirable for society at large. This pattern is seen as problematic by several experts and parent groups that are able to look beyond the immediate impact of advertising promises. (Representative image: Compare Fibre via Unsplash)

ASCI released EdNext a study to spotlight edtech brands’ bad practices and attempts to lay down a responsible approach to edtech advertising.

Ex-Sharechat exec Ajit Varghese joins Disney Star as head of network advertising sales

He would also be looking at developing the long-term vision and defining the strategic direction of the sales organization in his new role, said an official statement from the television network. Varghese would be reporting to K Madhavan, president and country manager, Disney Star

Ajit Varghese was the chief commercial officer at ShareChat and Moj. Prior to this, he headed WPP’s Wavemaker as the global president.

DY Works appoints Ashish Bahl as CEO

Bahl has spent over 25 years in advertising, marketing & media. He has worked with SABMiller India (now AB-Inbev) Neo Cricket & Sports, Mccann, Contract, JWT, Leo Burnett and O&M, where he’s worked with over 100 iconic global brands including Pepsi,Coca-Cola, MasterCard, Nestle, ESPN, SABMiller, Hero-Honda and many more

Bahl takes over from Tresa Paul who has moved out to pursue new opportunities.

upGrad’s CEO Arjun Mohan resigns

In 2022, the entire focus was on digital. Digital media spends of the company went up by 20 percent. Television took a complete backseat in the company’s marketing playbook. In fact, after their partnership with Shark Tank India, upGrad had zero spends on television between March and December

Mohan joined the company in April 2020 from competitor Byju’s where he last served as the chief business officer.

EGF’s Sameer Barde: Regulatory certainty will ensure long-term investments in gaming and esports

Sameer Barde, CEO at EGF says “Regulation is a great first step to add credibility to the esports industry and standing at this juncture alongside regulation what is also very important is player education. Asli Gamer is the first nudge from the federation for players to understand the importance of responsible gaming behaviors.” (Stills from the campaign)

E- Gaming Federation launched a campaign, ‘Asli Gamer’ starring Naezy and Shubman Gill, to encourage gamers to play responsibly.

5-fold growth in sales, ice-cream ‘war’ with HUL—here are highlights of RS Sodhi’s tenure at the helm of Amul

Hindustan Unilever, which owns the Kwality Wall’s brand, approached the Bombay High Court, asking for the Amul ads to be stopped. Hindustan Unilever claimed that Kwality Wall’s, which is the largest frozen dessert brand in India, was impacted by the Amul ad. (Image source: Moneycontrol)

RS Sodhi, who stepped down as managing director of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation on January 9, joined the company as a senior sales officer in 1982.