Author: Kashmeera Sambamurthy

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.

Punt Partners’ Sidharth Rao: I’d like to believe that I donned the hat of Webchutney’s CHRO

Sidharth Rao said,"Madhu, my co-founder, and I believe given how nascent the martech landscape is, marketers will need time to build inhouse skills to leverage these products to their fullest extent and ensure they work well with all the other products they are using. This will lead to a dual problem - poor outcomes for the marketer and churn for the product provider."

Sidharth Rao, co-founder of Punt Partners, who also founded celebrated ad agency Webchutney, talks about untapped potential in martech, hiring the right talent and his legacy.

RS Sodhi ousted as Amul MD; Jayen Mehta takes interim charge

Sodhi, notably, was first appointed at the helm of Amul in 2010. In 2017, he was given an extension for a period of another five years. (Image source: Twitter)

The decision to replace Sodhi was taken at the board meeting of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the farmers’ cooperative that operates the Amul brand.

TVS Motor Company appoints Saurab Kapoor as VP-Marketing, Future Mobility

Kapoor is a sales and marketing professional with over sixteen years of experience working with organisations in the consumer durables segment. Before joining OnePlus, Kapoor spent a decade in Samsung Mobile serving the company in different roles. His last assignment was head - marketing planning & media strategy

He joins the firm from OnePlus India where he served the company as marketing director, category, and brand management.