Newsroom 
Adityan Kayalakal has joined Jupiter Money as Vice President and Head of Marketing, bringing with him a bold vision to elevate the brand’s already game-changing product. With a focus on innovation, scale, and storytelling, he aims to sharpen Jupiter’s consumer connect and drive the next phase of growth in India’s dynamic fintech space. His appointment … Read more
Performics India, part of Publicis Groupe India, has announced key leadership elevations with Cyrus Shroff appointed as Chief Client Officer and Shweta Shroff as Chief Product Officer. Based in Mumbai, both will report to Gautam Surath, COO, Performics India. Cyrus will lead all industry verticals, working closely with client CXOs to drive growth through data-driven, … Read more
Sandhya Devanathan, currently Meta’s Vice President for India, has taken on an expanded role to lead the company’s business across India and Southeast Asia. The move comes as Benjamin Joe is set to succeed Dan Neary as Meta’s Regional VP for Asia Pacific in July 2025. Devanathan announced the update on LinkedIn, expressing excitement about … Read more
Network implements one tap sign to enhance user experience In a rare recognition from Google, TV9 Digital has featured in the Big Tech firm’s official case study for successful implementation of Google One-Tap Sign-In, a feature designed to deliver a seamless and secure login experience for users. The case study published by Google details how TV9’s … Read more
PepsiCo India’s Sting® Energy has partnered with Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), becoming the official in-game energy drink in a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at powering the next level of gaming experiences. From May 15 to July 14, BGMI players will be able to use Sting® as a virtual power-up, complete with its signature energy burst and iconic sound mnemonic, marking a first-of-its-kind integration for the energy drink brand. Beyond the screen, Sting® and BGMI are launching co-branded bottles across retail stores and e-commerce platforms in India. Each bottle will include a QR code directing consumers to PEPGenie, PepsiCo’s WhatsApp-based chatbot. There, users can access four exclusive BGMI missions, with successful completion unlocking a final grand challenge that offers limited-edition digital collectibles. Ankit Agarwal, Director of Marketing – Energy and Hydration, PepsiCo India, said, “Gaming and energy go hand in hand. Sting® is now the fuel for those epic gaming moments, on-screen and off. With this partnership, we’re creating a unique bridge between gaming culture and everyday consumption.” Seddharth Merrotra, Head of Business Development at KRAFTON India, added, “This collaboration blends interactivity, emotion, and branding to offer a truly immersive experience for our players. It reflects BGMI’s vision to stay at the forefront of youth engagement.” This partnership redefines brand integration by combining digital gameplay, physical products, and interactive storytelling—aligning with the habits and aspirations of India’s digitally connected youth.
Mother Dairy has unveiled a hyperlocal extension of its iconic ‘Maa Jaisi’ campaign with a fresh, Mumbai-centric twist. Titled ‘Aai Jaisi Mumbai’, the campaign honors the city’s spirit of care, resilience, and compassion – drawing a powerful parallel between Mumbai’s everyday heroes and the warmth of a mother. Conceptualized by Ogilvy, the campaign captures emotionally resonant moments from daily life in Mumbai. It shines a light on the unseen gestures that define the city’s collective soul – like a tea vendor comforting a homesick student or a cab driver waiting until a passenger gets safely inside their home. These vignettes reflect how the city nurtures its people, echoing the essence of motherhood beyond traditional boundaries. Shot in evocative black-and-white frames, the digital video commercial (DVC) is set to a rap-style voiceover that adds rhythm and a contemporary edge to the storytelling. It brings Mumbai’s energy and empathy to life, resonating with viewers across generations. The campaign will run across digital platforms, print, radio, and out-of-home (OOH) media. With Aai Jaisi Mumbai, Mother Dairy aims to deepen its emotional connection with the city while reinforcing its commitment to nourishment and trust. “Just like a mother, Mumbai is endlessly giving and caring,” said Manish Bandlish, Managing Director, Mother Dairy. “This campaign celebrates the city’s maternal soul and aligns it with our brand’s core values of love and care.” The campaign was directed by Bikramjit Bose and produced by The Unicorn Films, with creative leadership from Ogilvy’s Gurugram team.
This Mother’s Day, Parachute Advansed Baby by Marico Limited celebrated a quiet yet profound truth of early motherhood – sleepless nights. With its emotionally resonant #GiftOfSleep campaign, the brand paid tribute to new mothers with a unique lullaby composed entirely of calming baby sounds like coos and babbles. While much of the world’s attention focuses on newborns, this campaign flipped the script, spotlighting the emotional and physical sacrifices mothers make – especially the loss of rest. Created by Tonic Worldwide, the initiative leaned into a powerful insight: that a baby’s gentle sounds can be unexpectedly soothing for mothers, offering emotional comfort and moments of calm. The lullaby served as a symbolic “return gift” from babies to their sleep-deprived moms – a simple, tender audio experience designed to help mothers unwind. The campaign not only celebrated the deep bond between mother and child but also reinforced the brand’s commitment to supporting maternal well-being. Ashish Goupal, CEO – India Core Business, Marico Limited, said, “We understand the evolving needs of modern parenting. This campaign honours the quiet resilience of mothers by offering them a rare moment of rest, wrapped in the most powerful lullaby of all – the sound of their baby.” Anjali Malthankar, Global Strategy Director at Tonic Worldwide, added, “We wanted to use the very sounds that keep moms up at night to now bring them peace. This lullaby is a tribute to the strength, joy, and emotional journey of motherhood.” The #GiftOfSleep is more than a campaign – it’s a heartfelt gesture toward every mother’s silent strength.
As diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan intensify, Indian travellers are boycotting trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan following reports of both countries expressing support for Pakistan. Online calls for a travel boycott have rapidly gained momentum, leading to significant disruptions across travel platforms. MakeMyTrip, one of India’s leading travel portals, has reported a 60% drop in bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan and a 250% spike in cancellation requests over the past week. “Indian travellers have expressed strong sentiments. In solidarity with our nation and our armed forces, we advise against non-essential travel to these destinations,” a MakeMyTrip spokesperson said. Other platforms are also witnessing similar trends. EaseMyTrip has seen 22% cancellations for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan, while Ixigo and Pickyourtrail have temporarily suspended bookings to both countries. What Travellers Should Know About Refunds With cancellations on the rise, here are key refund policies from major airlines: IndiGo: Air India: General airline refunds: The boycott has turned into a broader expression of national sentiment, impacting tourism, travel, and international relations.
French spirits giant Pernod Ricard has once again been barred from selling its products in Delhi, as the city’s Excise Department denied its liquor licence application for the third consecutive year. The rejection keeps brands like Chivas Regal, Absolut, Glenlivet, and 100 Pipers off Delhi’s shelves and bar menus, extending the company’s absence from the capital’s lucrative market. In a 16-page order issued on May 9, Delhi Excise Commissioner Sunny K. Singh cited ongoing criminal investigationsand concerns over the company’s “moral standing” as key reasons for the refusal. The order referenced an Enforcement Directorate (ED) charge sheet that accuses the firm of providing illegal financial backing to retailers to artificially boost market share – violating Delhi’s liquor laws. Singh noted that even in the absence of formal charges by the CBI, the ED’s case warrants “administrative caution,” especially in matters involving public trust and state revenue. Pernod Ricard’s licence troubles began in 2022, following the collapse of Delhi’s 2021-22 excise policy, which triggered investigations by the CBI and ED into alleged corruption. Its repeated attempts to regain a wholesale (L1) licence under the earlier 2020-21 excise regime have so far failed. Delhi accounts for roughly 5% of Pernod Ricard’s $3.13 billion India sales, making this continued exclusion a significant blow to its operations. The company still has the option to appeal to the financial commissioner, but for now, it remains sidelined from one of its most vital Indian markets.
Nishant Pitti, founder and chairman of EaseMyTrip, has raised concerns over a serious data security lapse in a competing travel platform, claiming it could jeopardize sensitive information about Indian armed forces personnel. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Pitti alleged that the rival platform – “majorly owned by China” – collects Defence IDs, travel routes, and journey details of military personnel in exchange for discounted air tickets. He warned that such practices could allow foreign adversaries to track the movements of Indian soldiers. “Indian Armed Forces book discounted tickets via a platform majorly owned by China, entering Defence ID, route & date. Our enemies know where our soldiers are flying,” Pitti wrote, sharing screenshots from the competitor’s booking interface as evidence. Pitti’s claims have sparked fresh concerns over data sovereignty and cybersecurity, particularly involving platforms with foreign ownership. While he did not name the rival company directly, his allegations imply that national security could be at risk if such platforms are left unchecked. As of now, there has been no official response from the travel platform in question. Regulatory bodies are expected to take note as concerns around digital infrastructure, user data privacy, and foreign influence grow increasingly significant in India’s digital economy.