MAM
Mindshare MENA appoints Ravi Rao as chief client officer
MUMBAI: Mindshare has appointed Ravi Rao as Mindshare MENA chief client officer. Rao was earlier Mindshare, South Asia leader. He will be taking over his role from 1 May, 2015 and will be based in the Dubai office.
On his move to Mindshare, MENA, Rao said, “I am excited to take this new role within the Mindshare family. The market has exhibited good growth over the past few years and I look forward to strengthening our position in the MENA region.”
GroupM South Asia CEO CVL Srinivas added, “Ravi helped consolidate Mindshare’s position in the market over the past few years. He has led the transformation efforts of the agency in the recent past. This has helped Mindshare create cutting edge products for its clients, grow its digital business and retain its leadership position. He has made a significant contribution to our network and the industry at large. We are confident that Ravi will continue to play a stellar role in building the Mindshare network and we wish him well in his new role.”
Mindshare MENA CEO Samir Ayoub said, “We are thrilled to welcome Ravi back to the MENA purple family. Ravi is well respected with a good reputation in our region. With his vast experience, we are confident that Ravi will play a vital role to have more successful stories for Mindshare MENA”.
Rao is also the chairman of the Media Research Users Council (MRUC) and has represented Mindshare and GroupM on several industry platforms.
Rao joined Mindshare, South Asia in 2008 and took over as leader for the market in 2012. Under his guidance, Mindshare remains the largest media and marketing agency in India. Rao was earlier a part of JWT Dubai and the Mindshare MENA team during its inception in 1999. He also worked with OMD in the course of his time in Dubai.
MAM
Ameya Velankar steps down as Uber’s head of marketing for India & South Asia
Veteran marketer exits after more than seven years with the ride-hailing giant.
MUMBAI: After more than seven years of steering Uber through the bumpy roads of India’s mobility market, Ameya Velankar has decided to change lanes. Ameya Velankar has stepped down as Head of Marketing for India and South Asia, marking the end of a significant chapter at the ride-hailing company. He had been with Uber since 2019, taking on multiple roles in product and category marketing before rising to lead the marketing function for the region in 2021.
During his tenure, Velankar played a key role in strengthening Uber’s positioning in one of its most competitive and dynamic markets. He helped drive localised marketing strategies and scale adoption across key offerings such as Auto, Moto, Rentals and Intercity, tailoring global platforms to Indian consumer needs.
Prior to joining Uber, Velankar built his marketing expertise at leading consumer companies including SC Johnson and Marico, where he handled category and product leadership roles. His career began at RPG Enterprises.
Details of his next professional move have not been disclosed.
In a fast-evolving mobility landscape where brands constantly battle for attention, Ameya Velankar helped Uber stay relevant and resonant with millions of Indian users. As he moves on from the driver’s seat of marketing, the company will now look for fresh ideas to keep its wheels turning smoothly.
