GECs
Publicis acquires Beehive Communications
MUMBAI: The Publicis Groupe has acquired six companies since mid-2012 and today, it was time to take one more leap. In a new development, the French multinational advertising and PR major announced the acquisition of Beehive Communications, one of the country’s foremost independent integrated communications agencies, which serves clients across South Asia.
With this deal, Beehive will be rebranded Publicis Beehive, to operate as a unit within Publicis Worldwide’s global network. The agency’s current team will continue to lead it under the direction of founder and CEO Sanjit Shastri, and will report in to CEO South Asia Publicis Worldwide Nakul Chopra.
Without disclosing the value, Shastri said both companies were happy and added that the deal gave Beehive a wider platform, better growth prospects and overall appeal as the agency was entering a totally new league. He pointed out that the work strategy would be pretty much similar to what has been the norm so far.
“I think we will continue with our same old approach, focusing on building steps and verticals and providing integrated solutions through digital media and other creative platforms. Employees will be benefitted too as they will get much more exposure and will get to work at a higher level. We have clients from four different buckets including retail, education, travel and tourism and we have recently started handling a few clients from real estate as well. We are also in the process of signing deals with a few more real estate people,” he said.
For Publicis, the Beehive acquisition marks a significant step in becoming the leading communications network in India.
“Beehive brings both scale and strategic value to the Publicis offering in India. The verticals that they have are complimentary. Like, Publicis currently has very good exposure in sectors such as food, beauty, fashion, personal sector etc. While Beehive comes with exposure in other sectors, they are not exposed to the areas that we handle. So, the association is going to be a learning experience for both the companies,” said Chopra and added that their employees would be benefitted as well. “Employees of the smaller company gain by being a part of the larger organisation. They gain because they are exposed to better platforms and newer opportunities,” he added.
B Sanjit Shashtri (L) and Nakul Chopra (R) are expecting their association to reap profits
Founded in 2003, Beehive Communications today employs more than 130 staff, and provides integrated solutions in creative, reputation management, media, digital, brand activation and research. Beehive’s clients (over 50) include the likes of Malaysia Tourism, General Motors, Korea Tourism, Jubiliant Retail, India Bulls Finance and Bisleri among others. Headquartered in Mumbai, it has a presence in Delhi and Bangalore as well. Known for its ability to build expertise in important vertical markets with speed and efficiency, the agency has built a reputation for growing and winning over their clients.
GECs
&TV brings Women’s Day shine to Lucknow mall
Shilpa Shinde joins “Selfie Lo. Shine Karo. Star Ban Jaao!” activation on 8 March.
MUMBAI: This Women’s Day, &TV is handing women the mirror and the spotlight because sometimes the best reflection is the one that finally says “star”. &TV is taking its celebration of strong, confident women off-screen with a lively on-ground initiative at a prominent mall in Lucknow on 7–8 March 2026. The activation, titled “Selfie Lo. Shine Karo. Star Ban Jaao!”, invites women to click empowering selfies at a specially designed mirror installation framed with a symbolic crown and bold messages such as Women & Confident, Women & Boss, Women & Independent, and Women & Carefree. The crown carries the core emotion, “She is her own hero. Her own cheerleader. Her own power.”
Adding star power to the event, beloved actress Shilpa Shinde (popularly known as Angoori Bhabi from Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! 2.0) will attend on 8 March, interacting with participants. Select women will get the chance to meet her, and one lucky winner will be featured in an upcoming episode on &TV turning a simple selfie into a real on-screen star moment.
The initiative is rooted in the belief that women often celebrate others but rarely pause to acknowledge themselves. By creating a joyful space for self-recognition and confidence, &TV is extending its on-air narratives of empowered women into real life.
Shilpa Shinde said, “I truly believe confidence begins with how we see ourselves. I am very happy that &TV is creating a platform where women are not just celebrated but also given a chance to be seen and recognised.”
&TV chief channel officer and Zee5, business head for hindi Kaveri Das added, “At &TV, we don’t just tell stories of strong women, we actively create platforms for them. This Women’s Day initiative is our way of moving beyond celebration and enabling real visibility.”
In a world quick to spotlight others, &TV is flipping the script reminding every woman that the most powerful story she can star in is her own, one confident selfie at a time.
