MAM
Shashi Sinha to take charge of IPG Mediabrands India as Lynn de Souza quits
MUMBAI: A major change is taking place at IPG Mediabrands India. Shashi Sinha, the CEO of Lodestar UM, is taking charge as CEO of IPG Mediabrands India in a newly created post while Lynn D‘Souza is quitting the company to become a social entrepreneur.
As part of the new arrangement, Initiative, BPN, Reprise and the Outdoor company will all now report to Sinha. He will also continue to function in his old role as Lodestar UM CEO.
In a related development, D‘Souza, who has been serving as the chairman and CEO of Lintas Media Group, will be leaving IPG Mediabrands at the end of November. She will announce the launch of a pioneering new initiative for the development sector in early 2013. She is an old hat at Lintas, having joined the agency in 1995 to set up Initiative Media.
“We want to take this opportunity to recognise another IPG veteran, Lynn de Souza. Lynn, Chairman and CEO of Lintas Media Group
and an active participant in the non-profit space for several years, has expressed her desire to become a social entrepreneur. She will announce the launch of a pioneering new initiative for the development sector in early 2013, and will be leaving IPG Mediabrands at the end of November,” IPG said in a statement.
The formation of IPG Mediabrands in March this year saw IPG leveraging its number two position with more than 17 per cent share of the Indian media market. In addition to the momentum gained by the three media agencies – Lodestar UM, Initiative and BPN – this period also saw the strengthening of the digital offering, Reprise – a joint venture with India’s largest digital independent, Interactive Avenues.
Magna Intelligence was launched to further improve the group’s buying capabilities and IPG Mediabrands also brought its unique consumer panels to the market. With more than 16000 contacts in India alone, the consumer panels fuel proprietary tools such as Matrix.
As IPG Mediabrands India enters the next growth phase, the agency‘s forward motion will continue with the launch of IPG Mediabrands Analytics, and the renewed focus and energy on the IPG Mediabrands outdoor business.
Sinha, an IPG veteran of over 20 years, has rapidly expanded and developed Lodestar UM over the past six years, led the way for the foundation of many new offerings in the market, and has remained actively engaged in various industry forums. Currently, he is also the President of The Advertising Club.
Brands
Funskool India crosses US$40 million turnover in FY 2025-26
Toy manufacturer posts steady growth despite global headwinds.
MUMBAI: Funskool India has played its cards well turning challenges into steady growth while keeping the fun alive in the toy business. The country’s leading toy manufacturer has reported a turnover of $40 million in FY 2025-26, demonstrating resilience in a difficult global environment. The company recorded an average growth of 14 per cent over the past two years, with exports growing at a healthy 19% year-on-year.
While domestic business grew at a modest single-digit pace, Funskool saw encouraging traction in key categories such as Fundough (dough) and Handycrafts (arts & crafts).
Funskool India Ltd. CEO K.A. Shabir said, “We successfully navigated the challenges posed by US tariffs last year and continued to grow both our export and domestic businesses. Given the ongoing geopolitical situation in West Asia, we are currently working with a moderate growth outlook of 12–15 per cent, with plans to revisit our targets after Q1 once the situation stabilises.”
He highlighted strengthened partnerships with global companies including Spin Master (Canada), Moose Toys (Australia), Melissa & Doug (USA), Asmodee (France), Learning Resources (USA), and Buffalo Games (USA). The expansion of the company’s Goa plant is progressing and is expected to be completed by the end of the current financial year.
Looking ahead, Funskool expects a significant shift in domestic growth momentum for FY 2026-27, driven by new categories such as friction vehicles under the brand “BlazeTrix”, remote-control cars under “VoltRush”, and the addition of popular licences like Paw Patrol.
In an industry where playtime never stops, Funskool has shown that even in turbulent times, a smart strategy and strong partnerships can keep the business ticking along nicely. As it gears up for the next financial year, the company appears well-positioned to build on its solid foundation and bring even more joy to children worldwide.
