MAM
Ranjan Kapur throws light on future advertising trends at AAAI seminar
MUMBAI: Perhaps the most enthralling of all the speakers at the Advertising Agencies Association of India’s (AAAI) Diamond Jubilee celebrations’ conference was WPP country manager Ranjan Kapur, who gave the keynote address and had the audience in rapt attention.
Speaking on what makes successful brands, he said that brands were not made in the era of shortages, but in the era of plenty. “Those brands that were built in the era of shortage must reinvent themselves and reassess the brand loyalty that they have in the market. The brand of the future will be built in the 21st century,” he said.
Kapur also emphasized on the fact that one thing that the industry needed to watch out for were media independents. “They are going to become the 360 degree agencies of the future as they have strategic planning muscle, are rich on data and are privy to ad spend of companies,” he said.
He stressed on the fact that in three to five years’ time, there will be a divide among people who want to be rich and those who want to be famous. “It is in our hands to grab the opportunity to become rich and famous at the same time,” Kapur said.
Another emerging section that the industry must watch out for was mobile telephony. “The way we consume content is going to change. Mobile telephony is going to play a big role in our lives. Every form of content from every medium will be privy to the mobile very soon,” he said.
“The Indian broadcast industry lacks interactivity and is moreover a one way medium. The day they complete the loop, it will be great and mobile telephony will help in doing that. One reason why American Idol or Indian Idol is so popular is because of the interactivity. Broadcast media should enter the mind space of the consumer away from home. Mobility and content combined is the way ahead,” Kapur emphasised.
Brands
Magellanic Cloud names Syed Ameeruddin CEO of e-surveillance arm
Keeping a sharper eye on the future, Magellanic Cloud is putting a seasoned watcher in charge.
MUMBAI – Magellanic Cloud Ltd. has elevated Syed Ameeruddin as Chief Executive Officer of its e-surveillance business, bringing its iVIS and Provigil operations under a unified leadership to accelerate growth in intelligent monitoring and infrastructure solutions.
Ameeruddin, a nearly two-decade veteran of the company, steps into the role after leading the e-surveillance vertical. His career trajectory—from Business Development Manager to the top of the vertical—reflects a steady climb built on operational depth, client engagement, and strategic execution across multiple subsidiaries.
Over the years, he has played a central role in expanding the company’s footprint, strengthening client relationships, and streamlining operations. He has also been instrumental in integrating acquisitions, helping align new businesses with Magellanic Cloud’s long-term strategy while stabilising performance across diverse domains.
More recently, Ameeruddin has contributed to securing key mandates spanning railways, the National Highways Authority of India, and the BFSI sector—wins that have bolstered the company’s order book and deepened its presence in critical infrastructure.
Commenting on the move, Joseph Sudheer Thumma said Ameeruddin’s leadership has been “pivotal in shaping the e-surveillance business,” citing his ability to drive growth, build teams, and deliver strategic wins as key to the company’s journey. His elevation, Thumma added, is expected to further accelerate expansion in AI-driven surveillance and infrastructure solutions.
The transition comes as demand surges for AI-enabled monitoring, centralised command systems, and large-scale deployments across mission-critical environments. Magellanic Cloud’s e-surveillance segment—anchored by iVIS and Provigil—has emerged as a significant growth engine, delivering projects across banking, transport, highways, and public infrastructure.
In his new role, Ameeruddin will focus on scaling platform capabilities, expanding deployments in complex environments, and developing integrated solutions that enhance real-time intelligence and operational resilience. He will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer of the company alongside his new responsibilities.
With this leadership shift, Magellanic Cloud is doubling down on its ambition to stay ahead in India’s rapidly evolving surveillance ecosystem—where seeing, increasingly, is not just believing, but predicting.
