MAM
HLL’s Venkataramanan promoted as Unilever Europe media head
MUMBAI: After a long innings as Hindustan Lever Limited’s (HLL) group media manager (Central Asia), B Venkataramanan is headed out. “Venkat”, as he is known in the trade, has been promoted to HLL’s parent company Unilever and will now be based out of London.
According to reliable industry sources close to the developments, Venkataramanan will be media head of Unilever Europe, while also steering the media fortunes of some of the FMCG behemoth’s key brands globally. He will be reporting in to Unilever global media director Alan Rutherford.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, HLL director new ventures Dalip Sehgal says, “Venkat will be the media buying head of Unilever and will be based in London. His position at HLL will be filled in by Rahul Welde, who will be taking over as group media manager (Central Asia).”
However, when contacted, Venkataramanan would not offer any comment on the developments.
The media planning and buying business of HLL is handled by MindShare Fulcrum, whereas MindShare Europe handles the Euro 1 billion Unilever Europe account, which was bagged by the agency in November 2004.
MAM
Bob Iger joins Thrive Capital as adviser after Disney exit
Former Disney CEO returns to VC firm, stays on as Disney adviser till 2026.
MUMBAI: From castles to capital, Bob Iger isn’t done building just changing the blueprint. Bob Iger has taken on an advisory role at Thrive Capital, marking a return to the New York-based venture firm he briefly joined in 2022. Founded in 2009 by Josh Kushner, Thrive Capital has been positioning itself at the intersection of technology and long-term value creation, an area where Iger’s experience in scaling global entertainment businesses is expected to add weight. Kushner, 40, welcomed Iger back, highlighting his ability to blend technology with human-centric storytelling, particularly in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
Iger is no stranger to Thrive. He had earlier joined the firm as a venture partner in September 2022, after stepping down as CEO of The Walt Disney Company and concluding his tenure as executive chairman in 2021. That stint, however, was short-lived. In November 2022, Disney’s board brought him back to steady the ship, replacing Bob Chapek following a turbulent period for the company.
Now, with his latest exit from Disney’s top job last month, Iger appears to be revisiting the venture world, this time with a clearer runway. Still, the Disney chapter isn’t entirely closed. Under his agreement with the company, he will remain until the end of 2026 as a senior adviser to new CEO Josh D’Amaro and will continue to serve on the board for his current term.
The move comes as venture firms increasingly seek operators with deep industry experience to navigate what Kushner described as “the most consequential technology shift” of the era, driven by AI. For Iger, whose career has hinged on blending creativity with scale, the transition from Hollywood to high-growth investing seems less like a pivot and more like a plot twist.
