MAM
New faces at AP International
MUMBAI: Ann Cook has joined AP International as director of international client relations, making it the first external appointment to the senior management team the newly named division of the Associated Press charged with expanding AP business outside of the United States.
Cook, who joined the organisation on 1 December at the London headquarters, will be responsible for all aspects of international customer relationship across the portfolio of AP products, says an official release. She will report to Ian Ritchie, Vice President-Global Business and Managing Director of AP International. Till recently, Cook was managing director of the International division of Frank N. Magid Associates, a media research and consulting company.
Prior to joining Magid, Ann was Director of Marketing for Granada Sky Broadcasting and as such was one of the four-strong management team that took the business from zero revenue to 30m turnover and profitability in five years, says the release.
In another appointment, Nick Evansky has been appointed Director of AP International Services & Technology. Evansky will be responsible for all technical infrastructure and technology for all AP products and services outside the US. Evansky will be part of the international executive team reporting to Ian Ritchie, Vice President-Global Business and Managing Director of AP International, and will also sit on the AP Services and Technology executive team in New York, reporting to Jeffrey Hastie, Deputy Director Services and Technology.
Prior to joining AP, Evansky held a number of key roles in television production and broadcast organizations, including NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). He has been a member of the APTN team since it began in 1994. He became Director of Technology for APTN in July 2000.
Brands
Mother Dairy unveils 30 plus products for summer portfolio push
Ice creams, regional dairy and high-protein range drive 30 per cent growth plans
MUMBAI: If summer had a flavour, Mother Dairy is making sure it comes in at least 30. As temperatures climb, Mother Dairy is turning up the chill with an expansive product blitz, announcing a pipeline of over 30 new offerings across its value-added dairy portfolio. Rolled out in phases through the season, the line-up spans indulgence, health, convenience and regional tastes, an attempt to meet India’s increasingly diverse consumption patterns head-on.
Ice creams take centre stage, accounting for around 20 of the new launches. The brand is introducing formats such as a Two-in-One Matka and Tub, alongside a premium ‘Crafted’ range and flavours like Cream Cheese Pistachio Cone and Kulfi Cassata. There is also a clear nod to calorie-conscious consumers, with the debut of a ‘Go-Low’ range featuring variants such as Choco Almond, Shahi Mewa and Kesar Pista Tilla Kulfi.
Beyond indulgence, the company is sharpening its regional play. Products like Jamun Yoghurt and Bhuna Jeera Raita aim to tap into local flavour preferences, while Shrikhand offered in three variants targets western markets. For northern consumers, Meethi Dahi joins the mix, reinforcing a localisation strategy that goes beyond one-size-fits-all offerings.
Convenience is another key lever. Mother Dairy is expanding its UHT milk portfolio with Cow Milk and Standardised Milk in markets such as Jammu and Kashmir, catering to demand for longer shelf-life products without compromising accessibility.
On the nutrition front, the brand is doubling down on protein. Its ‘Pro’ range is being strengthened with Procurd and Propaneer high-protein curd and paneer variants positioning itself within the growing health-conscious segment while retaining its core taste proposition.
The scale of the rollout signals more than just seasonal experimentation. With expectations of over 30 per cent growth across key categories, the company is betting on innovation as a primary growth engine, supported by a mix of traditional and new-age distribution channels.
Marketing, too, is set to match the ambition. High-impact campaigns across ice creams and flavoured milk are in the pipeline, aimed particularly at younger consumers and designed to amplify summer consumption moments.
In a market where heat often dictates demand, Mother Dairy is not just responding to the season, it is trying to own it, one scoop, sip and spoonful at a time.
