MAM
Dentsu appoints Sumit Kohli head of investment – APAC
Former Publicis Media executive to drive client-first, data-led media investment strategies across the region
SINGAPORE: Dentsu has bolstered its Asia-Pacific leadership bench, appointing Sumit Kohli as head of investment – APAC, as the network sharpens its focus on disciplined, outcome-driven media spending in a volatile advertising market.
Kohli, a media veteran with nearly two decades of experience, steps into the role after an 11-year stint at Publicis Media, where he most recently served as APAC executive director, investment, accountability and partnerships. His mandate at dentsu is clear: align investment decisions more tightly with client priorities while delivering measurable, high-impact results.
Based in Singapore, Kohli will steer regional investment strategy across both digital and offline channels, with a strong emphasis on accountability, transparency and performance metrics. His appointment comes as agencies face mounting pressure from clients to justify every rupee spent amid shifting consumption patterns and the rapid rise of data-led media buying.
At Publicis Media, Kohli led initiatives around measurement frameworks and ROI-driven planning, working across key markets including Singapore and Thailand. He also handled marquee clients such as Coca-Cola, Samsung, Mars-Wrigley and LVMH, building long-term partnerships and driving efficiencies in media investment.
Earlier stints at MediaCom Singapore, VivaKi and MEC saw him cut his teeth across planning, trading and negotiation, managing 360-degree media mandates and scaling digital spends for key accounts. He began his career as a media planner at Percept, steadily moving up the ranks as the industry pivoted towards integrated, cross-platform strategies.
Kohli’s move underscores dentsu’s push to double down on strategic investment leadership as advertisers demand sharper returns and greater accountability. With media fragmentation accelerating and digital commanding an ever-larger share of budgets, the battle is no longer just about reach—it is about precision, performance and proof.
In that race, dentsu is placing its bets on Kohli to turn every media rupee into a measurable advantage.
Brands
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail reshuffles top deck; Nikhil Modha to take over as CFO
Phased transition sees Marco Agnolin head OWND!, Nikhil Modha lined up as CFO as company readies next growth leg
MUMBAI: Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail is redrawing its leadership map, lining up a new generation of executives across key roles as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
The company has named Suraj Bahirwani as chief executive (designate) of Pantaloons, effective April 1, 2026, with a full transition to the top role slated for October 1, 2026. He will also be designated as senior managerial personnel.
A two-decade veteran of the Aditya Birla Group, Bahirwani joined as a group management trainee in 2002 and has since held a string of leadership roles across retail and manufacturing. His resume spans stints at Aditya Birla Retail, a tenure as chief operating officer of Pantaloons, and most recently, head of global sales at the group’s cellulosic fibres business, where he drove international expansion and strengthened value-added portfolios.
Academically, he holds a PhD from the University of Mumbai, a postgraduate management diploma from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, and is a chartered accountant. Over the years, he has picked up multiple chairman’s awards, including distinguished achiever, exceptional contributor and accomplished leader.
The transition at Pantaloons will be staged. Incumbent chief executive Sangeeta Tanwani will continue until September 30, 2026, steering the handover before moving into an advisory role to the managing director from October 1, 2026. She is set to retire on January 31, 2027, at which point she will step down as whole-time director and key managerial personnel.
Alongside, the company has brought in Marco Agnolin as chief executive of OWND! and senior managerial personnel, effective April 6, 2026. Agnolin arrives with over three decades of global experience, having held senior roles at Inditex, where he helped expand Zara in Italy, and later served as chief executive of Bershka and Diesel. His track record spans fast fashion, brand turnarounds and youth-focused retail.
On the finance side, Nikhil Modha has been appointed chief financial officer (designate) and senior managerial personnel from April 1, 2026. He will assume full charge as chief financial officer and key managerial personnel from January 1, 2027.
Current chief financial officer Jagdish Bajaj will oversee a phased transition until December 31, 2026, before retiring and stepping down from his roles.
The reshuffle signals a calibrated succession plan rather than a sudden overhaul, with the company staggering exits and appointments to ensure continuity even as it refreshes leadership across verticals.
As Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail juggles legacy brands and new-age formats, the message is clear: steady hands for the present, sharper ones for the future—and no pause in the push for scale.
