MAM
Mayoori Kango returns to Publicis to script an AI-powered new chapter
MUMBAI: From Bollywood spotlight to boardroom strategy, Mayoori Kango has never shied away from reinvention. The digital veteran has now rejoined Publicis Groupe as part of the global executive leadership team at Publicis Global Delivery (PGD), while also stepping in as CEO for PGD’s India Delivery Centre. The move marks a homecoming for Kango, who has already left her imprint on Publicis through earlier leadership roles at Performics (2016–2019) and Zenith (2012–2016). This time, her remit is bigger: driving global strategy across media, data-tech, and AI, and scaling PGD’s India operations into a hub of innovation.
Kango arrives at Publicis fresh from Google, where she spent six and a half years. Most recently, she served as Industry head for AI, Martech & Media Solutions (Aug 2024–Aug 2025), and before that as head of industry for agency partnership (2019–2024). Her time at the tech giant placed her at the forefront of AI’s impact on marketing and media, a focus she is set to double down on at Publicis.
Her career trajectory reads like a map of the digital advertising revolution: from 360i (2007–2009), where she worked on campaigns for Natgeo and Red Roof Inn, to Resolution Media (2009–2010), leading SEM for Pepsi, Monster, and Electrolux, to Digitas (2010–2012), running the Delta Search business. By the time she took the reins as chief digital officer at Zenith India, she was already recognised as one of the leading voices in digital transformation.
Armed with an MBA in Marketing from Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College (2005–2007), Kango has built a rare global career that blends Silicon Valley tech with Madison Avenue storytelling and Indian market scale.
Her dual role at Publicis is as much about the future as it is about continuity. As AI reshapes workflows, creativity, and consumer engagement, Kango will lead PGD’s efforts to position Publicis as the go-to partner for next-gen marketing solutions with India at its core.
For an industry that thrives on reinvention, Kango’s return feels fitting. After all, who better to script a new chapter in AI-led marketing than someone who has lived through every act of digital’s ongoing drama?
Brands
HYBE India, Samsung India team up to launch nationwide talent auditions
Partnership aims to discover and support next generation of female performers
MUMBAI: HYBE India has partnered with Samsung India to roll out a nationwide talent audition programme aimed at discovering and nurturing the next generation of female performers in India.
The initiative combines HYBE’s global entertainment expertise with Samsung’s technology ecosystem, offering aspiring artists a platform to showcase their skills and build a pathway into the music and performance industry.
At the core of the collaboration is a multi-city audition drive, supported both online and on-ground. Specially designed Galaxy Audition Studios will be set up across 10 cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad, within Samsung’s retail spaces. These hubs are intended to give participants a hands-on environment to rehearse, record, and refine their performances.
HYBE India chief operating officer Dahae Lee said the partnership is rooted in a shared goal of supporting young women’s aspirations, adding that the company is committed to guiding talent “from the initial audition stages to the moment of their debut.”
Echoing the sentiment, Samsung India vice president, MX business Aditya Babbar said the initiative is about enabling young women to “be seen and heard on a global stage,” while creating meaningful opportunities through technology.
Participants will be able to use Samsung Galaxy devices to create and submit audition content, from recording vocals to shooting performance videos, making the process more accessible and integrated with everyday tools.
The programme is also being amplified through Samsung’s ‘Show them how it’s done #withGalaxy’ campaign, positioning the initiative as both a talent search and a broader cultural push around self-expression and creativity.
As India’s creator economy continues to expand, the partnership signals a growing convergence between entertainment and technology players. By combining infrastructure, reach, and storytelling, HYBE India and Samsung are betting on a new wave of performers ready to step into the spotlight.
