MAM
Mindshare India announces changes in key leadership
MUMBAI: Mindshare, a media agency from GroupM, today announced a major rejig of leadership roles in line with the agency’s efforts to stay adaptive, agile and innovative. These leaders have all been groomed from within the agency.
Harsh Deep Chhabra takes on the role of SVP, Mindshare Fulcrum with immediate effect. In his last five years in the company, he has played an instrumental role in the growth of team Fulcrum at Mindshare and ensuring value creation for Hindustan Unilever. Harsh has also played a critical role in managing the strategic digital mandate.
As Mindshare re-orients its business around the pillars of “Acceleration”, “Outcomes” and a “Refreshed Neo”, there have been key changes in the leadership of its Content+ practice and Neo India as well.
Ajay Mehta moves to the role of SVP Content+. In his new role, he will take on national responsibilities for Entertainment & Sports (ESP), Branded Content, Music & IP Creation along with the Experiential Marketing practice. His responsibilities also include South Asia Content+ mandate for Unilever.
Nikhil Mayne has been designated VP Content+. His responsibilities include developing the Social Media practice and driving the creation of Agile content that powers performance marketing. He will also drive the ESP & Branded Content practice for m/SIX India.
Samraat Kakkar, who has driven the Digital practice for Mindshare North & East, will take on the role of VP Neo India. Neo is a proven expert in Performance Marketing globally and partners Mindshare in driving integrated solutions for clients across Brand & Demand.
Mindshare South Asia COO Amin Lakhani said: “We at Mindshare strive to keep our clients ahead of the curve and our people agile and integrated. All these leaders have proven their abilities to deliver desired outcomes and beyond even in challenging situations. I am positive that the new structure will help us achieve maximum impact for our clients and create more value for our teams”
Mindshare South Asia CEO MA Parthasarthy said: “As the industry is staring at unexpected times, it is imperative for us as an agency to be future-ready. We are delighted to have such experienced leaders within the agency, who are future-focused and skilled to deliver disruptive business thinking for our clients”
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33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
