MAM
Wunderman Thompson South Asia logs in 70 new business wins in just six months
MUMBAI: Wunderman Thompson, since its launch in February this year, has been on a new business win spree. It has managed to log in over 70 new mandates across its group companies that include, besides Wunderman Thompson, Contract, Mirum, ADK Fortune and Hungama Digital Services (HDS). This also includes the wins in Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Some of the recent wins include Godrej Interio, Oppo, Myntra, Shell, Times Internet, Zee 5, Kaya, Linc Pens, HDFC Mutual Funds to name a few. These wins are on top of the earlier wins in the year that included Honda Civic, Yardley, Nutralite, Puma, Sri Lanka Tourism, Tinder, Timex amongst others.
Commenting on the new business wins Tarun Rai, Chairman & Group CEO, Wunderman Thompson South Asia, said, “This is certainly an impressive performance. We are building a new company, upskilling our staff, creating a new culture… and winning new business. What gives me even more satisfaction is that more than half of these wins have come due to our bringing together a complete end-to-end, integrated solution that is unique to Wunderman Thompson. The seamless and integrated approach has resonated with clients and as we bring in more global capabilities in Data, Content and Ecommerce, I am confident we will win more mandates in the next six months.”
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
