AD Agencies
A pinch of salt, a world of difference: Introducing The Salt Inc
Mumbai: Marking a groundbreaking moment in the dynamic space of content and design, The Salt Inc officially launches, poised to deliver strategically tailored content that sparks meaningful conversations between consumers and brands.
Breaking away from the traditional agency model, The Salt Inc. is a visionary enterprise with capabilities across content formats, ranging from digital to OTT content. Built on pillars of cutting-edge technology, in-house production capabilities, and an unparalleled understanding of brand dynamics, The Salt Inc. is designed to spark conversations and engagement solutions across all consumer touchpoints. Exclusive partnerships with the British media behemoth The Economist in India puts the organization in a unique space where it can help its partner brands engage with influential C-suites globally.
Helmed by industry veterans
Founded by industry veterans with tremendous credibility and equity in advertising, media marketing, and video production, The Salt Inc. redefines the scope of a traditional agency. Each founding member brings with them a wealth of experience, award wins, and extremely varied and unique skill sets, continuously pushing the boundaries of creativity and capability.
CEO and founder Neena Dasgupta brings nearly 25 years of expertise in digital media and advertising with remarkable corporations like BBC, ABNI (from the Dow Jones stable) et cetera. She later founded Zirca Digital Solutions, an independent global digital solutions company managing marquee clients in both Indian and international markets. She has also graced Impact’s 50 Most Influential list for three consecutive years.
Co-founder Sarthak Dasgupta is a distinguished writer, director, producer and masterful storyteller who is an alumnus of the prestigious Sundance Screenwriters Lab and the recipient of the Mahindra Sundance Global Filmmaker Award. Sarthak has consistently delivered culturally diverse, impactful stories across feature films, web series, documentaries, and television.
Co-founder and chief operating officer Parth Arora is a veteran producer with 25 years of experience working and successfully delivering award-winning projects in the film and OTT space with several platforms including Netflix. Parth has also worked for powerhouse film studios including Dharma Productions, Fox Star Studios, and White Feather Films, among others.
Experienced professionals including co-founder and business head Rahul Surve, chief product officer (CPO) Tarun Abhichandani, chief creative officer (CCO) Mihir Chitre, strategy lead Rohan Desai, and marketing lead Sagar Grover call The Salt Inc. home.
Tarun, in his role as CPO, spearheads the product strategy, user experience, and technological innovation. Mihir, as CCO, leads with his creative vision, blending artistry with strategic insight to deliver compelling storytelling. Rahul brings strategic acumen and a deep understanding of market dynamics, guiding business growth and partnerships.
Building conversations, not just content
The Salt Inc’s approach goes beyond creating content; they build conversations. Every piece of content is crafted to engage the audience, spark interactions, and create lasting impressions. In a world where brands are constantly vying for consumer attention, The Salt Inc. ensures your brand stands out by fostering genuine, emotional, and cognitive connections.
Innovative technology at the core
At The Salt Inc, their proprietary technology is not just a tool but perhaps their most powerful differentiator. Their AI technology enables robust consumer insights, allowing them to personalize content, ensuring it resonates deeply with the target audience. This technology also enables them to optimise content delivery beyond the conventional targeting methods, for all formats, from quick 30-second clips to in-depth three-hour features, catering to the diverse needs of modern brands.
Speaking about the launch, The Salt Inc CEO & founder Neena Dasgupta said, “At The Salt Inc., we harness the power of compelling narratives to drive conversations, transform brands and captivate audiences across the digital landscape.”
“With our cinematic expertise, we bring stories to life, ensuring that every brand message resonates deeply and leaves a lasting impact,” added co-founder Sarthak Dasgupta reiterating the superior storytelling capabilities at The Salt Inc.”
Speaking about production proficiency, The Salt Inc COO Parth Arora shared, “Our state-of-the-art production collaborations guarantee top-tier quality, enabling brands to deliver visually stunning and highly engaging content.”
AD Agencies
Publicis Brazil’s creative chief Mauro Ramalho lands the jury chair at Abby Awards 2026
Mauro Ramalho brings 25 years of global advertising firepower to the new creative commerce, use of data and B2B category at Goafest
GOA: The Abby Awards 2026, powered by The One Club and The One Show, has appointed Mauro Ramalho, chief creative officer of Publicis Brazil, as jury chair for its newly launched creative commerce, use of data and B2B category. The announcement, made on 18 March, signals the awards’ intent to bring serious international muscle to a category that sits squarely at the intersection of creativity and commercial performance.
Ramalho is not a name that needs much introduction in global advertising circles. Over 25 years spanning three countries, he has worked at some of the industry’s most creatively restless addresses. At AKQA in San Francisco, he worked across McDonald’s, Nike, Fox, Target, Kraft Foods and GAP, and helped lead “The Lost Ring” for McDonald’s, one of the first alternate reality campaigns and among the most awarded projects of its era. He later moved to Organic in Toronto, bridging the Detroit and Toronto offices on Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler, before spending over a decade building CUBOCC into one of Brazil’s most iconic and innovative independent agencies, which subsequently joined the IPG network.
A stint at FCB followed, where Ramalho led integrated work bridging online and offline, before he joined R/GA São Paulo as vice-president and executive creative director, stitching together the São Paulo office with New York, London, Portland and California on global clients including Verizon, Google, Meta, Samsung, American Express and Heineken. He now heads Publicis Brazil as its chief creative officer.
His trophy cabinet includes Clios, Effies, TikTok awards and MMA Smarties, and he has served on juries at the Andys, TikTok and the Lisbon Awards.
The Abby Awards 2026 is scheduled to take place at Goafest 2026 on 20, 21 and 22 May in Goa.
For Indian advertising, landing a jury chair of Ramalho’s calibre for a category built around data-driven creativity and commerce is a statement of ambition. Goafest just raised its own bar.
