MAM
Dentsu to pay USD 2.3m to clients post discrepancies
MUMBAI: Japanese advertisement behemoth Dentsu was under fire from the media in late September after it publicly apologised for cases of overcharging around 111 clients. Among identified 633 cases, 14 incidents were where ads were not placed at all and other cases of incorrect placement periods and falsified reporting of ad performance.
The advertising agency is now set to pay back an estimated 230 million yen ($2.3 million) to clients after the agency uncovered a raft of discrepancies, including some cases where fees were charged and no internet advertising placement was made, it revealed in a statement on 28 October. “We will repay the 230 million yen, and we will talk with clients after all the facts are disclosed,” Toshihiro Yamamoto, Dentsu senior vice president, told reporters in Tokyo.
The Japanese ad agency’s client Toyota was the first to point out a discrepancy, sparking an investigation into transactions dating back to November 2012, according to Bloomberg.
“Immediately after finding out about the incidents, we organized an internal investigation team in the middle of August,” the company clarified.
Other affected clients include LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, Diageo Plc, Nestle SA, SoftBank Group Corp. and Electronic Arts Inc.
MAM
DB Group names Abhay Dubey as chief brand marketing
Seasoned marketer brings regional muscle and launch savvy to DB
LUCKNOW: Dainik Bhaskar Group has appointed Abhay Dubey as chief brand marketing, strengthening its leadership bench as the media major sharpens its focus on brand-led growth.
Dubey steps into the role after a high-impact stint as regional marketing manager at Reliance Broadcast Network, where he led data-driven regional campaigns and rolled out new initiatives from concept to completion. Based in Lucknow, he steered end-to-end account marketing, orchestrated launch events, and fine-tuned go-to-market strategies with a sharp eye on budgets and brand visibility.
Before that, he served as area marketing manager at Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited, handling business development, media buying and integrated branding campaigns across Uttar Pradesh. His remit included planning new service launches and working closely with creative agencies, media owners and government departments.
Dubey also held the position of brand manager at EM3 Agriservices Pvt. Ltd., where he drove product launches, demand generation and stakeholder engagement. Earlier in his career, he was head of marketing at Saffron Communications Pvt. Ltd., overseeing integrated campaigns across sectors, and began his journey at Jagran Engage, building experience in advertising and lead generation.
With expertise spanning digital marketing, brand management, demand generation and below-the-line advertising, Dubey brings both strategic planning skills and hands-on execution experience to the table. His track record suggests a marketer who is as comfortable crunching numbers as he is crafting narratives.
At DB Group, he is expected to shape sharper brand strategies, amplify market presence and ensure campaigns that do not just make noise, but make sense.
