MAM
AdFest to be held in Pattaya despite Tsunami terror
MUMBAI: The world’s most powerful earthquake in more than 40 years triggering massive tsunami in more than 10 countries has not stopped the biggest Asian creative awards show – The 8th Asia Pacific Advertising Festival.
The AdFest will be held from 10 to 12 March 2005 and the deadline for sending in entries has been extended to 31 January. AdFest will be held in Pattaya.
With the recent tsunami near the Indonesian island of Sumatra and other countries in Southeast Asia, the organizing committee of the 8th Asia Pacific Advertising Festival extended its sympathies to the friends and families of those people who lost their lives as a result of the tidal waves that hit some coastal regions in several countries of Asia, including the island of Phuket, located in the southern part of Thailand.
Fortunately, while some very minor tremors were felt in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, the earthquake and the resulting tidal waves did not have any effect on Pattaya or any other cities and resorts, situated around the Gulf of Siam.
The committee has also assured all those who are scheduled to travel to the Festival in Thailand – that Pattaya did not experience any ill effects of the earthquake and tidal waves thanks to the city’s geographical location and the nature of the mountainous terrain that surrounds it from several sides.
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
