MAM
Affle appoints Vikas Katoch as national sales head
MUMBAI: Digital media company Affle has appointed Vikas Katoch as national sales head. It has also roped in Prashant Kripps as head – publisher development and management for its soon-to-be launched new digital business unit.
Both Katoch and Kripps move from Komli Media where they were working as national sales head-video advertising and national head for publisher groups respectively.
Additionally, the agency has promoted Gaurav Pahwa as national sales head – mobile.
Affle regional director business development Sankalp Mehrotra said, “We are very happy to welcome Vikas and Prashant to the Affle team. Given their robust experience in the digital industry, we look forward to exciting times ahead and achieving continued success. I am equally pleased to announce Gaurav‘s promotion to head mobile ad sales in India. Over the last few months we have made a lot of key appointments in Affle, and with a team like this we believe we are well geared to achieve very significant business growth this year.”
Katoch said, “I am extremely happy to join Affle at this crucial juncture when we are growing our business across new digital media domains I am looking forward to creating rapid business growth in Affle this year.”
Kripps added, “I am very excited to be part of Affle at this time of rapid growth and expansion. Over the last few years I have worked across traditional & digital media and find the growth happening in mobile and some of the other digital advertising domains very fascinating. I am looking forward to contributing towards creating much greater success in Affle‘
Katoch comes in with over 12 years of digital sales and marketing experience in companies like Jivox, Hungama, IT Nation and Asian Paints.
Kripps also brings in over 12 years of experience across television, print, OOH and digital media in companies like Times, HT Media, Media2Win and GroupM Mindshare.
Pahwa had joined Affle last year from Network18 and has since played a very key role in driving Affle‘s mobile advertising sales effort forward, the company said.
MAM
PwC India announces leadership change in Deals practice
Shashank Jain steps down as co-leader after nearly three decades with the firm.
MUMBAI: When one dealmaker steps off the pitch, another is ready to take the baton because in the fast-moving world of transactions, the game never really stops. PwC India has announced a leadership transition in its Deals practice, with Shashank Jain stepping down from his role as co-leader to pursue an opportunity in the industry. The practice will continue to be led by Mohit Chopra, ensuring continuity and sustained growth momentum.
PwC India partner and leader for advisory dinesh Arora paid tribute to Jain’s contributions. “We deeply appreciate the significant contributions made by Shashank over close to three decades he has spent with PwC, particularly his defining role in shaping and strengthening our Transaction Services practice in India,” he said. Arora highlighted Jain’s support for clients through some of the most complex and significant transactions in the Indian market, noting his deep technical expertise, sound judgment and nuanced understanding of the evolving M&A landscape.
The Deals practice remains a key growth driver for PwC India, and the firm expects continued expansion under Mohit Chopra’s leadership. He will continue to guide clients through complex transactions and transformational business moments, building on the strong foundation established over the years.
Reflecting on his journey, Shashank Jain said, “I have had an exceptional journey at PwC. I owe my growth and learning to the nurturing environment and leadership development that PwC provided.” He added that he had been working closely with Mohit and the larger team to ensure a smooth transition and expressed confidence that Chopra would take the Deals practice to newer heights.
From intern to respected deals leader, Shashank Jain has clearly closed many successful transactions and now, it seems, he’s ready to strike a new deal of his own.
