MAM
Ajay Chandwani is new Percept H CEO
MUMBAI: Percept H, a joint venture between Percept and Japanese firm Hakuhudo, has roped in former SSC&B Lintas president Ajay Chandwani as chief executive officer of the company.
The vacancy was created after CEO Rajesh Pant was moved to head Posterscope MENA (Middle East and North Africa), as part of Percept’s plans to spread its footprint across the globe. Percept H offers services like account management, account planning, creative and market research and has a wide range of clients including Bharti, Siyaram, Bajaj Tempo and Sahara.
Chandwani was responsible at SSC&B for gaining brands like Mercedez Benz, Hexit, Philips, Parachute, Kissan, Walls Max candy, Green label whisky, Hero Group, Vardhman Group and Moser Baer.
Assisting Chandwani is Prabhakar Mundukur who has joined as chief operating officer. He was earlier with J Walter Thompson where he worked as business development director.
Pant, who would have been based out of Dubai, was given the responsibility of setting up a whole new division in Posterscope MENA, but has decided instead to explore new opportunities.
Percept is now scouting for a CEO of Posterscope MENA to replace Pant. The Indian operations of Posterscope started in 2003 and the company quickly rose to become the top five outdoor agencies in the country. It has clients like Airtel, Pilsbury, Pantaloon, Sahara India and Afro Asian Games.
Pursuing its global plans, Percept Group’s celebrity management and event marketing arm Percept D’Mark (PDM) recently set up its international operations out of Dubai. Sanjay Lal, who was founder and executive director of PDM India, has moved to Dubai as managing director and CEO of PDM International. Preeta Singh, earlier with O&M, has been put in charge of PDM India.
Pant, meanwhile, has joined Mirza Tanners Ltd (makers of the well known footwear brand Red Tape) as director for a new division that the company has launched. Pant has been appointed as director Red Tape Asia, his ambit being to expand the Red Tape product line beyond just high-end footwear into a fashion brand. Pant will also have the responsibility of setting up a retail chain of Red Tape “lifestyle” stores across Asia and the Middle East (India included of course).
MAM
Ritz Media World appoints Neeti Bhargava as chief content and client solutions officer
Seasoned radio leader to steer content and client strategy in AI era
NEW DELHI: Ritz Media World has appointed Neeti Bhargava as chief content and client solutions officer, strengthening its leadership team as brands ramp up investment in content-led, multi-platform engagement.
With more than 18 years in radio, media and content creation, Bhargava brings a storyteller’s instinct and a strategist’s eye to the role. Her career spans leading radio networks such as Red FM 93.5, Reliance Big FM 92.7 and My FM of the Dainik Bhaskar Group, where she shaped on-air formats, refined programming strategy and curated music and listener engagement initiatives that resonated beyond the airwaves.
Over time, her remit expanded from studio consoles to brand consoles. She has led voice-driven campaigns, crafted branded content, developed digital formats and delivered live experiences, blending creativity with commercial clarity. Her experience across content production, marketing strategy and creative leadership has given her a keen understanding of how audiences interact with brands across platforms.
In her new role as chief content and client solutions officer, Bhargava will oversee the agency’s content strategy and work closely with clients to design integrated campaigns spanning audio, digital and on-ground platforms. She will also guide internal teams to ensure consistency, quality and clarity in brand communication.
Ritz Media World founder Ritz Malik, said Bhargava’s cross-platform expertise comes at a pivotal moment for the industry. As marketing becomes increasingly data-informed and supported by AI tools, he noted, the need for authentic and well-crafted storytelling has only intensified. Her leadership, he said, will help the agency deliver campaigns that are both creatively strong and strategically sound.
Bhargava said today’s content landscape is shaped by evolving consumption patterns and technology-led media planning. While AI enhances efficiency and insight, she emphasised that compelling storytelling remains central to meaningful brand engagement. She added that she is excited to contribute to building integrated content that connects with audiences across formats.
The appointment reflects Ritz Media World’s focus on sharpening its content capabilities as brands seek smarter, data-backed ways to stay relevant in an increasingly crowded media marketplace.
