MAM
ASCI shall continue efforts towards fairness in ads, says new chairman Abanti Sankaranarayanan
MUMBAI: At the board meeting of The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) held after the AGM on Thursday, the former vice-chairman of Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) Abanti Sankaranarayanan was unanimously elected as the chairman of the board of ASCI.
Sankaranarayanan, who is also the chief strategy and corporate affairs officer at Diageo India, and member of its executive committee, said, “It’s heartening to see ASCI’s relentless efforts being recognised by the judicial body, regulators and government bodies and we shall take all efforts to continue to keep it so.”
She added: “Core to ASCI’s mission to ensure protection of the interests of consumers, through supporting fairness in advertising, ASCI shall carry on to keep true with its consumer focused tagline, “So you can trust advertising.”
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.
