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ASCI to meet I&B on misleading ads issue
NEW DELHI: With the Department of Consumer Affairs adamant on setting an agency to check misleading advertisements, the Advertising Standards Council of India has decided to take up the issue with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to prevent unnecessary duplication.
A Delhi-based member of ASCI told indiantelevision.com that though ASCI members had met Food and Consumer Affairs Minister K V Thomas in this regard, they would raise the issue through the I&B Ministry which is the nodal Ministry for dealing with the media.
The I&B Ministry sources also said the Ministry was in favour of self-regulation on such matters and feels the work being done by ASCI is adequate.
The Department of Consumer Affairs, which has been asked by the Prime Minister’s office to study the possibility of framing some guidelines to check misleading advertisements in the print and electronic media, has said it is planning setting up an agency to examine consumer complaints against misleading advertisements.
Food and Consumer Affairs Minister K V Thomas told mediapersons here that “at present, we do not have any agency to investigate the consumer complaints regarding misleading advertisements and so we are considering setting up one under the Department of Consumer Affairs.”
In August, the Ministry had formed an inter-ministerial committee to consider various options to deal with the issue of misleading ads.
The Minister said the proposed agency will have experts from various fields to check the claims made by companies in their advertisements.
Thomas expressed concerns over rising consumer complaints against misleading ads particularly in regional languages. Admitting there were several legislations and regulations under different Ministries to deal with the issue, Thomas said: “We are discussing how there can be a co-ordination between them.”
At present, the Food Processing, Health and Information and Broadcasting Ministries are separately dealing with misleading advertisements under various acts.
Taking objection to advertisements that make promises for checking falling hair, obesity and skin conditions, the PMO had last month directed the Consumer Affairs Ministry to work on the existing Advertising Code and suggest changes.
There are laws to deal with consumer issues and courts that specifically address complaints, but a guide will make it clear to the buyer and seller about a legitimate advertisement and a doubtful appeal seeking to exploit human fears, insecurity and suffering.
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WPP appoints Estée Lauder’s Anne-Isabelle Choueiri as chief transformation officer
Former Estée Lauder executive to lead operations, technology and culture overhaul under WPP’s three-year growth plan
LONDON: WPP has appointed Anne-Isabelle Choueiri as chief transformation officer in a newly created role tasked with delivering the group’s Elevate28 strategy.
Choueiri joins from The Estée Lauder Companies, where she led enterprise-wide strategic initiatives, including the “One ELC” operating model and major upgrades to enterprise marketing, data and analytics capabilities. She also led the redesign of enterprise technology teams and served on the company’s AI taskforce, driving AI strategy, adoption and value realisation across the business.
At WPP, she will be responsible for designing, implementing and embedding the operating model behind Elevate28, the company’s three-year growth plan unveiled in February 2026. She will lead efforts to improve innovation, efficiency and integration across WPP’s client offerings, with a focus on delivering agile, outcome-driven solutions and measurable growth.
Choueiri will oversee organisational transformation across the group, working closely with product and enterprise technology teams to deploy AI, data and technology to build new capabilities and improve operational performance. She will also work with the people function to embed cultural change, strengthen an agile performance mindset and support talent development across the organisation.
Before joining Estée Lauder, she held senior roles across consulting and digital agencies, including at Accenture, Masaï (a Bain & Company spin-off), and Kearney, with experience spanning strategy, data and digital marketing transformation.
Cindy Rose, chief executive officer of WPP, said Choueiri brings a strong track record of leading large-scale transformation across operations, technology and culture, adding that her appointment will help accelerate the group’s next phase of growth under Elevate28.
Choueiri said WPP’s strategy represents an ambitious opportunity to reshape how the company operates and delivers for clients, adding that she looks forward to building integrated solutions and fostering a culture of innovation and change.
She will be based in New York and will join WPP’s executive committee.
