MAM
Burning bright: Neha Kapoor rises to executive vice president at Leo Burnett
GURGAON: Some careers simmer. Neha Kapoor’s has been on full boil. The 17-year experienced advertising veteran has just been promoted to executive vice president at Leo Burnett India, capping a near-decade climb through the ranks that’s seen her torch every target in sight.
Kapoor joined Leo in June 2018 as associate vice president. What followed reads like a masterclass in upward mobility: vice president by May 2021, senior vice president by October 2023, and now the executive suite. Seven years and seven months. Four promotions. No smoke without fire.
Her CV suggests a woman who doesn’t believe in burning out. Before Leo, she spent nearly two years as director of brand engagements at DDB Mudra Group, where she presumably set a few brands ablaze. Prior to that, a four-year stint at OgilvyOne Worldwide saw her rise from account director to management supervisor, handling everyone from American Express to Vodafone.
The early days were equally scorching. At McCann Erickson, she helped launch Republic of Chicken and Dabur Junior whilst somehow finding time to wrangle celebrities on television shoots. At ENZ Communication, she cut her teeth on food and beverage brands, proving that even junior account executives can cook up creative solutions.
Kapoor describes herself as “a stickler for timelines and deliveries” who produces “meaningful results” under pressure. One suspects her clients would agree—you don’t rack up 17 years managing India’s leading brands by missing deadlines or melting under stress.
Now ensconced in the executive vice president’s chair, she’s promised to take on “challenging assignments” that add to her professional growth. Given her track record, one rather suspects it’s the assignments that ought to be worried. At Leo Burnett, it seems, Kapoor has found her perfect match.
Brands
Perfetti Van Melle names BWO as Chupa Chups licensing partner in India
Partnership expands iconic confectionery brand into lifestyle categories
MUMBAI: Perfetti Van Melle has appointed Black White Orange Brands Pvt. Ltd. as the official licensing agent for its iconic Chupa Chups in India, marking a push to extend the brand beyond sweets into lifestyle categories.
Under the agreement, Black White Orange will develop and manage the licensing programme across segments such as apparel, accessories, home goods, personal care and back-to-school products. The move signals a broader strategy to tap into India’s growing appetite for brand-led consumer products.
Known for its colourful identity and instantly recognisable logo created by Salvador DalÃ, Chupa Chups has evolved into a global pop-culture icon. The India licensing programme aims to translate that playful appeal into products tailored for local consumers.
Perfetti Van Melle area licensing manager Anna Amat said the partnership would help unlock opportunities beyond confectionery, adding that the company sees strong potential for the brand’s expansion in India.
Black White Orange Brands Pvt. Ltd. co-founder and COO Mitali Desai noted that the focus will be on building a visually distinctive and design-led licensing portfolio that reflects the brand’s playful identity.
With India’s retail landscape evolving rapidly, the partnership is expected to drive collaborations with manufacturers and retailers across fashion, lifestyle and gifting segments. Product rollouts are likely to begin in phases through key distribution channels.
As global brands look to deepen their footprint in India, Chupa Chups’ move from candy counters to lifestyle shelves could add a fresh pop of colour to the market.
