MAM
Cheil Worldwide SW Asia reinforces digital offering
MUMBAI: In a move to strengthen its digital presence, Cheil Worldwide SW Asia (Cheil India) has appointed digital domain specialist, Rahul Nanda as senior vice president new business digital.
Nanda, moves from Web Chutney where he was partner & president, until it was acquired by Denstu India. He comes with more than 19 years of experience and expertise across various sectors including digital marketing, application development, mobile communications, DTH including an ISP.
Reporting to Cheil Worldwide SW Asia SVP & head digital Rajesh Bhatia, Nanda will lead the growth and expansion of the agency’s integrated media offering as well as enhance its internal digital capabilities.
Cheil Worldwide SW Asia COO Hari Krishnan said, “Cheil India is growing exponentially and with digital being a key quotient for new business acquisition, Rahul’s coming on board reflects this momentum. I am positive that his entrepreneurial genius will work in furthering our digitally-integrated vision.”
“With the scale and skill of our digital offering today, I believe, we are rightly positioned to aggressively take our proposition to a much wider audience base. And we needed someone of the stature and pedigree of Rahul to fulfill that agenda. I am delighted with his coming on board,” added Bhatia.
Nanda who started his career with the National Informatics Centre as a management analyst said, “I find this new role to be about future-proofing the agency and creating a truly ‘digitally-integrated’ agency.”
A techie at heart, Nanda is an Economics Graduate from Delhi University, and holds a Masters in Business Administration with a specialisation in IT from FORE School of Management.
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.
