MAM
Content chapter closes as OMG India CCO Shailja Varghese signs off
MUMBAI: When the story shifts behind the scenes, the industry takes note. Shailja Varghese, chief content officer at Omnicom Media Group India, has exited the organisation, marking one of the earliest senior-level departures during a phase of structural change for the global media network.
While the timing overlaps with Omnicom’s consolidation following its acquisition of IPG, sources close to the development say Varghese’s exit is not linked to the integration exercise. Her next professional move is yet to be announced.
Varghese brings nearly two decades of experience across television, digital, entertainment and branded content. Her career spans leadership roles at major global media and entertainment companies including ZEEL, Warnerwater SEA, National Geographic Channels, Discovery Communications, UTV Network, and multiple content agencies across the Asia-Pacific region.
Varghese joined Omnicom Media Group India in 2021 as Head of Content and was later elevated to chief content officer. During her tenure, she played a key role in shaping and scaling the network’s content offering under the unified OMG Content framework. Working closely with group agencies such as OMD and PHD, she helped integrate data-led insights with creative storytelling to deliver cross-platform content solutions for clients.
Beyond operational leadership, Varghese has been a visible voice in industry conversations around content, performance storytelling and brand-building. She has contributed to global forums such as the Cannes Entertainment Festival, served on advisory bodies including the Content Marketing Summit APAC, and is also known for her work as a podcast host and inclusive writer.
Omnicom Media Group India did not respond to queries seeking comment at the time of filing this report. Further updates are awaited.
As media networks recalibrate for a more integrated, data-driven future, Varghese’s exit signals the close of a significant content chapter and the opening of a new one, yet to be written.
Brands
Jubilant Foodworks to end Dunkin’ franchise in India
Pizza chain operator will not renew agreement when it expires at end of 2026.
MUMBAI: When the doughnuts stop turning and the coffee goes cold, even a global giant like Dunkin’ can find the Indian market a tough brew to crack. Jubilant Foodworks has decided not to renew its franchise agreement with Dunkin’ when the pact expires on 31 December 2026, according to a Reuters report. The operator, best known for running Domino’s outlets in India, said it would evaluate options for its existing Dunkin’ stores, including a potential sale or transfer of franchise rights, in consultation with the US-based brand.
The decision follows years of underperformance in a market where local tastes and intense competition have made it difficult for international coffee-and-doughnut formats to gain traction. Jubilant, which has increasingly focused on its core pizza business and newer bets like Popeyes, indicated that the exit would not materially affect its financial or operational position.
Dunkin’ accounted for just 0.61 per cent of Jubilant’s revenue in the fiscal year ending 2025 and recorded a loss of approximately Rs 191 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company operated 27 outlets as of December 2025, having shuttered seven stores over the preceding year.
The retreat comes even as Jubilant’s broader business shows signs of momentum. The company reported a 65 per cent rise in quarterly profit for the October to December period, reaching Rs 70.9 crore, up from Rs 42.91 crore a year earlier.
For Jubilant, the exit reflects a sharpening strategic focus. For Dunkin’, it marks another setback in a market that has proven resistant to imported café concepts without significant localisation.
In the cut-throat world of Indian quick-service restaurants, sometimes the sweetest deals are the ones you quietly walk away from leaving more room for the brands that truly rise to the occasion.
