AD Agencies
DDB Mudra appoints 11 specialists in GOB
MUMBAI: As a part of its endeavor to build a future ready marketing services organisation, DDB Mudra Group has reconstituted the executive board and has announced the formation of The Group Operating Board (GOB). Consisting of leaders with a proven track record within the group and the industry, GOB members bring together diverse skillsets in marketing services and technology from across geographies.
The GOB will advice and assist the Group CEO and MD, Chairman & CCO and CFO on various aspects related to leading and growing the organisation. The GOB will focus on achieving the group’s People and Product goals to deliver client excellence.
The Group Operating Board will include:
• Aditya Kanthy- Chief Strategy Officer, DDB Mudra Group
• Anurag Bansal- Chief Financial Officer, DDB Mudra Group
• Gour Gupta- Executive Director, DDB Mudra Group & CEO, DDB Mudramax (OOH, Events & Experiential)
• Madhukar Kamath, Group CEO & MD, DDB Mudra Group
• Ranji Cherian- President, DDB Mudra South&East
• Rajiv Sabnis- Executive Director, DDB Mudra Group & President, DDB Mudra West
• Rita Verma- Executive Vice President- Organization Development, DDB Mudra Group
• Sathyamurthy Namakkal- Executive Director, DDB Mudra Group & President, DDB Mudramax- Media
• Sonal Dabral, Chairman & CCO, DDB Mudra Group
• Vandana Das- President, DDB Mudra North
• Vineet Gupta- Chief Digital Officer, DDB Mudra Group and MD, 22feet Tribal Worldwide
Quoting on the development, Madhukar Kamath said, “I am thrilled that each one of them is also a specialist in his / her field. The Group Operating Board will help lead collaborations with external partners in Technology, Data Analytics and Content.”
AD Agencies
Microsoft shifts global media account from Dentsu to Publicis Groupe: Reports
Closed review ends decade-long tie-up; Xbox remit may remain with Dentsu
MUMBAI: Microsoft has reassigned its global media planning and buying business to Publicis Groupe, according to media reports, ending Dentsu’s long-standing stewardship of one of the advertising industry’s biggest accounts.
The move follows a closed review and marks a notable shake-up in the global media landscape. Dentsu, which managed the account through Carat, had held the mandate since 2014 and successfully defended it in a 2018 review.
While the broader business is shifting, Dentsu is expected to retain media responsibilities for Xbox, according to media reports, though the exact contours of that arrangement remain unclear. None of the parties involved have publicly outlined the transition timeline or the full structure of the handover.
The scale of the account underscores the significance of the change. Estimates from COMvergence, cited by Ad Age, peg Microsoft’s global media spend at roughly $700 million last year.
For Publicis Groupe, the win deepens an already expanding relationship with the tech giant. Earlier this year, Microsoft Advertising partnered with Publicis Media Exchange and Epsilon to integrate Epsilon’s data into its platform, aiming to sharpen targeting across search, native and display formats.
The decision reflects a broader industry shift, as large advertisers increasingly favour agency partners with strong first-party data capabilities, AI integration and platform-led solutions. Publicis Groupe has been leaning into this model, positioning its data assets and technology stack as a central differentiator.
For Dentsu, the loss is significant. Media remains a core pillar of its global business, and the development comes close on the heels of leadership changes, including the appointment of Takeshi Sano as global chief executive officer.
The shift also carries a touch of irony. Microsoft and Dentsu have worked closely beyond the client-agency relationship, including collaborations around AI tools such as Copilot to support media and creative workflows.
As the dust settles, the message is clear: in today’s data-driven, AI-powered media world, relationships may be long, but they are rarely permanent.
