MAM
DDB MudraMax realigns biz units; announces new leadership structure
MUMBAI: In line with the changing consumer, market dynamics and the imperative need to offer seamless consumer engagement solutions to clients, DDB Mudra Group has realigned its media, OOH, experiential and retail businesses that are offered under the DDB MudraMax brand.
DDB Mudra Group executive director and DDB MudraMax Media (including digital) president Sathyamurthy Namakkal will now additionally take charge of the DDB MudraMax OOH business.
This consolidation bolsters the multi channel media offerings of the group and will help clients benefit with access to the entire gamut of services in data analytics, media planning and buying across all media touch points. Both units have grown aggressively over the past three years and this consolidation is the next step in achieving exponential growth.
DDB Mudra Group executive director and DDB MudraMax head of ideas Aneil Deepak (popularly known as Andee) will now take charge of the DDB MudraMax experiential business as well.
Deepak has taken the lead in delivering path breaking campaigns for clients in the experiential and engagement space viz. Health Cha Shree Ganesh, The Misunderstood Scoreboard, Eye for an Eye. With the experiential business added to his portfolio, the group looks to build innovative and engaging brand experiences that deliver business growth for all clients.
TracyLocke head business and operations Sameer Mehta will take independent charge of the business and will now report directly to DDB Mudra Group CEO and MD Madhukar Kamath. He has been instrumental in delivering technology led solutions for clients to help grow their business in the field marketing, shopper marketing and the retail space.
Kamath said, “Partnering our clients in solving their business challenges and rewarding top performers in the group have always been top priority for us. Realigning the DDB MudraMax business helps us achieve both these objectives. We will also see several young and deserving talent in the group grow into positions of responsibility aligned to our constant endeavour of building an agile organisation.”
Brands
Nykaa eyes majority stake in Deepika Padukone’s 82°E brand
Deal could help scale premium label as Nykaa sharpens its beauty play
MUMBAI: Nykaa is in advanced discussions to acquire a majority stake in 82°E, the premium skincare label founded by Deepika Padukone, according to media reports.
The proposed deal signals Nykaa’s intent to deepen its House of Nykaa portfolio while giving 82°E the scale it has struggled to achieve independently. Padukone is expected to retain a minority stake if the transaction goes through.
For Nykaa, the play is both strategic and timely. With a customer base of over 42 million, the company is betting on its strong distribution, logistics, and repeat purchase ecosystem to revive the brand’s momentum. The two sides already share a working relationship, with Padukone serving as Nykaa’s global brand ambassador since September 2025.
Launched in late 2022, 82°E entered the market with a premium positioning but has faced headwinds. The brand reported revenue of Rs 14.7 crore in FY25, down 30 per cent year on year, alongside losses of Rs 12.26 crore. Industry observers have pointed to steep pricing, a somewhat diffused brand identity, and intense competition from digital-first labels as key challenges.
The potential acquisition also reflects a broader shift in India’s beauty and lifestyle space, where celebrity-led brands are increasingly partnering with larger corporates to unlock scale. Alia Bhatt’s Ed-a-Mamma, for instance, sold a majority stake to Reliance Retail, while Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty has emerged as a standout success within Nykaa’s portfolio, clocking Rs 132.4 crore in FY25 revenue.
Nykaa itself has been on a strong growth trajectory. Its parent, FSN E-Commerce Ventures, reported a 156 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 68 crore in the December 2025 quarter, with revenue reaching Rs 2,873 crore.
Nykaa has been steadily building its portfolio through acquisitions such as Dot & Key, Earth Rhythm and Nudge Wellness, signalling a clear push to own and scale homegrown brands.
If the 82°E deal materialises, it could mark a fresh chapter for the label, blending celebrity appeal with corporate muscle. For Nykaa, it is another calculated step in staying ahead in an increasingly crowded beauty aisle.
