MAM
Dentsu Comm Kochi’s first win is Jos Alukkas biz
MUMBAI: Dentsu Communications has won the creative mandate of South Indian jewellery retailer Jos Alukkas. The agency‘s Kochi office will handle the account. This is the Dentsu‘s Koshi‘s first win.
Established in 1964, Jos Alukkas now plans to expand by scaling the national market and the Asia Pacific region. The brand plans to invest over Rs 5.5 billion in the following year to establish itself further in the southern markets while slowly moving into the four metro cities at the same time.
Jos Alukkas chairman Jos Alukka said “We are happy to be associated with the Dentsu team who will partner us in our journey ahead. The team has a good understanding of the market and we believe they‘ll help us connect better with our customers.‘‘
Dentsu Communications CEO Arijit Ray said, “Jos Alukkas is a brand of great stature and enjoys a deep connect with people in the south. We are absolutely thrilled to have a reputed jewellery house like Jos Alukkas as our first client in our Kochi operation. Apart from being a great brand we are delighted to work with some great people at Jos Alukkas.”
Dentsu Communications head of planning Suresh Mohankumar said, “Jos Alukkas as a brand has always defined itself very well. The core of the brand is ‘bandham‘. At a time when most of the stories on jewellery are transactional in nature it gives us a great opportunity to use this core to further distance Jos Alukkas from competition. For creators of stories Jos Alukkas is a virtual gold mine.”
Dentsu Communications regional ECD south Ashwin Parthiban said “I‘m really looking forward to working on a brand with such a sharply defined raison d‘?tre.”
Jos Alukkas corporate marketing manager Jeejo PP said, “The campaign that broke recently with South Super Star Vijay and his mother Shobha Chandrashekar is the talk of the town. We‘re looking forward to do more exciting work with the Dentsu team which will stand out from the clutter.”
MAM
Ameya Velankar steps down as Uber’s head of marketing for India & South Asia
Veteran marketer exits after more than seven years with the ride-hailing giant.
MUMBAI: After more than seven years of steering Uber through the bumpy roads of India’s mobility market, Ameya Velankar has decided to change lanes. Ameya Velankar has stepped down as Head of Marketing for India and South Asia, marking the end of a significant chapter at the ride-hailing company. He had been with Uber since 2019, taking on multiple roles in product and category marketing before rising to lead the marketing function for the region in 2021.
During his tenure, Velankar played a key role in strengthening Uber’s positioning in one of its most competitive and dynamic markets. He helped drive localised marketing strategies and scale adoption across key offerings such as Auto, Moto, Rentals and Intercity, tailoring global platforms to Indian consumer needs.
Prior to joining Uber, Velankar built his marketing expertise at leading consumer companies including SC Johnson and Marico, where he handled category and product leadership roles. His career began at RPG Enterprises.
Details of his next professional move have not been disclosed.
In a fast-evolving mobility landscape where brands constantly battle for attention, Ameya Velankar helped Uber stay relevant and resonant with millions of Indian users. As he moves on from the driver’s seat of marketing, the company will now look for fresh ideas to keep its wheels turning smoothly.
