MAM
Dentsu Communications appoints Vipul Thakkar as national creative director
MUMBAI: Dentsu Communications has appointed former DDB Mudra group creative head- South and East Vipul Thakkar as national creative director.
As the creative leader of Dentsu Communications, Thakkar will work towards strengthening the agency’s southern network and expanding the Mumbai operation. His appointment is part of a broader strategy to strengthen on the group’s creative caliber.
Dentsu India Group executive chairman Rohit Ohri said, “I am delighted to have Vipul as a part of the Dentsu Communications leadership team. ‘Work that works’ has been Vipul’s mantra. His work has worked not only for the brands that he’s worked on, but also for the agencies he has worked in. He has built motivated integrated teams, seamless agency networks and a solid creative reputation for the organisations he has worked for. I’m confident that Vipul’s creative leadership, will take Dentsu Communications to greater heights.”
Dentsu Communications CEO Simi Sabhaney added, “Vipul’s deep knowledge of both the South and West markets and his ability to creatively connect the dots in the integrated communication landscape is a perfect combination for a company like Dentsu. I am delighted to welcome Vipul into the DCPL family.”
Thakkar said, “I am thrilled at this moment when I don the hat of national creative director at Dentsu Communications. It will be my pursuit to produce effective communication, eked out from both newer insights and everyday rituals. This is a great opportunity to tap the potential of the south and west markets and to work with the wonderful and energetic team, where I will aim to channelize all energies leveraging our strengths and in validating the proof of the pie by building brands- effectively and consistently.”
Thakkar is a seasoned advertising professional with over 19 years in the business. He joins Dentsu from DDB Mudra Group, where he was creative head – South & East.
He has created work for brand categories such as lifestyle, finance, beverages, fashion and FMCG. At DDB Mudra he was responsible for work on Royal Challenge, McDowell’s No.1, TTK Prestige, Peter England and Jos Alukkas. Prior to DDB Mudra, he was at Ogilvy Bangalore, where he created ads for ITC Bingo, Sunfeast Yippee, Allen Solly, MTR and Titan watches.
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
