MAM
Dentsu expands footprint in Canada with Grip acquisition
MUMBAI: Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired Canadian agency Grip Limited known for its creative, digital and branded content work. This latest acquisition extends the footprint of Dentsu Aegis Network Canada and continues the expansion of its digital offering in the region.
Toronto-based Grip is a full-service agency founded in 2002. Now counting over 150 employees among its ranks, Grip credits its early adoption of digital capabilities, including social, analytics, mobile, CRM and branded content creation as the main drivers of its growth.
Following the acquisition, Grip will maintain its name and branding, and operate as a specialist brand within Dentsu Aegis Network Canada.
The agency will continue to be managed by the senior leadership team of the founding partners, Bob Shanks, managing partner, and creative partners, David Crichton, David Chiavegato, Rich Pryce Jones, Randy Stein, and Scott Dube.
“What attracted us to Dentsu Aegis Network was the ability to scale our capabilities across a broader network in order to expand and enhance our offering to existing clients, and attract new prospects both here in Canada and globally,” said Shanks.
“Grip is a fantastic additition to our network in Canada in terms of expertise and capabilities, with a strong culture and vision that complements our current roster of agencies and talent. This is a key acquisition to increase our scale with an established global client base, enhance our digital capabilities and achieve a dominant position in the market. We look forward to helping Grip expand its reach and contribute to the overall offering of Dentsu Aegis Network,” said Dentsu Aegis Network Canada CEO Annette Warring.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
MUMBAI: In India’s fast-moving payments race, Visa has just swiped in a new leader. The company has named Suresh Sethi as its India country head, marking a key leadership shift as it sharpens its focus on digital payments growth in the market. Sethi steps into the role following his recent exit from Protean eGov Technologies, where he served as chief executive officer. He succeeds Sandeep Ghosh, who has moved on after more than four years at Visa to pursue an external opportunity.
The appointment comes at a time when Visa is doubling down on its expansion strategy across India and the wider region, deepening partnerships and accelerating adoption in an increasingly competitive digital payments ecosystem.
Sethi brings with him a broad, cross-market perspective shaped by decades of experience across corporate banking, retail financial services, mobile money and large-scale government technology initiatives. He began his career at Citigroup, where he spent 14 years working across India, Africa, South America and the United States, focusing on transaction banking services within the corporate bank.
His appointment signals a blend of institutional experience and market familiarity qualities that could prove critical as Visa navigates a landscape where fintech innovation, regulatory evolution and consumer adoption are all accelerating at once.
As digital payments in India continue to scale rapidly, the leadership change underscores a simple reality, in a market where every tap, scan and swipe counts, who leads the charge can matter just as much as the technology itself.
