MAM
Digitas India appoints Mohammedullah Shaikh as senior VP & head – tech services, Richa Chugh as VP – media
Mumbai: Digitas India, the marketing & technology services brand from Publicis Groupe, has made key senior-level appointments at the agency. It has named Mohammedullah Shaikh as senior vice president and head of technology services, and Richa Chugh as vice president of media. The appointments are in line with Digitas India’s plans to strengthen its core product offerings in keeping with the increasing demand for digital technology services & media solutions from the marketplace. The duo will report to Digitas India COO Sonia Khurana.
Mohammedullah (Shariq) comes with an experience of 22+ years in technology consulting and governance. He will lead all technology services mandates at the agency and will work closely with Sonia Khurana (COO) and Roopesh Pujari (CTO, Publicis Groupe) to bring in the best technology service offering for the clients.
Richa has over 11 years of experience across various digital media, ranging from creative to social media, tech, and media planning. She joins Digitas India from Motivator, where she was digital head-west region.
Welcoming Shariq and Richa to the agency, Sonia commented, “Given our focus on delivering remarkable digital experiences, Richa, with her rich background in media, and Shariq, with his varied experience in technology, bring valuable inputs to the team. It’s also their new, interesting perspectives that are going to be instrumental in further supporting Digitas’ continued performance and execution of our growth plans. We’re thrilled to have them on board!”
Sharing his views on joining Digitas India, Shariq said, “I’m truly excited to join the talented team at Digitas India and work closely with the leadership. Digitas is already delivering large-scale, enterprise-level solutions for clients in customer experience, commerce, and marketing operations. With its tech-agnostic approach and strong technology services portfolio, I believe it’s the right time to be a part of this experienced team. My goal is to ensure that we develop and execute our long-term strategy in a way that best serves our customers and employees.”
On joining Digitas India, Richa said, “Unlike TV and offline media, the interplay between creative, tech, SEO, and media planning forms a curious ecosystem and plays a pivotal role in efficient, effective, and holistic brand growth. The leadership at Digitas India understands this very well, and facilitates a complementary partnership between these verticals, which drove me to join them.”
Shariq has previously been associated with companies like Isobar, Ogilvy, and Interface Communications. He has been instrumental in bringing in digital and tech transformation for some of the clients like HUL, Vodafone, Eicher Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Apple (IndiaiStore), Aviva India, Bira91, Panasonic, Max Bupa, Kia, Reebok, Adidas, Marks & Spencer, Emami, Nat Geo, Fox Life, American Standard etc.
Over the course of her career, Richa has worked with brands including Nestle, Reckitt Benckiser, Coca-Cola, Bumble, Kia, Bajaj Consumer Care, and Tata Q, among others.
MAM
Ad:tech honours 2026: Full list of winners announced
Expanded awards spotlight winners across 22 categories as industry doubles down on intelligent automation
NEW DELHI: Marketing’s tech elite took the spotlight as the ad:tech honours 2026 returned with a sharper focus on AI, data and immersive media, signalling how deeply technology now underpins brand strategy. Held at Yashobhoomi on March 17, the second edition drew industry leaders to celebrate innovation that is reshaping engagement and performance.
Presented with the International Advertising Association India chapter and new partner Huella, the awards expanded from 8 to 22 categories, tracking the rapid convergence of creativity, automation and analytics.
The winners’ list reads like a snapshot of marketing’s future. In affiliate and partner marketing, Lyxel & Flamingo – Boat and Paytm Ads – Giva took silver. Mobavenue Media Private Limited struck gold in AI-driven dynamic creative optimisation, alongside a silver for Laqshya Media Limited.
Creative AI collaboration saw Rediffusion Brand Solutions Private Limited win gold, with Saltinc Consulting Private Limited securing silver. Laqshya Media Limited continued its strong run, taking gold in AI conversation agents and adding multiple wins across categories, including silver in GenAI-led creative and both gold and silver in interactive DOOH campaigns for Tanishq and Tata Coffee.
Predictive AI honours went to Strong Metrics and Tyroo, both silver, while Orient Bell Limited picked up silver in immersive retail tech. In GenAI-led creative, Laqshya Media Limited, Salt – Kotak and Sumimoto each secured silver, reflecting the crowded race in generative creativity.
Publicis bagged silver in influencer management and gold in performance marketing, where it shared the stage with Arm Worldwide and The Trade Desk, both silver. Glad U Came Private Limited stood out with gold in influencer measurement and analytics.
Marketing automation saw CereOne Media Pvt. Ltd. and Globale Media win silver, while ADMOTT Private Limited claimed silver in OTT innovation.
Programmatic media categories highlighted the shift to advanced targeting and connected screens. Mobavenue Media Private Limited clinched gold in connected TV advertising, with Animmoov Digital Media Pvt Ltd – Asus and Lyxel and Flamingo taking silver. Cheggout Services Private Limited won silver in retail media advertising, while Paytm Ads – Versuni secured gold.
On social platforms, Vayner Media India took gold in community and UGC engagement, with Under 25 – Oppo winning silver. Segumento rounded off the list with silver in the innovation category.
Jaswant Singh, country managing director at ad:tech India, underscored the momentum, saying generative AI and data-driven decision-making are now central to marketing impact. Neena Dasgupta, IAA mancom member and chief executive and founder at The Salt Inc Consulting, added that the awards celebrate not just technology, but “the people, the creativity, and the relentless effort behind it.”
Backed by Comexposium Group, ad:tech New Delhi has long tracked digital disruption. Now, with the honours, it is rewarding those who are not just adapting to change but engineering it.
In an industry racing towards automation, the message from 2026 is unmistakable. The future of marketing will be written not just in ideas, but in algorithms.
