MAM
Gallant Play appoints Anshuman as president
Mumbai: Gallant Play has announced the appointment of Anshuman as president. This strategic decision is aligned with Gallant Play’s ongoing dedication to promoting a world-class sporting culture throughout India. With Anshuman’s appointment, the organisation aims to further enhance its integrated playing and coaching solutions, offering premier facilities and expertise for kids and urban athletes across all age groups.
Anshuman brings more than two decades of extensive experience in business growth and consumer marketing in sectors of K12 education, university education and brand consulting. In his new role, Anshuman will play a key role in advancing brand’s vision. He will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of strategic initiatives, ensuring that the company’s state-of-the-art turf and coaching solutions continue to lead the industry.
As president, he’ll be handling a variety of critical operations which will offer strategic leadership to drive the expansion of Gallant Play’s offerings, ensuring the provision of high-quality sporting facilities and services. Additionally, he will manage the daily operations of the arenas, uphold high standards of facility management, and introduce innovative coaching practices. Market expansion will also be a significant focus, with Anshuman leading the development and execution of impactful go-to-market campaigns, forging essential partnerships, and driving business growth. His expertise in client relations will be vital in strengthening connections with sports organisations, schools, and community groups.
Gallant Sports & Infrastructure CEO and founder Nasir Ali said, “We are excited to welcome Anshuman to Gallant Play as our new President. His extensive experience and proven track record in various sectors will be instrumental in driving our vision forward. Anshuman’s strategic leadership will enhance our ability to offer top-notch sporting facilities and innovative coaching solutions across India. We are confident that his appointment will significantly contribute to our goal of fostering a world-class sporting culture and supporting India’s journey towards becoming a leading force in global sports.”
Gallant envisions partnering with schools nationwide to integrate sports into education, enhancing academic performance, well-being, and developing future leaders. Recognizing sports as a critical advantage for university admissions, Gallant aims to be in every school that values its transformative role.
Anshuman’s career includes launching Amerigo Education in India as country director, leading strategy, product development, and client acquisition. At GEMS Education, he launched 16 schools across 10 cities, significantly boosting enrolment. He has worked with brands like Adidas, Microsoft, GSK, and Domino’s at agencies including Wunderman, Ogilvy, and Contract Advertising. Anshuman now aligns with Gallant Play’s mission to foster a top-tier sports culture and support India’s Olympic ambitions.
MAM
VML India lands two finalist spots at Cairns Hatchlings 2026
The Mumbai agency is back in Australia with two teams, a UN brief and 24 hours to impress
MUMBAI: VML India is heading to Australia again. The Mumbai-based creative agency has secured two finalist spots at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 competition, one in the Audio category and one in Design, making it the only Indian agency to have reached the finals in both editions of the contest since its launch in 2025.
Four people will make the trip. Senior copywriter Shilpi Dey and senior art director Raj Thakkar will compete in Audio. Art directors Shabbir and Shruti Negi will go head-to-head with the world’s best in Design. The finals take place at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13th May, culminating in an awards ceremony on 15th May.
The work that got them there is worth examining. For the Audio category, Dey and Thakkar tackled a brief for LIVE LIKE MMAD with a campaign called Inner Voice, Interrupted. Using spatial audio techniques, the campaign recreates the overwhelming self-doubt that descends after a long workday, physically panning negative thoughts left and right before cutting the noise entirely to reveal a confident inner voice. Strategically targeted at commuters via Spotify during evening rush hours, the campaign reframes the hours after work as an opportunity for personal growth and charitable action.
For the Design category, Shabbir and Negi worked on a brief for Canteen’s Bandanna Day, a campaign highlighting how cancer pushes teenagers out of their own defining moments. Using a pixelated design language to create stark contrast between a blurred world of isolation and a focused world of connection, the campaign, titled The Flipside of Cancer, shows teenagers fading into the background of birthdays, skateparks and school proms. As a Canteen bandanna appears, the blur flips and the teenager snaps back into sharp focus.
Kalpesh Patankar, group chief creative officer of VML India, made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. “We are immensely proud to see our teams consistently excel on the Cairns Hatchlings platform since its inception,” he said. “They have masterfully tackled challenging briefs across diverse categories, demonstrating both layered storytelling and a unique creative approach. This exceptional teamwork is truly inspiring.”
Dey and Thakkar, returning to the finals after last year’s run, were candid about the demands of the audio medium. “It’s one of the most demanding mediums, where we only have a few seconds to capture a listener’s world with sound alone, so absolute clarity is essential,” they said. “The true measure of creative work is its ability to create positive change, and our audio submission was made to help those who need it most while encouraging people to silence the inner voices that hold them back.”
Shabbir and Negi, competing in Design for the first time, described the experience as “a completely different beast.” “We see it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise the bar, and challenge ourselves in new ways, while also learning from creative minds from across the globe,” they said.
In Australia, the four finalists will face a live 24-hour brief from the United Nations before presenting in a live pitch session. Twenty-four hours, one brief, one shot. VML India has been here before. It knows exactly what is at stake.
