Digital
Global digital agency Dept brings in David Neal as CFO
MUMBAI: He is getting on board to get to the depth of finance in tech and marketing services agency Dept. Former global CFO for Dentsu Creative and Tag, David Neal has joined the close-to-30-year old digital agency as its new global chief financial officer (CFO). In this role, David Neal will bring together the global finance and operations team at Dept, driving innovation and streamlining processes by positioning finance as a strategic partner to the business.
“During my conversations with the leadership team and colleagues, I was invigorated by the energy and ambition within Dept,” said Neal. “I realised this is a place where we can do things differently. I hope to transform finance into a true strategic partner, providing insights, analysis, and driving commercial growth.”
David brings substantial experience as a chief financial officer, with a proven track record in the marketing and advertising sectors across south and southeast Asia and global leadership positions.
In his new role, David will be based in London. He will leverage his extensive background to redefine the finance department as a strategic ally within Dept, enhancing collaboration with other business units—especially operations, and people & culture. Neal has been mandated to harness the potential of AI to transform financial processes, fostering a culture of relentless curiosity and innovation.
“At Dept, we’re all about keeping innovation at the core of everything we do. By bringing our finance and operations teams closer together, we are merging two key business areas to drive strategic growth. David will help us unlock new opportunities and ensure that innovation remains at the heart of everything we do,” says Dept global CEO Dimi Albers.
Neal is stepping into the role as Mickey Kalifa moves on after two years with the company.
In the past two years, the company has welcomed seven agencies and achieved remarkable growth, with revenues increasing by over 200 per cent. This impressive performance is heavily supported by its AI services; currently, 50 per cent of its global revenue is AI-enabled. Dept continues to set industry standards as a B-corp-certified agency. It works with top-tier brands like Google, KFC, Philips, Audi, Twitch, Patagonia, and eBay, has offices in 30 countries and employs close to 4,000 digital specialists.
Digital
Truecaller opens Business Chat platform to global partners and enterprises
Expansion aims to replace SMS with trusted, rich and conversational messaging
MUMBAI: Truecaller has expanded access to its Business Chat platform, opening it up to global channel partners and enterprise solution providers as it looks to reshape how businesses connect with customers.
The move allows partners worldwide to offer the platform to enterprise clients, enabling a shift away from traditional SMS towards a more interactive, verified and media-rich communication experience. The company is positioning this as a higher-trust alternative in an increasingly cluttered digital landscape.
With over 500 million active users globally, Truecaller is betting on its scale and daily engagement to give brands a more direct and credible way to reach consumers. The platform supports contextual conversations, real-time insights and engagement metrics, allowing businesses to fine-tune communication across the customer journey.
“The definition of success for modern enterprises has evolved. It’s no longer just about delivery but about earning attention and driving meaningful engagement,” said Truecaller global head, GTM Priyam Bose. He added that opening the platform to partners creates a gateway for brands to connect with users in a more trusted and action-oriented environment.
The expansion is already underway, with partners such as Gupshup and OneXtel live in India, while Globe Teleservices, Cloudcom and Sling Africa are driving adoption in international markets.
By equipping partners with data-driven tools and a conversational interface, Truecaller aims to help businesses cut through noise and build stronger customer relationships. The platform also promises a cleaner, more secure interaction layer, addressing long-standing concerns around spam and trust in business messaging.
As enterprises rethink customer engagement in a post-SMS world, Truecaller’s latest push signals a clear ambition to become a central player in conversational commerce.
