AD Agencies
Gozoop wins digital mandate for Villain Lifestyle
MUMBAI: Digital-first integrated marketing company Gozoop has successfully won the digital duties for Villain Lifestyle, a men’s fashion brand. Gozoop has taken over the reins of social media management for the brand, along with aspects of creative communication and influencer outreach. The company will craft a social media strategy to strengthen brand recall and build a strong social media community.
Villain is a men’s fashion and lifestyle brand that celebrates the antagonist’s story through products that are trend-making, masculine and strong. The brand is founded by ex-bad boys Beardo, Ashutosh Valani & Priyank Shah, in brand partnership with KGF-famed Rocking Star Yash. The trio came together to introduce the brand with a vision of making it a cool brand for the youth, exclusively for men. Villain aims to make style statements more accessible and affordable for the youth with a wide range of products like fragrances, hoodies, t-shirts and so on. It is perfect for all men who believe in styling and keeping the vibe of their style alive, the brand said.
Gozoop CEO & co-founder Ahmed Aftab Naqvi said, “It was a privilege to work alongside Ashutosh and team while helping build and scale Beardo – from its early stages into a category leader. We are honoured and humbled to be chosen once again as partners, this time for Villain. We look forward to leveraging our experience, expertise and team chemistry to #BreakTheBox for the brand”
Villain Lifestyle co-founder & director Ashutosh Valani said, “With Gozoop, we are looking forward to creating a legacy for Villain that’s bigger than ever. Having worked with them in the past, we know the kind of unique solutions they bring to the table and are sure that this partnership will be mutually exciting. We trust them to do their best work for the brand and are ready to launch some kickass campaigns with them!”
AD Agencies
Publicis Groupe to acquire 160over90 from WME Group
Deal aims to build data-led platform linking brands, fans and culture at scale
MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe has agreed to acquire 160over90 from WME Group, in a move that signals a major push into the fast-growing world of sports and culture-led marketing.
The deal, subject to regulatory approvals, will see Publicis combine its existing Publicis Sports capabilities with 160over90’s global footprint to create what it calls a unified, end-to-end platform connecting brands with audiences through sport, entertainment and culture.
Founded as a division of WME Group, 160over90 has built a reputation for delivering high-impact campaigns across some of the world’s biggest sporting moments, including the Super Bowl, Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. With over 670 employees across the US, UK, EMEA and Apac, the agency works with global brands to create experiences that resonate both on and off the field.
The acquisition reflects a broader shift in marketing, where sport has become a central pillar of premium media. With the global sports media market estimated at $150 billion and sponsorships crossing $90 billion, brands are increasingly looking for more integrated ways to engage audiences.
Publicis is betting that a data-led approach will be the differentiator. By integrating 160over90 with its own capabilities, including the Epsilon identity ecosystem and Influential network, the company aims to offer marketers a seamless way to plan, activate and measure campaigns across media, sponsorships, live events and creator partnerships.
Publicis Groupe CEO Arthur Sadoun said, “After building our industry-leading position in identity resolution, commerce, and creators, our next big bet is sport. In the age of AI, it has become one of the most high-value channels for clients.”
He added that combining 160over90’s expertise with Publicis’ data and technology stack would help “connect brands to fans in ways that are both meaningful and measurable”.
Echoing the sentiment, Publicis Connected Media CEO Dave Penski said, “Sport has become the most powerful intersection of culture, commerce and community,” highlighting the growing need to treat sports marketing as a measurable channel rather than just brand-building.
As part of the deal, Publicis will also enter into a strategic partnership with WME Group, enabling closer collaboration on talent, content and brand partnerships. WME Group president Mark Shapiro said the tie-up would open up new opportunities for talent and brands to scale their ambitions globally.
Post acquisition, the combined Publicis Sports entity will report to Suzy Deering, while Robbie Henchman will remain with WME Group to oversee the ongoing partnership.
The move builds on Publicis’ recent investments in the space, including acquisitions of Adopt and Bespoke in 2025 and a partnership with Magic Johnson Enterprises, underscoring its intent to dominate the intersection of sport, culture and commerce.
As brands chase both attention and accountability, Publicis’ latest play suggests the future of sports marketing may be less about moments alone and more about measurable impact at scale.
