MAM
GroupM India appoints Ritika Taneja as head of e-commerce
Mumbai: GroupM India has announced the appointment of Ritika Taneja as head of e-commerce. In this role, Taneja will be leading the e-commerce product offerings to clients and will also be responsible for co-creating the e-commerce vision and strategy charter for GroupM India.
Taneja will be based out Gurgaon and report to GroupM India president – data, performance and digital products Atique Kazi, and closely work with GroupM APAC head of e-commerce services Toni Ruotanen.
“There is a growing importance of strengthening e-commerce practices for brands in today’s digital economy and e-commerce has transformed the ways in which businesses are done in India,” said Atique Kazi. “Ritika’s appointment is a part of our continued investment in talent, especially in areas of enormous growth opportunities, like e-commerce. With the kind of extensive knowledge in this vertical that Ritika brings to the table, I am certain that we will continue to make the e-commerce practice a GroupM differentiator for our clients and brands.”
Taneja comes with a diverse experience in the e-commerce and offline retail space. As a digital business leader, she has experience in engaging with consumer tech companies, said the agency. She joins the GroupM India team with a proven track record of building successful consumer-centric brands and businesses.
In a career spanning over 17 years, Taneja has spent a large part working in the online and offline retail space. Her experience also includes working on several international brands managing and growing their brand portfolios.
“I am ecstatic to be a part of the GroupM family. The e-commerce landscape is evolving massively and there is a need for brands to advance their e-commerce strategies with this changing landscape and consumer behavior. GroupM provides a unique environment for leading the e-commerce sector that is transforming brands and helping the drive new trends in the country. I look forward to closely working with the leadership and help our clients on e-commerce opportunities by creating services and product offerings,” said Ritika Taneja on her new role.
Brands
Perfetti Van Melle names BWO as Chupa Chups licensing partner in India
Partnership expands iconic confectionery brand into lifestyle categories
MUMBAI: Perfetti Van Melle has appointed Black White Orange Brands Pvt. Ltd. as the official licensing agent for its iconic Chupa Chups in India, marking a push to extend the brand beyond sweets into lifestyle categories.
Under the agreement, Black White Orange will develop and manage the licensing programme across segments such as apparel, accessories, home goods, personal care and back-to-school products. The move signals a broader strategy to tap into India’s growing appetite for brand-led consumer products.
Known for its colourful identity and instantly recognisable logo created by Salvador Dalí, Chupa Chups has evolved into a global pop-culture icon. The India licensing programme aims to translate that playful appeal into products tailored for local consumers.
Perfetti Van Melle area licensing manager Anna Amat said the partnership would help unlock opportunities beyond confectionery, adding that the company sees strong potential for the brand’s expansion in India.
Black White Orange Brands Pvt. Ltd. co-founder and COO Mitali Desai noted that the focus will be on building a visually distinctive and design-led licensing portfolio that reflects the brand’s playful identity.
With India’s retail landscape evolving rapidly, the partnership is expected to drive collaborations with manufacturers and retailers across fashion, lifestyle and gifting segments. Product rollouts are likely to begin in phases through key distribution channels.
As global brands look to deepen their footprint in India, Chupa Chups’ move from candy counters to lifestyle shelves could add a fresh pop of colour to the market.
