MAM
GroupM takes over 49% stake of Haworth
MUMBAI: Haworth, an independent and employee-owned marketing and media agency based in Minneapolis, has announced a strategic partnership with GroupM, the media investment management division of WPP.
Haworth will continue to offer personal, high-touch, creative-driven media – now backed by the industry leader in tools and data, thus linking the art of consumer connections with the most advanced marketplace analytics.
“We believe this is a completely new, one-of-a-kind partnership that will bring tremendous value to our clients and our team,” said Haworth CEO Gary Tobey. “Our differences and assets will complement each other while Haworth’s culture and what we’ve built remains intact.”
Haworth and its clients will benefit from full access to GroupM’s resources in digital, analytics, trading and proprietary technology and tool development. GroupM will also provide a global expansion platform for Haworth and its clients. The media agency will take a 49 per cent stake in Haworth.
“We’ve admired what Gary and his team has done for many years,” said GroupM global chairman Irwin Gotlieb. “We believe we can add to the compelling Haworth proposition through GroupM’s tools, technology, insights and trading scale. And in turn, GroupM’s agencies and clients can benefit from Haworth’s proven expertise in integrating brands into popular culture and content.”
Haworth clients are happy about the new partnership with GroupM. DreamWorks Jeffrey Katzenberg said, “We’ve enjoyed a remarkable partnership with Gary Tobey and his team at Haworth over the years. Their creativity and commitment to innovation has earned them great respect within the entertainment community – and this newest innovation has great potential.”
Omar Johnson, CMO at Beats Electronics CMO Omar Johnson added, “Our marketing strategy at Beats requires us to break the rules and challenge convention, which is why Haworth’s culture meshes so well with ours. Their new model for media takes it to the next level as we continue to grow our global footprint.”
Founded in 1970, Haworth provides strategic marketing and media solutions to blue-chip clients and iconic brands, including Target, Ben & Jerry’s, Beats by Dre, Honeywell, DreamWorks, The Oscars and Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. Haworth has reported media billings of $700 million.
MAM
PropertyPistol appoints Hemant Bajaj as chief marketing officer
Proptech firm taps global marketing leader to sharpen brand and growth strategy.
MUMBAI: In the fast moving world of proptech, building homes may be the business, but building the brand is just as crucial. Propertypistol, the proptech driven real estate advisory platform, has appointed Hemant Bajaj as its chief marketing officer (CMO) as the company looks to strengthen its brand narrative and accelerate growth across markets. Bajaj will lead the company’s marketing operations across multiple geographies, overseeing brand strategy, integrated marketing initiatives and revenue aligned growth programmes as Propertypistol prepares for its next phase of expansion.
The appointment comes at a time when the proptech sector is seeing rapid digital adoption, with companies increasingly focusing on leadership talent capable of combining technology, data driven marketing and customer experience.
Bajaj brings experience spanning India, South East Asia and the Middle East, where he has worked on scaling brands and leading digital transformation initiatives across multiple industries. His work in the marketing and media ecosystem recently earned him recognition as a ‘Powerhouse Leader’ at the Mastermind Awards in Dubai, highlighting his track record in managing high impact marketing mandates.
Propertypistol founder and managing director Ashish Narain Agarwal said the appointment comes at a pivotal stage in the company’s journey as it looks to strengthen its market presence.
“Hemant’s appointment comes at a defining moment for us. As we scale our market position, it is vital to have leadership that blends strategic vision with executional depth. Hemant’s deep understanding of brand and business alignment will be instrumental as we redefine the proptech landscape,” Agarwal said.
Bajaj said Propertypistol’s technology first approach to real estate advisory was one of the key reasons behind his decision to join the company.
“Propertypistol has established itself as a technology first platform that is redefining how investors navigate the property market. Having led marketing transformations across international borders and fast paced industries, I recognise the exceptional strength of the foundation built here,” he said.
He added that his focus would be on accelerating the company’s digital marketing capabilities while building strategies that deliver sustained value for customers and partners worldwide.
The leadership move reflects Propertypistol’s broader effort to strengthen its executive team as the proptech industry evolves rapidly. With property search, advisory and transactions increasingly shifting online, companies in the sector are investing heavily in marketing intelligence and digital platforms to stay competitive.
By bringing Bajaj on board, Propertypistol is betting that sharper brand positioning and technology led marketing will help it stand out in an increasingly crowded digital real estate marketplace.
