Gulf News appoints Raman Kumar Chugh as strategic advisor – India

DUBAI: Gulf News has appointed Raman Kumar Chugh as strategic advisor – India, entrusting him with building a nationwide network of INS-accredited advertising agencies to deepen the publication’s presence in the Indian market.

The mandate focuses on creating a structured agency ecosystem spanning metros, tier-2 cities and district markets, aimed at driving business growth through compliant, locally rooted partnerships. The initiative is designed to offer Indian advertisers streamlined access to Gulf News’ platform in the UAE and wider GCC region.

Chugh will lead the appointment and integration of accredited agencies, positioning Gulf News as a launchpad for Indian brands seeking cross-border expansion. The strategy targets both large advertisers and smaller businesses, enabling them to reach international markets through a single, regulated media channel.

As an early milestone, Gulf News has already onboarded 25 INS-accredited agencies across major Indian metros following a joint pitch exercise led by Chugh. The agencies will form the backbone of a new international vertical, offering cross-market campaign execution and access to GCC-focused advertising formats.

The move reflects growing interest among Indian agencies in diversifying revenue streams through international media platforms, as well as Gulf News’ push to strengthen grassroots penetration in one of its fastest-growing source markets.

Commenting on the initiative, Chugh said the goal was to “democratise international market access for Indian businesses”, adding that a distributed agency network would allow brands of all sizes to expand globally in a structured and efficient manner.