MAM
Gulf News appoints Raman Kumar Chugh as strategic advisor – India
25 INS agencies onboarded as Gulf News sharpens India strategy
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.
Brands
Spark Eighteen acquires Voice AI startup JAM to boost capabilities
Deal brings voice tech edge as studio bets big on AI-led product growth
NEW DELHI: Spark Eighteen has acquired JAM, a Voice AI startup focused on building intelligent voice agents, in a move aimed at strengthening its capabilities in the fast-evolving artificial intelligence space.
Founded by Aayush Narang, Spark Eighteen has positioned itself as a global technology partner with a team of over 200 engineers, building digital products for startups and enterprises, particularly in the US market. The company operates a venture-building arm, Spark Eighteen Studio, alongside its investment vertical, Aay Capital, which backs early-stage startups.
JAM, founded by Ashish Khurana and Akshay Dewan, brings expertise in deploying scalable, human-like voice AI systems across use cases such as customer support, operations and workflow automation. Both founders were early team members at Zomato and Hyperpure, adding operational depth to the venture.
As part of the acquisition, Akshay Dewan will join Spark Eighteen as vice president of product and business operations, bringing experience in product strategy and scaling operations. Meanwhile, Ashish Khurana, who previously held leadership roles including senior director of engineering at Yubi and head of engineering at Zomato, will exit the company following the completion of the deal.
The acquisition will see JAM integrated into Spark Eighteen Studio, where it will contribute to building and scaling new AI-driven products, particularly in the voice interface layer, an area gaining traction as businesses look to simplify interactions with customers and systems.
Commenting on the move, Spark Eighteen founder Aayush Narang said, “Voice is emerging as a dominant interface in how businesses interact with customers and systems. JAM brings a strong foundation in this space, and together we aim to accelerate the adoption of intelligent, scalable voice solutions globally.”
Echoing this sentiment, JAM co-founder Ashish Khurana said, “We’ve always believed voice AI will fundamentally reshape user experiences in the tech and digital space. By joining Spark Eighteen, we are set to scale capabilities, talent and deploy faster across global markets.”
With this acquisition, Spark Eighteen is doubling down on its AI-first strategy, combining product engineering, venture building and investment under a unified ecosystem. As voice continues to gain ground as the next big interface, the deal positions the company to stay ahead in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.
