MAM
Hafele to up media spends this year
BENGALURU: Hafele India, a distributor of furniture fittings, hardware and architectural ironmongery, is intending to shift its focus from business-to-business (B2B) to business-to-consumer (B2C) operations. The company is planning to increase its media spends for this year as it is eyeing over 50 per cent growth in the revenues this year.
Last year, the company had spent around Rs 120 million – 10 per cent of its India revenues – towards print (furniture magazines) and principal sponsorship of Master Chef -Australia.
With the addition of new products in its portfolio, Hafele managing director Jurgen Wolf is looking at a 50 per cent growth in revenues to Rs 1.8 billion by December 2012.
“Though the media spends will not be proportionate, they will certainly be higher,” said Wolf while talking with indiantelevision on the sidelines of the launch of an upgraded design franchise‘s studio ‘Varun‘s Innovation‘ in Bangalore.
The company is on the lookout for suitable communication opportunities that will help it reach its TG.
Varun‘s Innovation is Hafele‘s largest studio in terms of size as well as revenues. Hafele has 41 franchisees in India and will be adding another 11 by December 2012.
For calendar years 2013 and 2014, the company plans to add 20 more studios/franchisee per year.
At present, MX Advertising is handling the creative and media duties of the company.
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
