MAM
Hakuhodo Percept creates TVC to launch Lines new brand ambassador Katrina Kaif
MUMBAI: Hakuhodo Percept has created a TVC featuring Katrina Kaif- the new brand ambassador for social messaging app ‘Line’. The TVC showcases Katrina talking to a host of people over the phone with a catchy soundtrack which says ‘Wish one, wish all – Line free call’.
Released this festive season, the TVC reiterates its ‘free calls’ proposition. The list of people she calls from her phone book includes her best friend, neighbour, aunt, school teacher, gym instructor, the director she wants to work with, and more. The film ends with a super that reads, “These festivals, wish all – Line free calls.”
Hakuhodo Percept managing director Taro Muto said, “During the festive season, wishing your loved ones is a very important part of the celebrations. Line with its free call service lets people wish one and all. They no longer have to think whom to wish and whom not to.”
“The idea was to drive home a simple proposition that you can wish all your loved ones with ‘Line’ free call, but do it in a way that people remember and register it. So we decided to literally show the phonebook of our country’s biggest actress in a way that’s never been done before. This festive season, the ad will make the world repeat – Wish one and all, with Line free call,” Hakuhodo Percept executive creative director Sabuj Sen Gupta.
Line Corporation executive, chief strategy and marketing officer Jun Masuda on Katrina’s appointment said, “Katrina is a youth icon and we wanted a person with that kind of an image. Katrina is perfect for this role.”
MAM
Republic Media Network appoints Mohit Dhamne as group CEO
Founding member elevated as network reports 149 million monthly digital users
NEW DELHI: Republic Media Network has appointed Mohit Dhamne as its group chief executive officer, elevating a founding member who has been part of the organisation since its inception in 2016.
Dhamne’s rise within the network has been steady and multi-layered. He began as head of finance, later taking on responsibilities as company secretary and EVP (Finance), before being elevated to chief financial officer in December 2023. In his new role, he will now oversee the group’s overall strategic and operational direction.
The network described him as a key architect of its evolution into one of India’s leading broadcast and digital news platforms. He brings cross-functional expertise spanning finance, law and management, backed by qualifications as a chartered accountant, company secretary, and a postgraduate management degree from the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.
Congratulating him, Arnab Goswami said Dhamne has been instrumental in shaping the organisation’s growth journey since inception. He added that the founding team’s shared experience and leadership framework will help the network pursue new opportunities and scale further.
The appointment comes at a time of strong momentum for the network. Over recent months, Republic has expanded its core business team by 30 per cent and strengthened its leadership structure with senior executives managing defined revenue portfolios across platforms.
On the digital front, Republic Digital has reported 149 million monthly users, according to Comscore data, reinforcing its position as one of India’s most widely consumed digital news offerings.
The growth has also been supported by expansion in its integrated brand solutions division, Republic Brand Studio, as the network continues to build a more diversified revenue ecosystem.
With this leadership transition, Republic Media Network is positioning itself for its next phase of expansion, combining broadcast strength with accelerating digital scale.
