MAM
Havas Media APAC hires Naman Sharma as head- research & analytics
MUMBAI: Havas Media Asia Pacific has appointed Naman Sharma as the head of research and analytics for Asia Pacific.
Based out of Singapore, Sharma will lead research and analytics discipline at Havas Media and manage the deployment of the group‘s proprietary tools across APAC. He will also be responsible for the roll out of Econometric Modelling function.
Sharma will report into Havas Media chief strategy officer SK Biswas.
His last stint was with OMD West Africa where he was heading research and strategy.
Biswas said, “Research and analytics as a discipline is the cornerstone of an effective marketing strategy and we have been putting a lot of emphasis on the discipline to ensure the most efficient use of marketing dollars for our clients. We are fortunate to have found someone of Naman‘s calibre to join the team. He has extensive experience in primary market research with a specialisation in large syndicated media researches. I have no doubt that he will prove to be a major asset not only for us but for our existing and prospective clients as well.”
Sharma added, “I am very excited by the opportunity to work with Havas Media. One of my key responsibilities is to lead seamless integration of group‘s proprietary tool DSS Suite across all markets in Asia. This is probably the most evolved, contemporary and comprehensive decision support system present in the world today and I am confident that they will help us deliver superior marketing RoI to our clients.”
Sharma joins the agency with more than 12 years of experience in the communications industry, having worked in leadership roles with media agencies OMD and Carat. Prior to joining OMD, he had also worked with AC Nielsen and Media Research Users Council.
MAM
Catch launches TVC for iodised pink rock salt push
DS Group expands beyond spices with campaign going live April 20
MUMBAI: A pinch of salt just got a personality and a prime-time slot to match. Catch Salt & Spices, part of the Dharampal Satyapal Group, has rolled out its first television campaign for Catch Premium Iodised Pink Rock Salt, signalling a clear step beyond its core spices and sprinklers play. Conceptualised by Dentsu Creative Webchutney, the campaign leans into a product-led narrative, aiming to build awareness in the relatively less-explored salt segment. The film goes live from April 20 across television and digital platforms, including social media and OTT, as the brand seeks scale and visibility.
Set in a neighbourhood play area, the TVC swaps hard selling for a slice-of-life moment. Two mothers chat while their children hover nearby until a young girl takes centre stage, confidently breaking down the origins and benefits of pink rock salt. The message lands softly but clearly: even everyday ingredients now come with a story.
The creative pivot reflects a broader shift in consumer behaviour. Salt, long treated as a commodity, is being reframed as a conscious choice part health cue, part lifestyle signal. By placing a child at the centre of the narrative, the film plays on the idea that awareness is no longer confined to adults; it’s trickling down, reshaping household decisions.
For DS Group, the campaign marks more than a product launch, it’s a category expansion. With Catch already established in spices, the move into salt positions the brand to tap into adjacent kitchen essentials, while reinforcing its long-standing thought that food is more than just fuel.
In a market where differentiation is often hard to sprinkle in, Catch is betting that storytelling and a dash of everyday relatability can do the heavy lifting.
