MAM
HUL becomes top advertiser in week 39: Barc data
Mumbai: Hindustan Lever Ltd (HUL) was the most prolific advertiser across genres, according to the data shared by Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) for week 39 (from 25 September to 1 October). The FMCG major recorded an increase in ad volumes which stood at 5240.17 (‘000 secs), against 5097.68 (‘000s) last week.
Reckitt Benckiser (India) Ltd followed with 3229.9 (‘000s) and with ad volumes of 1039.32 (‘000s), Amazon Online India Pvt Ltd moved up two positions to bag the third spot in week 39.
Brooke Bond Lipton India Ltd, Cadburys India Ltd, Colgate Palmolive India Ltd, ITC Ltd, Coca Cola India Ltd, Ponds India, and Procter & Gamble bagged the remaining positions.
There were as many as four digital brands in the most advertised brands list this week, with Amazon India leading the tally. Stepping up the game as it gets closer to the festive season, the e-tailer delivered ad volumes of 843.11 (‘000s). It was the top performer in week 38 with 651.4 (‘000s).
Meesho App, BYJU’S Classes, and Disney+ Hotstar were at the fifth, sixth, and seventh positions respctively. While Disney+ Hotstar entered the race in week 37, Meesho App and BYJU’S Classes were the new entrants.
The rest of the spots were occupied by FMCG brands such as Horlicks, Dettol Toilet Soap, Lizol, Dettol Antiseptic Liquid, Dettol, and Clinic Plus Shampoo.
MUMBAI: In India’s fast-moving payments race, Visa has just swiped in a new leader. The company has named Suresh Sethi as its India country head, marking a key leadership shift as it sharpens its focus on digital payments growth in the market. Sethi steps into the role following his recent exit from Protean eGov Technologies, where he served as chief executive officer. He succeeds Sandeep Ghosh, who has moved on after more than four years at Visa to pursue an external opportunity.
The appointment comes at a time when Visa is doubling down on its expansion strategy across India and the wider region, deepening partnerships and accelerating adoption in an increasingly competitive digital payments ecosystem.
Sethi brings with him a broad, cross-market perspective shaped by decades of experience across corporate banking, retail financial services, mobile money and large-scale government technology initiatives. He began his career at Citigroup, where he spent 14 years working across India, Africa, South America and the United States, focusing on transaction banking services within the corporate bank.
His appointment signals a blend of institutional experience and market familiarity qualities that could prove critical as Visa navigates a landscape where fintech innovation, regulatory evolution and consumer adoption are all accelerating at once.
As digital payments in India continue to scale rapidly, the leadership change underscores a simple reality, in a market where every tap, scan and swipe counts, who leads the charge can matter just as much as the technology itself.
