MAM
Iris onboards Dibyendu (Joy) Mishra as the visionary force behind Indian operations
Mumbai: A new chapter unfolds at Iris, as the agency has roped in Dibyendu (Joy) Mishra as the managing director for the Indian market. With an illustrious career spanning over two decades, he brings a wealth of industry expertise to his role at Iris. A respected industry veteran, Joy has been associated with prominent companies such as Google, PubMatic, Cheil Worldwide, Havas Worldwide, and Dentsu. His expansive portfolio encompasses a diverse range of sectors, including sportswear, FMCG, personal care, and automotive.
As well as overseeing the agency’s client base – ensuring they’re progressive and forward-thinking, Joy will be working with Iris’ global team as part of the network’s move to become more global in the way it innovates and creates for clients. While pushing the horizon for Iris India vision, that focuses on tech-driven creativity to craft a 360-degree consumer journey for the brands. His expertise in managing P&L and business operations will serve as a crucial element for the forward growth of the agency.
Headquartered in Gurgaon, Iris Indian operations resonate with a team of talented individuals who share a common passion for pushing creative boundaries and generating transformative brand experiences. Hence, he aspires to cultivate it into a magnetic hub, attracting the most exceptional and ambitious talents from around the world. His vision for the agency is tied to the calibre of individuals it houses, fostering an environment where boundless creativity and collaboration thrive.
Joy’s journey has been marked by prestigious accolades and short listings, including the Cannes Lion Silver and the Abby Gold. These honours underscore his commitment to innovation, creativity, and excellence in the field. His strategic mind set and creative prowess have translated into successful brand marketing campaigns for distinguished clients such as adidas, GSK, Bata, McDonald’s, Honda, ITC, Reckitt Benckiser, Panasonic, Honda, Goibibo, Shell, Samsung, and many more, demonstrating his versatility and impact within the advertising realm.
Iris global CEO and chair Ian Millner said, “Iris’ global realignment means deploying the best leaders in each region to amplify growth around the network, and in turn, activate that advantage for clients. With Joy we really do have the best of the best. Decades of experience with some of the biggest agencies in the world, combined with his passion for driving limitless creativity opens a real opportunity for our clients in India to get their work on the global stage.”
In his own words, Joy expressed his gratitude, saying, “I envision a dynamic business world where innovation and transformative strategies are the driving forces behind continuous growth. My mission is to empower organizations and clients to embrace change, foster collaboration, and champion visionary approaches that lead to sustainable success. Together, we’ll create a future marked by empowered teams, innovative solutions, and a legacy of achievement.”
MAM
Reed Hastings to exit Netflix board as company posts steady growth
Shares dip 8 per cent as cofounder exits; revenue up 16 per cent to $12.25 billion.
MUMBAI- When the man who taught the world to binge decides to log off, the credits don’t just roll, they reset the script. Reed Hastings is set to step away from Netflix, marking the end of a defining chapter for a company that reshaped global entertainment even as its latest numbers suggest a business finding firmer footing.
Hastings, who co-founded Netflix nearly three decades ago and transformed it from a DVD-by-mail service into a streaming powerhouse, will not stand for re-election at the company’s annual meeting in June. While the company offered little detail on his next move beyond philanthropy and personal pursuits, the symbolic weight of his departure was immediate. Shares fell around 8 per cent following the announcement, underlining how closely Hastings remains tied to investor confidence and the company’s long-term vision.
The exit comes at a moment of recalibration. Netflix has been working to stabilise growth after a period of strategic turbulence, including the loss of a high-profile $72 billion deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery to Paramount Skydance, a setback that raised fresh questions about its ambitions in large-scale content consolidation. Yet, if the deal slipped, the fundamentals appear to be holding.
For the first quarter, Netflix reported revenue growth of 16 per cent to $12.25 billion, slightly ahead of expectations, while earnings per share nearly doubled to $1.23 from 66 cents a year ago. The company reaffirmed its full-year outlook, projecting double-digit revenue growth, expanding margins and strong free cash flow signals aimed squarely at calming post-announcement jitters.
In its shareholder communication, Netflix struck a careful balance between legacy and continuity. Its mission, it reiterated, remains unchanged: to serve a global audience with diverse storytelling across languages and cultures. The message was clear—while a founder may exit, the playbook stays in motion.
At the same time, the company is quietly redrawing that playbook. Netflix is leaning into newer formats such as video podcasts and live programming, including events like the World Baseball Classic in Japan, reflecting a broader industry shift where streaming, television and live experiences increasingly overlap. Advertising, once an afterthought in its subscription-first model, is now moving centre stage, with the company projecting ad revenues of $3 billion in 2026 roughly double current levels.
Still, some questions linger in the wings. Chief among them is how Netflix plans to deploy the $2.8 billion termination fee from the collapsed Warner Bros deal. With competition for premium content intensifying, capital allocation decisions in the coming quarters could prove as consequential as the leadership transition itself.
For now, Netflix finds itself in a familiar paradox: a company built on disruption navigating continuity. Hastings may be stepping off the stage, but the show by design goes on.
