MAM
Kaizzen elevates Nikhil Pavithran and Prashant Subramanian
Mumbai: Kaizzen, one of the leading integrated communications agencies, in an effort to strengthen its leadership, has announced the elevation of Nikhil Pavithran as group president and Prashant Subramanian as head of North India. The announcement comes as the first step towards accomplishing the vision of expanding the agency’s national and international footprint.
Earlier, Pavithran, based in Mumbai, was in charge of operations in Western India while Subramanian handled the Delhi market for Kaizzen.
Pavithran and Subramanian will continue to work closely with Kaizzen CEO Vineet Handa. Announcing the new leadership, Handa said, “I am delighted to announce the elevation of Pavithran and Subramanian as group president and head – North India, respectively. Both have been instrumental in Kaizzen’s meteoric rise, and I know that they will do everything in their power to grow Kaizzen to greater heights. I wish Pavithran and Subramanian the very best for their new roles.”
Having been with Kaizzen for over five years, Pavithran joined the agency as Vice President in the Mumbai office and rose to the position of group president in 2021 holding the global mandate for Kaizzen.
Commenting on this development, Pavithran said, “It is a matter of great honour for me to have been a part of Kaizzen’s growth over the last couple of years. I look forward to leading its talented team in increasing the company’s national and international footprint. As the group president, I am excited to work towards Kaizzen’s holistic expansion, providing opportunities for its people, and diversification of the agency’s client portfolio across varied sectors.” With over 18 years of experience and working with various agencies across sectors, Nikhil brings with him a wide range of experience in brand communications and integrated marketing.”
On the other hand, Subramanian joined Kaizzen in 2018 as director client servicing and rose to become Vice President in 2021. In his current role, Subramanian will hold the mandate for strengthening Kaizzen’s presence in Northern India.
Speaking about this announcement, Subramanian said, “As the communication industry is subject to constant evolution, we aspire to leverage new-age technology and communication platforms to create new opportunities for Kaizzen’s stakeholders. Their trust in us has been integral in this journey, and we look forward to their support in helping Kaizzen achieve greater heights in the future.”
“It has been a privilege to be part of this journey with Kaizzen and I look forward to working closely with the management and team to expand our portfolio across the North,” Subramanian added.
Subramanian has 17 years of experience in brand & product marketing and communications across various sectors.
MAM
Effie turns 25 and still means business
Nestle, Leo India and McCann lead a landmark night in Mumbai.
MUMBAI: If ideas are currency, the Effies are where they are audited and this year, the balance sheet looked impressive. The Advertising Club India marked the 25th edition of the Effie India Awards 2025 with a glittering ceremony at Taj Lands’ End, Mumbai, bringing together more than 1,000 professionals from advertising, marketing, media, research, PR and communications. Presented by News18 India and News18 Marathi, and powered by CNN News18 and CNBC TV18, the milestone edition was as much a celebration of legacy as it was a reminder of where Indian marketing stands today sharper, more accountable and relentlessly focused on results.
At the centre of the night’s honours was Nestle India Ltd, which was adjudged Effie Client of the Year, recognising sustained commitment to impactful, effectiveness-led marketing. Leo India was named Effie Agency of the Year, reflecting consistent performance across categories and a strong portfolio of results-driven campaigns.
Speaking at the Effie, McCann India CEO and The Advertising Club president Dheeraj Sinha said, “As we celebrate 25 glorious years of the Effie India Awards, we are not just marking a milestone, we are honouring a legacy of effectiveness that has shaped Indian marketing. Over the past quarter century, Effie has become the gold standard for results-driven creativity, championing ideas that deliver real business impact. This landmark edition reflects the extraordinary evolution of our industry and the power of creativity. Congratulations to all the winners. Here’s to the next chapter of impactful storytelling and transformative growth.”
The coveted Grand Effie went to McCann, Gurugram, for Nestle India Ltd’s campaign “Maggi, Why save the best for the last?”. The campaign stood out for turning a familiar consumer insight into a commercially powerful narrative, demonstrating how cultural relevance, when aligned with business objectives, can deliver both emotional connection and measurable growth.
“The Effie India Awards have evolved into one of the most credible and respected platforms for marketing effectiveness in the country. What truly stands out this year is the scale and diversity of participation – from leading networks to independent agencies and new-age specialists, all demonstrating a shared commitment to effectiveness. It is encouraging to see stakeholders attach deeper strategic value to the Effies, viewing it as a benchmark of real business impact”, added Effie India Awards chairperson and The Advertising Club founder and The Horologists president Mitrajit Bhattacharya.
Marking its silver jubilee, the 25th edition witnessed participation from 89 agencies, spanning large network agencies, independent shops and new-age specialists. The breadth of entries reflected a marketing ecosystem that is no longer siloed where data, creativity, media strategy and business outcomes are increasingly interlinked.
Elaborating on the awards Eros Media World group CEO and Effie India Awards, The Advertising Club co-chairperson Pradeep Dwivedi said, “We are delighted to witness such enthusiastic participation from across the industry, reflecting the trust and prestige the platform commands. The campaigns showcased this year set a remarkable standard, combining bold creativity with strategic rigor and tangible results. It is inspiring to see the industry consistently push boundaries while remaining firmly focused on impact.”
What distinguishes the Effies from many other award platforms is its judging framework. Campaigns are not only assessed by advertising professionals but also by clients and academic experts, ensuring a holistic evaluation of strategy, execution and real-world impact. In an industry often accused of rewarding style over substance, the Effies have steadily positioned themselves as champions of effectiveness over spectacle.
“The core of our creative culture is ‘Impact a Billion’ creating work that genuinely moves people and delivers real business outcomes. When that kind of impact is achieved, recognition follows. Being honoured at the Effie Awards reaffirms our belief that effectiveness and creativity are deeply intertwined. This win belongs to our teams who push for ideas that matter, and to our clients who share the ambition to create work that goes beyond visibility to deliver meaningful impact at scale.” Leo chairman for South Asia and Publicis Groupe CCO for South Asia Rajdeepak Das.
The event was also supported by category sponsors including Adani Group for Integrated Advertising Campaign, Eco Media Solutions for Brand Experience and Tata Communications for B2B, reflecting strong corporate backing for platforms that celebrate measurable marketing excellence.
At Leo, effectiveness isn’t merely a metric, it’s core to the kind of creativity that can effect change for people, communities, businesses and the planet.
We are stoked to have won across some of our biggest brands tonight. To be consistently recognized as the best – globally, and now at our home-ground – is both rewarding and inspiring. We’re grateful to our client partners for placing their trust in our ideas, and to our teams for relentlessly pushing the boundaries of excellence.” Leo, Publicis Health & Publicis Business CEO for South Asia Amitesh Rao.
Beyond the trophies and applause, the 25th edition carried symbolic weight. Over a quarter century, the Effie India Awards have chronicled the transformation of Indian marketing from traditional mass campaigns to data-led, multi-platform ecosystems where accountability is non-negotiable. As brands grapple with fragmented audiences, evolving media habits and heightened expectations around ROI, effectiveness has moved from being desirable to being essential.
The silver jubilee celebration underscored that shift. In a landscape crowded with creative awards, the Effies continue to stand apart by asking a simple, uncompromising question, did it work?
After 25 years, the answer for many on that Mumbai stage was a resounding yes.
