MAM
Leena Nair named CEO of French fashion house Chanel
Mumbai: In another crown for India, one more Indian has landed the top job with a global leader, only this time in the fashion industry. French luxury group Chanel has named former Unilever executive Leena Nair as its new global chief executive, based in London.
Alain Wertheimer, who owns the 111-year-old luxury brand with his brother Gerard Wertheimer, will act as global executive chairman, the group said in a statement.
A British national, born in India, Nair’s career at Unilever spanned 30 years, most recently as the chief of human resources and a member of the company’s executive committee. Nair rose through the ranks of Unilever having started out as a management trainee. Under her watch, Unilever achieved gender parity across global management.
Nair posted the development on her LinkedIn page and said, “I am humbled and honoured to be appointed the Global Chief Executive Officer of CHANEL, an iconic and admired company. I am so inspired by what CHANEL stands for. It is a company that believes in the freedom of creation, in cultivating human potential and in acting to have a positive impact in the world.”
“I am grateful for my long career at Unilever, a place that has been my home for 30 years. It has given me so many opportunities to learn, grow and contribute to a truly purpose-driven organisation. I will always be a proud advocate of Unilever and its ambition to make sustainable living commonplace,” she further added.
Nair follows US businesswoman Maureen Chiquet, who came from a fashion background and was CEO of Chanel for nine years until early 2016.
Thereafter Alain Wertheimer, who will now move to the role of global executive chairman, had originally taken on the CEO job on a temporary basis.
Nair would join at the end of January and be based in London, the group said, adding that the new appointments would ensure its “long-term success as a private company.”
AD Agencies
Publicis acquires AdgeAI to sharpen predictive measurement in advertising
Deal integrates AI-driven content intelligence with Publicis production platform
MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe is doubling down on data-led creativity with the acquisition of measurement and content intelligence firm AdgeAI, a move aimed at helping brands understand what truly works in their campaigns.
Announced on March 12 in Paris, the deal brings AdgeAI’s analytics technology into Publicis’ AI-driven production ecosystem, allowing brands to measure and predict creative performance in real time. The company said the integration will help marketers move beyond guesswork and focus on content that delivers measurable business outcomes.
AdgeAI’s platform analyses engagement and conversion data across video and digital campaigns to pinpoint which creative elements resonate most with audiences. By identifying patterns that drive results, the system provides insights that guide content strategy and improve returns on marketing investment.
The acquisition comes at a time when brands are producing more content than ever before. While the tools to create campaigns have become faster and cheaper, many marketers still struggle to determine which messages actually drive sales.
Publicis Groupe chairman and CEO Arthur Sadoun, said brands today need clarity rather than just volume. “In the AI era, brands do not simply need more content. They need to know what works, and why, so they can scale their messaging across audiences, markets and platforms,” he said. He added that the acquisition turns creative measurement from a backward-looking report into a forward-looking capability that predicts outcomes.
Publicis production chief executive officer Deepti Velury, said embedding predictive intelligence into the production process will allow brands to create fewer but more effective assets. According to her, AdgeAI’s technology can analyse creative components at a granular level and identify patterns directly linked to campaign performance.
AdgeAI co-founder and CEO Eyal Ben Shalom, described the deal as a shift in how the industry approaches creative intelligence. By plugging its technology into Publicis’ broader platform, he said brands will be able to move at the speed of digital algorithms without losing the spark of strong creative ideas.
With the addition of AdgeAI, Publicis is positioning itself to close the gap between creativity and data, giving brands a clearer view of what clicks with audiences and what drives the bottom line.
