MAM
Lintas C:EX Entertainment onboards Shailendra Jha as lead content advisor-fiction originals
Mumbai: Lintas C:EX Entertainment, a vertical under MullenLowe Lintas Group’s newly introduced division Lintas C:EX (Lintas Creative Executions) has announced Shailendra Jha as its lead content advisor – fiction originals. The appointment is effective immediately.
Lintas C:EX Entertainment is a strategic foray by MullenLowe Lintas Group into the original and branded content space. The group had recently appointed Yogesh Manwani as president to lead its content business. Shailendra Jha’s appointment gives Lintas C:EX Entertainment an additional impetus for creation of premium fictional content Ips, said the statement.
In this role, Jha will be responsible for driving Lintas C:EX Entertainment’s content output through the lens of an entertainment expert and providing strategic direction to the team.
“For Lintas C:EX Entertainment, collaborating with like-minded storytellers to curate a slate of original content IPs is a key purpose. Shailendra’s appointment is a step in the direction of furthering our vision of telling impactful and entertaining stories,” said Lintas C:EX Entertainment president Yogesh Manwani. “We are happy to associate with him on this journey and look forward to his contribution in helping curate an inimitable slate of fiction originals.”
Before making his foray into the entertainment world, Jha was executive editor of TV Today group, where he was a core member of the team that launched India’s first-speed news channel Tez. He led the content teams of AajTak and Tez during this tenure. He has also directed multiple talk shows including the BBC shows HardTalk India and Face to Face.
Previously, Jha held the content leadership position at Star India (The Walt Disney Company) where he led various content initiatives across top entertainment channels like Star Plus, Star Bharat and Life Ok.
In his two-and-a-half-decade-long career as content creator, Jha has straddled the worlds of both – news and entertainment. He was responsible for creating and writing “Grahan” – a Hindi crime drama series streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. He has also received acclaim and recognition for “Tumhare Bina,” a short film written and directed by him, which went on to become a finalist at the Tokyo International Short Film festival recently.
Commenting on his new role, Shailendra Jha said, “I am delighted to associate with Lintas C:EX Entertainment at a time when streaming entertainment in India is witnessing significant growth and the demand for premium content is on the rise. The time is ripe for varied stories and storytellers like Lintas C:EX. I look forward to working with Yogesh and the Lintas leadership to curate and create good stories.”
MAM
Deepanshu Manchanda named IIMSAM Goodwill Ambassador
Zappfresh founder to advocate for Zero Hunger and nutrition goals.
MUMBAI: Deepanshu Manchanda just got a United Nations side quest because when you’re already fighting hunger from farm to fork, the next level is global goodwill. Deepanshu Manchanda, founder and managing director of DSM Fresh Foods Ltd. (Zappfresh), has been appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by the Intergovernmental Institution for the Use of Micro-Algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition (IIMSAM), an observer to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The honorary, non-remunerative role recognises his work in building inclusive, transparent food systems, strengthening smallholder farmer livelihoods especially women producers and advancing nutrition and food security.
Since founding Zappfresh in 2015, Manchanda has focused on traceability, farmer inclusion and public health. A notable collaboration with Shared Wealth Ventures LLC (a Heifer Project International subsidiary) established a backyard poultry sourcing model across Odisha, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, linking women-led households directly to organised markets while promoting biosecurity and premium procurement practices.
As Goodwill Ambassador, he will support initiatives aligned with:
- SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) – advocating sustainable nutrition solutions
- SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) – raising awareness of malnutrition interventions
- SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) – fostering collaboration across institutions and communities
Manchanda said, “I’m honoured by IIMSAM’s recognition. It reflects the journey we began at Zappfresh to build transparent food systems that support smallholder farmers and improve nutrition outcomes. I’m eager to support collaborative progress toward Zero Hunger, better nutrition, and strong partnerships on a global scale.”
In a world where hunger and opportunity often sit at the same table, Manchanda isn’t just serving fresh food, he’s serving fresh hope, one traceable chicken and empowered farmer at a time.
