MAM
L’Oreal appoints Lodestar as its media agency
MUMBAI: Cosmetics and hair care major L’Oreal has awarded its Rs 500 million media account to Lodestar. This was confirmed to Indiantelevision.com by L’Oreal officials. The incumbent being Universal McCann.
Lodestar officials when contacted were tightlipped about the win and refused comment. Information garnered by Indiantelevision.com revealed that three agencies were in the fray. They being – Universal McCann, Publicis and Lodestar.
Interestingly, Lodestar has been working with L’Oreal on different projects from time to time over the last couple of years.
L’Oreal is one of the top players in the Hair Dyes category. L’Oreal and Godrej Consumer Products are the two big giants in this category. Their share of expenditures on this category on television are close to each other with L’Oreal getting the top slot with nearly 38 per cent share of the advertising pie.
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
